LLB252 Legal Coding
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 code: | LLB252 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | LLB101 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,828 |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | $1,432 The pre-2021 commonwealth supported place (CSP) contribution amount only applies to students enrolled in a course prior to 2021. To learn more, visit our Understanding your fees page. |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $2,856 |
| International unit fee | $3,780 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | LLB252 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | LLB101 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Previous learning in statutory interpretation (LLB107). No technical or coding knowledge is required. |
Overview
There is a significant and growing need for statutes, and other forms of law, to be converted into computer code. To do so, requires using traditional legal skills, such as how to read a statute, in new and innovative ways. Coding law is not a purely technical activity. It is a legal activity that results in new forms of interpretative output - legal code. In LLB252, you will gain insight into the interesting and challenging problems in translating legal language and legal techniques into computer code. You will learn how to (a) read and map statutory clauses to identify key legal obligations for coding (b) code relevant statutory clauses into machine readable computer code (c) test the accuracy of coded outputs against different legal standards. These are the type of skills that future lawyers will need to know as legal code becomes more embedded in automated decision making systems. Please note - coding experience or skills are not required for this unit.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Identify and map the legal obligations of relevant statutory clauses for coding (CLOs 1.3, 1.5, 2.2, 4.2)
- Code legal obligations that arise from relevant statutory clauses into computer code (CLOs 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 2.1, 4.1)
- Test coded outputs against different legal standards (CLO 2.2)
- Explain different critical perspectives about representing law as computer code (CLOs 4.2)
- Reflect upon your own legal coding activities and what it means for the future of legal practice (CLOs 5.2)
Content
In this unit, you will learn about:
- The practice of legal coding and how to do legal coding of statutes
- The role of statutory interpretation in legal coding
- Obligation based software languages for legal coding
- Legal issues regarding the challenges of translating legal texts into computer code
- Current controversies in legal coding
Learning Approaches
This unit employs an active and collaborative approach to learning across both of its parts. It involves self-led learning practice and live workshops where you will learn from experts and your peers. You will be supported and engaged in this unit through the delivery of weekly snapshots of unit material, formative learning activities in workshops, and collaborative discussions that will introduce a range of practical and theoretical perspectives.
The first part of the unit focuses on legal coding practice. During the weekly two hour workshops, workshop training will be provided on how to do core legal coding processes: legal mapping, legal coding and testing. Workshop training sessions will be held on each process followed by a feedback workshop where you can test out your newly acquired legal coding skills in a supportive environment. The second part of the unit provides you with an opportunity to engage in some key, critical academic texts about the role of law as code. The workshops will be used as 'deep dives' into some key materials to help you better understand and reflect upon your legal coding training and what it means for the future of law.
This is a law unit so no coding/technical expertise is required. Instead, you will learn about how law applies in a world driven by computer code.
Your participation in the unit will include:
- Participation in training and specific feedback workshops to help you develop your legal coding skills
- Engagement with online materials
- Discussions on online fora and in workshops
- Collaboration with peers and experts to network and share your understanding.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students are provided with feedback to assist their learning throughout the semester. The feedback is provided through:
- specific feedback workshops where you can 'play' and develop your legal coding skills in a supportive environment
- 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
Assessment in this unit is designed to support you to develop work-ready skills and a depth of inter-disciplinary knowledge.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Legal Coding Report
The first assessment relates to the first part of the unit. The first part (wks 1-9) will cover the practice of legal coding. Students will be required to code select clauses from particular legislation and report on their work. The report will consist of three parts:
- A write up of the legal mapping exercise that identifies the statutory obligations to be coded
- The production of legal code that accurately represents the coding of identified statutory obligations
- A write up of how the legal code could be tested, including a reflection of the coding exercise undertaken.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Reflective Critique
The second assessment relates to the second part of the unit. The second part (wks 10-12) will cover some key, critical readings relating to law as code as a reading group. The second assessment will be a report that provides a critical self-reflection of
- One or more readings covered in the second part of the unit
- A reflective application of the reading(s) to your own experience as a legal coder and what it means for future legal development.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
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.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
Nil
Costs
No
Resources
There is no prescribed textbook for this unit. Online readings and resources will be provided via the unit website.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no unusual risks in this unit.
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Online
| Unit code: | LLB252 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | LLB101 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Previous learning in statutory interpretation (LLB107). No technical or coding knowledge is required. |
Overview
There is a significant and growing need for statutes, and other forms of law, to be converted into computer code. To do so, requires using traditional legal skills, such as how to read a statute, in new and innovative ways. Coding law is not a purely technical activity. It is a legal activity that results in new forms of interpretative output - legal code. In LLB252, you will gain insight into the interesting and challenging problems in translating legal language and legal techniques into computer code. You will learn how to (a) read and map statutory clauses to identify key legal obligations for coding (b) code relevant statutory clauses into machine readable computer code (c) test the accuracy of coded outputs against different legal standards. These are the type of skills that future lawyers will need to know as legal code becomes more embedded in automated decision making systems. Please note - coding experience or skills are not required for this unit.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Identify and map the legal obligations of relevant statutory clauses for coding (CLOs 1.3, 1.5, 2.2, 4.2)
- Code legal obligations that arise from relevant statutory clauses into computer code (CLOs 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 2.1, 4.1)
- Test coded outputs against different legal standards (CLO 2.2)
- Explain different critical perspectives about representing law as computer code (CLOs 4.2)
- Reflect upon your own legal coding activities and what it means for the future of legal practice (CLOs 5.2)
Content
In this unit, you will learn about:
- The practice of legal coding and how to do legal coding of statutes
- The role of statutory interpretation in legal coding
- Obligation based software languages for legal coding
- Legal issues regarding the challenges of translating legal texts into computer code
- Current controversies in legal coding
Learning Approaches
This unit employs an active and collaborative approach to learning across both of its parts. It involves self-led learning practice and live workshops where you will learn from experts and your peers. You will be supported and engaged in this unit through the delivery of weekly snapshots of unit material, formative learning activities in workshops, and collaborative discussions that will introduce a range of practical and theoretical perspectives.
The first part of the unit focuses on legal coding practice. During the weekly two hour workshops, workshop training will be provided on how to do core legal coding processes: legal mapping, legal coding and testing. Workshop training sessions will be held on each process followed by a feedback workshop where you can test out your newly acquired legal coding skills in a supportive environment. The second part of the unit provides you with an opportunity to engage in some key, critical academic texts about the role of law as code. The workshops will be used as 'deep dives' into some key materials to help you better understand and reflect upon your legal coding training and what it means for the future of law.
This is a law unit so no coding/technical expertise is required. Instead, you will learn about how law applies in a world driven by computer code.
Your participation in the unit will include:
- Participation in training and specific feedback workshops to help you develop your legal coding skills
- Engagement with online materials
- Discussions on online fora and in workshops
- Collaboration with peers and experts to network and share your understanding.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students are provided with feedback to assist their learning throughout the semester. The feedback is provided through:
- specific feedback workshops where you can 'play' and develop your legal coding skills in a supportive environment
- 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
Assessment in this unit is designed to support you to develop work-ready skills and a depth of inter-disciplinary knowledge.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Legal Coding Report
The first assessment relates to the first part of the unit. The first part (wks 1-9) will cover the practice of legal coding. Students will be required to code select clauses from particular legislation and report on their work. The report will consist of three parts:
- A write up of the legal mapping exercise that identifies the statutory obligations to be coded
- The production of legal code that accurately represents the coding of identified statutory obligations
- A write up of how the legal code could be tested, including a reflection of the coding exercise undertaken.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Reflective Critique
The second assessment relates to the second part of the unit. The second part (wks 10-12) will cover some key, critical readings relating to law as code as a reading group. The second assessment will be a report that provides a critical self-reflection of
- One or more readings covered in the second part of the unit
- A reflective application of the reading(s) to your own experience as a legal coder and what it means for future legal development.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
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.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
Nil
Costs
No
Resources
There is no prescribed textbook for this unit. Online readings and resources will be provided via the unit website.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no unusual risks in this unit.