LLB352 Smart Contracts and Blockchain Governance
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: | LLB352 |
|---|---|
| Assumed Knowledge: | Statutory interpretation (LLB107) and introduction to technology law (LLB249). |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| CSP student contribution | $2,124 |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | $1,663 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 | $3,204 |
| International unit fee | $4,368 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | LLB352 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Statutory interpretation (LLB107) and introduction to technology law (LLB249). |
| Coordinator: | Lachlan Robb | l2.robb@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Smart contracts represent challenges in emerging technology. Smart contracts raise questions of how traditional areas of law (such as contract law) are challenged by emerging technologies and the underlying technology of blockchain forces engagement with broader questions of law, regulation and governance.
In this unit, you will build upon real-world challenges raised by the legal profession. This will further develop your skills needed to explore the challenges to law as raised by smart contracts and blockchain. This will equip you with both the current and future skills that lawyers will need to know as emerging technology becomes more embedded in legal practice.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Apply an understanding of the technology of smart contracts to analyse the legal issues within a client problem and determine appropriate legal advice (CLOs 1.3, 2.1, 2.2)
- Research and critique the effect of blockchain on diverse areas of law, taking into account societal implications and theoretical perspectives. (CLOs 1.3, 1.5, 2.3, 3.2)
- Apply an understanding of blockchain and the governance of undecided technology law problems to analyse and evaluate a complex real world scenario and provide legal or policy recommendations. (CLOs 1.3, 1.5, 2.3)
- Communicate legal or policy advice, analysis and recommendations for reform in both written and oral forms to diverse audiences. (CLO 4.1, 4.2)
Content
In this unit, you will learn about:
- The function and role of smart contracts and blockchain;
- Current legal practice skills related to smart contracts and blockchain;
- Emerging controversies surrounding this technology; and
- Future directions for smart contracts and blockchain legislation and reform.
Learning Approaches
This unit employs an active and collaborative approach to learning across both of its parts. It involves self-directed learning practice and live tutorials 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 tutorials, and collaborative discussions that will introduce a range of practical and theoretical perspectives.
The first part of the unit focuses on understanding blockchain - the technology behind smart contracts.
The second section addresses current areas of legal practice that respond to the challenges posed by this technology, covering areas as diverse as: financial services, insolvency, taxation, crime, property, trusts corporations, IP or equity.
The final part of the unit will look to the future directions of the technology and regulation, anticipating paths for law reform and exploring upcoming challenges that face legal practice and innovators in this space.
Assessment in this course develops authentic legal skills. It is written in partnership with legal industry professionals to align with current, real-world legal challenges facing the profession.
Your participation in the unit will include:
- Engagement with online materials;
- Discussions in tutorials and on online discussion boards;
- Participation in practical problem solving tasks during tutorials; and
- 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:
- the individual feedback provided on assessment with the completed rubric
- generic feedback posted on the unit's Canvas site 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. It involves two pieces of assessment. The first requires students to engage with a foundational understanding of smart contracts, blockchain and legal challenges. The second is a deeper engagement with the future direction of the technology and regulation that explores the interaction of emerging technology with law.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Oral Presentation to Partner
Acting as a junior lawyer, you have had a client raise a legal issue relating to smart contracts and blockchain. You have been briefed by your partner on the matter, and your task is to conduct research on the legal matter, determine appropriate legal advice, and present this back to the partner in a recorded oral presentation. This will demonstrate and apply your understanding of the technology, legal issues, and advice. This will be accompanied by a written rationale.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Law Reform Submission
The second assessment relates to the future directions of smart contracts, blockchain and law. Acting as a legal and policy expert, you will evaluate a complex real-world policy proposal and make a submission to a government inquiry into the proposed law reform. This reform is responding to emerging problems with smart contracts and blockchain governance and you will use your knowledge from the unit and research to engage with law reform, drawing on legal, policy and likely practical implications in making your case and recommendations.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
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
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 out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Online
| Unit code: | LLB352 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Statutory interpretation (LLB107) and introduction to technology law (LLB249). |
Overview
Smart contracts represent challenges in emerging technology. Smart contracts raise questions of how traditional areas of law (such as contract law) are challenged by emerging technologies and the underlying technology of blockchain forces engagement with broader questions of law, regulation and governance.
In this unit, you will build upon real-world challenges raised by the legal profession. This will further develop your skills needed to explore the challenges to law as raised by smart contracts and blockchain. This will equip you with both the current and future skills that lawyers will need to know as emerging technology becomes more embedded in legal practice.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Apply an understanding of the technology of smart contracts to analyse the legal issues within a client problem and determine appropriate legal advice (CLOs 1.3, 2.1, 2.2)
- Research and critique the effect of blockchain on diverse areas of law, taking into account societal implications and theoretical perspectives. (CLOs 1.3, 1.5, 2.3, 3.2)
- Apply an understanding of blockchain and the governance of undecided technology law problems to analyse and evaluate a complex real world scenario and provide legal or policy recommendations. (CLOs 1.3, 1.5, 2.3)
- Communicate legal or policy advice, analysis and recommendations for reform in both written and oral forms to diverse audiences. (CLO 4.1, 4.2)
Content
In this unit, you will learn about:
- The function and role of smart contracts and blockchain;
- Current legal practice skills related to smart contracts and blockchain;
- Emerging controversies surrounding this technology; and
- Future directions for smart contracts and blockchain legislation and reform.
Learning Approaches
This unit employs an active and collaborative approach to learning across both of its parts. It involves self-directed learning practice and live tutorials 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 tutorials, and collaborative discussions that will introduce a range of practical and theoretical perspectives.
The first part of the unit focuses on understanding blockchain - the technology behind smart contracts.
The second section addresses current areas of legal practice that respond to the challenges posed by this technology, covering areas as diverse as: financial services, insolvency, taxation, crime, property, trusts corporations, IP or equity.
The final part of the unit will look to the future directions of the technology and regulation, anticipating paths for law reform and exploring upcoming challenges that face legal practice and innovators in this space.
Assessment in this course develops authentic legal skills. It is written in partnership with legal industry professionals to align with current, real-world legal challenges facing the profession.
Your participation in the unit will include:
- Engagement with online materials;
- Discussions in tutorials and on online discussion boards;
- Participation in practical problem solving tasks during tutorials; and
- 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:
- the individual feedback provided on assessment with the completed rubric
- generic feedback posted on the unit's Canvas site 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. It involves two pieces of assessment. The first requires students to engage with a foundational understanding of smart contracts, blockchain and legal challenges. The second is a deeper engagement with the future direction of the technology and regulation that explores the interaction of emerging technology with law.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Oral Presentation to Partner
Acting as a junior lawyer, you have had a client raise a legal issue relating to smart contracts and blockchain. You have been briefed by your partner on the matter, and your task is to conduct research on the legal matter, determine appropriate legal advice, and present this back to the partner in a recorded oral presentation. This will demonstrate and apply your understanding of the technology, legal issues, and advice. This will be accompanied by a written rationale.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Law Reform Submission
The second assessment relates to the future directions of smart contracts, blockchain and law. Acting as a legal and policy expert, you will evaluate a complex real-world policy proposal and make a submission to a government inquiry into the proposed law reform. This reform is responding to emerging problems with smart contracts and blockchain governance and you will use your knowledge from the unit and research to engage with law reform, drawing on legal, policy and likely practical implications in making your case and recommendations.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
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
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 out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with this unit.