LLB320 Dispute Resolution for Lawyers

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

This unit equips you with dispute resolution skills for your future practice as a legal professional. You will learn to think critically about how legal disputes are resolved by examining various dispute resolution processes including negotiation, mediation, collaborative practice, conciliation, case appraisal, arbitration and expert determination. You will also develop your conflict management, collaboration, communication and problem-solving skills within dispute resolution processes whilst engaging in authentic scenarios. Developing the skills to be an effective dispute advisor and resolver, and an appreciation of the value in resolving conflict constructively, will assist you to thrive as a lawyer or in your chosen law-related profession.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Understand the various dispute resolution processes and critically evaluate their strengths and weaknesses in different contexts. (CLOs 1.1, 5.1)
2. Analyse and diagnose the nature of client disputes, including both legal and non-legal dimensions, and select appropriate dispute resolution processes and communicate effectively with clients and others about them. (CLOs 1.1, 1.3, 2.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1)
3. Apply advanced conflict management and problem-solving skills, and work collaboratively within dispute resolution processes, whilst engaging in authentic scenarios. (CLOs 2.2, 4.3, 5.1)
4. Demonstrate reflection on your learning about dispute resolution skills and processes and what this means for your future practice as a legal professional. (CLO 5.2)
5. Demonstrate effective oral and written communication within dispute resolution processes and when diagnosing disputes. (CLOs 4.1, 4.2, 4.3)

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit employs a collaborative approach to learning, and provides opportunities for active learning, including the use of discussion and role play to allow you to practice your understanding of the principles and processes of dispute resolution. Given this a preparedness to engage in activities that require oral communication and collaboration with your peers will be integral to your participation and successful completion of this unit. The skills you will develop are valued by employers and will be transferable to your future career as a legal professional.

Your participation in the unit will include: 

1. Engagement with online materials, including podcasts and formative learning activities.
2. Discussions and role play exercises in compulsory tutorials. 1 hour tutorials are held in weeks 2 to 12 inclusive, with the exception of week 5 and 8 when your compulsory tutorials will be 3 hours long to accommodate role play exercises linked to assessment item 1. These three hour role plays will be conducted online for ALL students including those enrolled in on-campus mode. In the real world dispute resolution processes frequently take place using digital technologies. We will be replicating this to make your learning experience authentic. Note that due to the nature of the learning activities and assessment engaged in during tutorials they are not recorded. You must be available to attend a tutorial each week they are run to be able to complete this unit. An evening online tutorial time will be available for students who are enrolled as online students or work full-time.
3. IMPORTANT - ALL STUDENTS MUST ATTEND THEIR COMPULSORY TUTORIALS IN WEEK 5 AND WEEK 8 TO PARTICIPATE IN ROLE PLAYS (THESE PARTICULAR TUTORIALS WILL BE HELD ONLINE FOR BOTH INTERNAL AND ONLINE STUDENTS). YOU MUST ALSO SIGN UP TO A ROLE PLAY GROUP IN YOUR TUTORIAL BEFORE WEEK 5 TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. iF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND TUTORIALS PLEASE DO NOT ENROL IN THIS UNIT AS YOU WILL BE UNABLE TO COMPLETE ASSESSMENT ITEM 1 AND WILL NEED TO WITHDRAW FROM THE UNIT.
4. Collaboration with peers and experts to network and share your understandings. 

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You are provided with feedback to assist your learning throughout the semester as follows:

• Participation in interactive tutorials with your tutor and peers
• Individual written feedback provided on your assessment 
• Generic assessment feedback posted on the unit's Canvas site
• Collaboration with peers and experts to network and share your understandings
• The option of private consultation with a member of the teaching team during assigned consultation hours

Assessment

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Portfolio

You will prepare for and participate in a 3-hour online negotiation role play (in your week 5 tutorial) and a 3-hour online mediation role play (in your week 8 tutorial).

For the negotiation role play you will be pre-assigned a client and you will negotiate on behalf of your client in an attempt to reach a negotiated settlement. Additional facts for the scenario will then be provided and the dispute will proceed to mediation. You will again be pre-assigned a role (either as one of the parties or a mediator) and will participate in a mediation role play.

Evidence of your learning will be assessed through the production of an individual portfolio which is due in week 9. The portfolio will consist of:

1. Preparation notes for the negotiation role play and mediation role play. (1500 words)
2. A 10-minute video reflection of your learning.

Details of the requirements of each of the two components of your portfolio will be provided early in the semester. This assessment item requires you to participate in two role plays that will be conducted in a group (in your week 5 and week 8 tutorials). However you will be assessed on your individual portfolio which provides evidence of your learning. We are interested in your personal development and learning rather than your performance on the day of the role plays.

The portfolio assessment task is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

The 48-hour late submission period does not apply to attendance at, and participation in, the negotiation role play and mediation role play, and no extension is available for this aspect of the assessment task.

Assessment: End of semester Examination

An end-of-semester examination (open book) will assess the depth of your understanding of various dispute resolution processes. This will include your ability to analyse and diagnose the nature of client disputes and select appropriate processes and communicate advice with clarity and coherence.

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.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

You will need access to a computer with a microphone, camera and stable internet connection to participate in the 3-hour role plays in weeks 5 and 8. These requirements apply to all students regardless of whether you are enrolled in internal or online mode.

Resources

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

David Spencer, Principles of Dispute Resolution (LawBook Co., Australia, 4th ed., 2024)

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no unusual risks in this unit.