LLB140 Human Rights Law

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

This unit is a general law elective that provides students with the knowledge and skills to effectively apply human rights. It places equal emphasis on the concepts, institutions and principles that human rights law comprises of, as well as the implementation and research of human rights law. This unit engages with both international human rights law and Australian human rights law as well as substantive human rights issues. 

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Describe essential principles, institutions and doctrines of international and Australian human rights law (CLOs 1.1, 1.4 )
2. Develop problem solving and critical analysis skills through the application of human rights law to current social problems (CLOs 2.1, 2.2, 2.3)
3. Research, evaluate and interpret sources relevant to the application and implementation of international human rights (CLOs 3.1, 3.2, 3.3)
4. Effectively and persuasively construct and communicate written analysis of human rights law (CLO 4.1)

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit employs an active and collaborative approach to learning. It involves an online, self-led learning practice and live tutorials where you will learn from experts and your peers. Prior to live tutorials, you will be supported and engaged in this unit through the delivery of weekly materials, recordings delivered by experts, interactive and formative learning activities. 

Your participation includes:

• Engagement with online materials. 
• Discussions on Canvas and in live tutorials.
• Collaboration with peers and experts to network and share your understandings.
• Recorded content to explain key concepts and provide a structure for your learning.
• Weekly independent preparation for tutorials that includes reading prescribed materials and reflecting on learning activities. 
• Weekly collaborative tutorials designed for you to engage in class discussion, practice skills, seek guidance and feedback on learning activities, and interact with other students. These tutorials help you develop the skills required to effectively apply human rights law.
• Review quizzes that provide an opportunity to reinforce the content you have learned in the recorded content 

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback on the development of your understanding of human rights law examined in this unit and the skills taught is provided through:

• Discussions in the interactive tutorials
• Online discussion boards
• The individual feedback provided on assessment with the completed Criteria Referenced Assessment form
• Generic feedback posted on the unit's Canvas site for each item of assessment
• The option of private consultation with a member of the teaching team during student consultation hours
• Review quizzes that provide formative assessment opportunities

Assessment

Overview

Overview of assessment:
The summative assessment consists of a case analysis and a written essay.

Faculty assessment information
To access the Law Faculty Assessment Information, see the Canvas site for this unit.

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: Case Analysis

Acting as a legal researcher, you will write a case note critically analysing a decision/view/recommendation/advisory opinion/judgment of an international human rights body or an international/regional/national judicial institution. 

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

Assessment: Report

Acting in the role of a human rights lawyer, you will analyse and interpret human rights law as it applies to a contemporary human rights issue.

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.

Resources

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

Rhona K. M. Smith, International Human Rights Law (Oxford University Press, 10th  Edition, 2022).

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with this unit.