LLB106 Criminal Law


To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.


Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Gardens Point, Internal

Unit code:LLB106
Credit points:12
Pre-requisite:LLB101 or LWB145
Equivalent:LWB239, LWB238
Coordinator:James Duffy | james.duffy@qut.edu.au
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

This core unit introduces you to the criminal law of Queensland.  Knowledge of criminal law offences and defences/excuses is essential for understanding the type of behaviour that is prohibited by the state.  Criminal law content knowledge is required for your admission to legal practice and this unit satisfies the Priestly requirements for criminal law.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

  1. Identify and explain relevant legislation and common law (with particular emphasis on the Queensland Criminal Code) and apply this knowledge to real world legal problems (CLOs 1.1, 1.5)
  2. Use legal reasoning and critical thinking to apply the law to legal problems, provide legal advice, address clients' needs and resolve disputes (CLOs 2.1, 2.2)
  3. Use legal databases to effectively locate and organise sources of criminal law (CLOs 3.1, 3.2)
  4. Demonstrate effective oral and written advocacy skills including, prioritising issues, constructing persuasive and strategic arguments and drawing legal conclusions (CLOs 4.1, 4.2)

Content

The content of this unit includes:

  • Definitions, aims and elements of criminal law
  • Introduction to criminal procedure
  • Non-fatal offences against the person
  • Homicide
  • Offences against property
  • Sexual offences
  • Drug offences
  • General doctrines and select topics including attempts and parties to offences.
  • Criminal defences and excuses
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the criminal justice system

The Legal Practitioners Admissions Board of Queensland (LPAB) sets rules for the academic requirements for admission to the legal profession in Queensland. Students must demonstrate a satisfactory level of understanding of 11 prescribed academic areas of knowledge (‘Priestley 11’).  This unit covers all of the topics within the core areas of knowledge for Criminal Law and Procedure.

Learning Approaches

This unit employs an active and collaborative approach to learning.  The learning has been designed to provide you with direct interaction with your instructors and peers, and there is an expectation that you will attend live lectures and tutorials.  Prior to the live learning sessions, you will be supported through weekly unit material, interactive quizzes and formative learning activities.

Your participation in the unit will include:

  • Engagement in live lectures
  • Collaboration and discussion with peers and academic staff in live tutorials to network and apply your understanding of unit content
  • Participation in tutorials that allows you to develop and practice your oral communication, critical analysis and legal problem-solving skills.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You are provided with feedback to assist your learning throughout the semester.  This feedback is provided through:

  • The discussions in live tutorials
  • Online discussion board
  • The individual feedback provided on assessment with the completed Criteria Referenced Assessment form
  • Generic feedback posted on the unit's Canvas for each item of assessment
  • The option of consultation with a member of the teaching team

Assessment

Overview

In this unit, students are graded on a scale of one to seven.

Students may be required to attend campus or an assessment centre for the purposes of assessment, regardless of the attendance mode for the unit.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Oral Advocacy Exercise

Acting as a barrister for either the Crown or the defence, you will present oral submissions on behalf of your client to a simulated courtroom. You will upload your video and submit a one page written outline.

This assessment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Weight: 15
Length: 5 minutes
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 5
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4

Assessment: Appellate Brief

Acting as a criminal defence lawyer, you will produce a written appeal brief for a client.  This appeal brief will advise on the commission of any criminal offences, and any errors of law made by a trial judge when giving directions to a jury.

This assessment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Weight: 35
Length: 2000 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 8
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4

Assessment: Final Examination

An end-of-semester examination (open book) will assess the depth of your knowledge and understanding of the topics in the unit, as well as your ability to analyse and apply relevant legal rules and principles to solve defined problems.  All topics covered in the unit are assessable.

Weight: 50
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): During central examination period
Central exam duration: 3:10 - Including 10 minute perusal
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 4

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

Schloenhardt, Lelliott and Tessman, Criminal Law in Queensland: Principles, Offences and Defences (Thomson Reuters, 2nd ed, 2023)

Recommended text(s)

Eric Colvin, John McKechnie and Elizabeth Greene, Criminal Law in Queensland and Western Australia - Cases and Commentary (LexisNexis Butterworths, 10th ed, 2024)

Kelley Burton, Thomas Crofts and Stella Tarrant, Principles of Criminal Law in Queensland and Western Australia (Thomson Reuters, 3rd ed, 2020)

Kelley Burton, Thomas Crofts, James Duffy, Meredith Blake, LexisNexis Questions and Answers: Criminal Law in Queensland and Western Australia (LexisNexis, 3rd edition, 2023)

Soraya M Ryan et al, Carter's Criminal Law of Queensland (LexisNexis Butterworths, 26th ed, 2024)

Risk Assessment Statement

You should be aware that some content in this unit may be confronting to certain audiences.  Please exercise your own discretion regarding content and when participating in classroom activities or discussions and, if appropriate, advise teaching staff if you do not wish to participate.  If you are concerned that the unit content may impact on your completion of the unit, please contact the unit coordinator.

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

LW36 Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

  1. The essential principles and doctrines of Australian law and the Australian legal system
    Relates to: ULO1, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  2. The application, operation and evolution of law in diverse and changing contexts
    Relates to: ULO1, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  3. Using legal reasoning and critical thinking in applying law to legal problems and providing legal advice
    Relates to: ULO2, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  4. Thinking creatively to resolve disputes and address clients’ needs, taking into account legal and non-legal considerations
    Relates to: ULO2, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  5. Selecting and using contemporary technologies to effectively search, organise and use information
    Relates to: ULO3, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief
  6. Selecting and applying appropriate research methods
    Relates to: ULO3, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief
  7. Knowing and using academic and legal writing conventions and communicating clearly, concisely and persuasively in written forms
    Relates to: ULO4, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  8. Using effective oral, visual and other professional communication in diverse contexts
    Relates to: ULO4, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination

LW37 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (Graduate Entry)

  1. The essential principles and doctrines of Australian law and the Australian legal system
    Relates to: ULO1, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  2. The application, operation and evolution of law in diverse and changing contexts
    Relates to: ULO1, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  3. Using legal reasoning and critical thinking in applying law to legal problems and providing legal advice
    Relates to: ULO2, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  4. Thinking creatively to resolve disputes and address clients’ needs, taking into account legal and non-legal considerations
    Relates to: ULO2, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  5. Selecting and using contemporary technologies to effectively search, organise and use information
    Relates to: ULO3, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief
  6. Selecting and applying appropriate research methods
    Relates to: ULO3, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief
  7. Knowing and using academic and legal writing conventions and communicating clearly, concisely and persuasively in written forms
    Relates to: ULO4, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  8. Using effective oral, visual and other professional communication in diverse contexts
    Relates to: ULO4, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination

LW38 Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

  1. The essential principles and doctrines of Australian law and the Australian legal system
    Relates to: Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  2. The application, operation and evolution of law in diverse, changing and global contexts
    Relates to: ULO1, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  3. Using legal reasoning and critical thinking in applying law to legal problems and providing legal advice
    Relates to: ULO2, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  4. Thinking creatively to resolve disputes and address clients’ needs, taking into account legal and non-legal considerations
    Relates to: ULO2, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  5. Selecting and using contemporary technologies to effectively search, organise and use information
    Relates to: ULO3, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief
  6. Selecting and applying appropriate research methods
    Relates to: ULO3, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief
  7. Knowing and using academic and legal writing conventions and communicating clearly, concisely and persuasively in written forms
    Relates to: ULO4, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  8. Using effective oral, visual or other professional communication in diverse contexts
    Relates to: ULO4, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination

LW39 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (Graduate Entry)

  1. The essential principles and doctrines of Australian law and the Australian legal system
    Relates to: Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  2. The role of law in achieving sustainable futures 
    Relates to: ULO1, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  3. Using legal reasoning and critical thinking in applying the law to legal problems and providing legal advice
    Relates to: ULO2, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  4. Thinking creatively to resolve disputes and address clients’ needs, taking into account legal and non-legal considerations
    Relates to: ULO2, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  5. Selecting and using contemporary technologies to effectively search, organise and use information
    Relates to: ULO3, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief
  6. Selecting and applying appropriate research methods
    Relates to: ULO3, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief
  7. Knowing and using academic and legal writing conventions and communicating clearly, concisely and persuasively in written forms
    Relates to: ULO4, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination
  8. Using effective oral, visual and other professional communication in diverse contexts
    Relates to: ULO4, Oral Advocacy Exercise, Appellate Brief, Final Examination