LLH201 Legal Research


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 1 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Unit code:LLH201
Credit points:12
Pre-requisite:LLB107
Coordinators:Margie Young | margie.young@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

In this unit, you will develop problem-solving and research skills and apply them to ill-defined problems. You will also have the opportunity to reflect on your career goals and strategically build your skills to enhance your employability. You will then have the opportunity to reflect on and expand your research skills in LLH402 Legal Research Project and your career goals in LLH403 Legal Industry Capstone Project. 

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Identify the issues in ill-defined legal problems and plan and undertake research using appropriate methodologies to locate key legal authorities (CLOs 3.1, 3.2, 3.3)
  2. Analyse and apply the law to factual scenarios to reach conclusions to clients' legal problems and use professional judgment to make recommendations supported by your research findings (CLO 2.1, 3.3)
  3. Communicate clearly and professionally in writing, adhering to citation requirements (CLO 4.1)
  4. Self-assess current capabilities and reflect on feedback to identify strategies to progress as an independent learner and to develop skills needed for your future career (CLO 5.2)

Content

The content of this unit includes:

  • Introduction to legal research, including legal issue identification, structuring arguments, written communication, logic and reasoning, and research methodologies, 
  • The use of digital technologies in legal research, 
  • Research skills practice incorporating Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander perspectives,
  • Strategic career planning and reflection, and
  • Academic integrity and academic honesty.

Learning Approaches

This unit employs an active, co-operative 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 tutorials, you will be supported and engaged in this unit through the delivery of weekly snapshots of unit material, podcasts delivered by experts, interactive quizzes and formative learning activities, and collaborative discussions that will introduce a range of practical and theoretical perspectives.

Your participation in this unit will include: 

  • Discussions on Canvas and in live tutorials
  • Collaboration with peers and experts to network and share your understandings
  • Independent review of key concepts via online resources and materials
  • Preparation for live collaborative tutorials through weekly online podcasts to promote an understanding of the content and theory behind the skills you are developing
  • Participation in live weekly collaborative tutorials that allow you to develop and practice your skills in applying the law to fact scenarios and legal problem solving, research methodologies, statutory interpretation and communication. The collaborative tutorials will be available live or as a recording

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

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

  • The discussions in the live interactive tutorials
  • Online discussion forums
  • Annotated example of previous assessment items
  • 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.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Career Plan

You will reflect on your skill development in the course to date and identify strategies for further development in preparation for your future career.

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

Weight: 10
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 3
Related Unit learning outcomes: 4

Assessment: Research Task

Acting as a trainee solicitor, you will analyse an ill-defined problem and undertake preliminary research in order to provide an internal memo that identifies legal issues and key authorities, and identifies what additional information is needed from the client. The feedback on this item of assessment will form part of the self-assessment in the Research Paper.

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

Weight: 35
Length: 4-6 pages
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 6
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 3

Assessment: Memorandum of Advice

In your role as a trainee solicitor, you will consider the additional information provided by your senior partner in response to your internal memo (assessment 2). In light of this information, you will analyse relevant legal issues and any additional requirements and identify and undertake further research. You will organise and synthesise your research findings in order to complete a memorandum of advice that proposes possible solutions and makes recommendations to your client. Your memorandum of advice must include correct citation of relevant legal sources. You will also include a reflection upon the feedback received on the Research Task and identify how you responded to that feedback for this item of assessment.

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

Weight: 55
Length: 2500 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 13
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4

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

Recommended text(s)

Bruce Bott and Ruth Talbot-Stokes, Nemes and Coss' Effective Legal Research (LexisNexis Butterworths, 8th ed, 2021)

DC Pearce and RS Geddes, Statutory Interpretation in Australia (LexisNexis,9th ed, 2019)

Jay Sanderson and Kim Kelly, A Practical Guide to Legal Research (Thomson Reuters, 5th ed, 2020)

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no unusual risks in this unit.

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. Using legal reasoning and critical thinking in applying law to legal problems and providing legal advice
    Relates to: ULO2, Memorandum of Advice
  2. Selecting and using contemporary technologies to effectively search, organise and use information
    Relates to: ULO1, Research Task, Memorandum of Advice
  3. Selecting and applying appropriate research methods
    Relates to: ULO1, Research Task, Memorandum of Advice
  4. Planning and executing a research project and presenting findings and recommendations
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Research Task, Memorandum of Advice
  5. Knowing and using academic and legal writing conventions and communicating clearly, concisely and persuasively in written forms
    Relates to: ULO3, Research Task, Memorandum of Advice
  6. Reflecting on feedback, experience and career development
    Relates to: ULO4, Career Plan, Memorandum of Advice

LW37 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (Graduate Entry)

  1. Using legal reasoning and critical thinking in applying law to legal problems and providing legal advice
    Relates to: ULO2, Memorandum of Advice
  2. Selecting and using contemporary technologies to effectively search, organise and use information
    Relates to: ULO1, Research Task, Memorandum of Advice
  3. Selecting and applying appropriate research methods
    Relates to: ULO1, Research Task, Memorandum of Advice
  4. Planning and executing a research project and presenting findings and recommendations
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Research Task, Memorandum of Advice
  5. Knowing and using academic and legal writing conventions and communicating clearly, concisely and persuasively in written forms
    Relates to: ULO3, Research Task, Memorandum of Advice
  6. Reflecting on feedback, experience and career development
    Relates to: ULO4, Career Plan, Memorandum of Advice

LW38 Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

  1. Using legal reasoning and critical thinking in applying law to legal problems and providing legal advice
    Relates to: ULO2, Memorandum of Advice
  2. Selecting and using contemporary technologies to effectively search, organise and use information
    Relates to: ULO1, Research Task, Memorandum of Advice
  3. Selecting and applying appropriate research methods
    Relates to: ULO1, Research Task, Memorandum of Advice
  4. Planning and executing a research project and presenting findings and recommendations
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Research Task, Memorandum of Advice
  5. Knowing and using academic and legal writing conventions and communicating clearly, concisely and persuasively in written forms
    Relates to: ULO3, Research Task, Memorandum of Advice
  6. Reflecting on feedback, experience and career development
    Relates to: ULO4, Career Plan, Memorandum of Advice

LW39 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (Graduate Entry)

  1. Using legal reasoning and critical thinking in applying the law to legal problems and providing legal advice
    Relates to: ULO2, Memorandum of Advice
  2. Selecting and using contemporary technologies to effectively search, organise and use information
    Relates to: ULO1, Research Task, Memorandum of Advice
  3. Selecting and applying appropriate research methods
    Relates to: ULO1, Research Task, Memorandum of Advice
  4. Planning and executing a research project and presenting findings and recommendations
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Research Task, Memorandum of Advice
  5. Knowing and using academic and legal writing conventions and communicating clearly, concisely and persuasively in written forms
    Relates to: ULO3, Research Task, Memorandum of Advice
  6. Reflecting on feedback, experience and career development
    Relates to: ULO4, Career Plan, Memorandum of Advice