LAW 141 : Legal Foundations
Law
2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
- Introduction: An introduction to the classifications of the law
- Obligations: An introduction to the law governing the voluntary and non-voluntary obligations between individuals;
- Property Rights: An introduction to the basic concepts and principles of property law;
- Crime and Punishment: An introduction to the basic principles of criminalisation and culpability;
- Human Rights: An introduction to the operation of human rights in the law;
- Law in a Global Context: An introduction to the basic principles of international law and their relationship with domestic law.
- Māori jurisprudence: An introduction to Tikanga Māori.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 2: | Sustainability |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Identify the main principles that can explain the operation of the criminal law (Capability 1.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1)
- Articulate the basic concepts and principles governing the law of obligations (particularly contract law and negligence) and demonstrate an awareness of fundamental tensions that underlie the law of obligations. (Capability 1.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1 and 8.1)
- Articulate the basic concepts and principles of property law and demonstrate an awareness of the contestable applications of property law (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1 and 8.1)
- Recognise and articulate how human rights operate within a legal system. (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1 and 8.1)
- Demonstrate effective written communication skills by articulating key concepts clearly and persuasively (Capability 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1)
- Identify the main features, and main classifications, of a common law system of law. (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Identify and critically evaluate the relationship between international law and domestic law in Aotearoa New Zealand. (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 8.1)
- Identify the major legal families around the world and their characterising features. (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 3.1 and 4.1)
- Recognise tikanga Māori as a foundation of law in Aotearoa New Zealand and the principles central to tikanga Māori (Capability 1.1, 4.1 and 6.1)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Quizzes | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| Written Assignment | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Final Exam | 50% | Individual Examination |
| 3 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Quizzes | ||||||||||
| Written Assignment | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
More details about the assessment, including the deadlines, will be available on Canvas at the start of the semester.
Plussage does not apply. Your overall grade will be based on the weight of each assessment as described above. You do not need to pass each component to pass the course.
Workload Expectations
This is a standard 15-point course. There will be around 36 hours of lectures in this course. As a general guide, you should expect a workload of three hours outside of the classroom for each hour spent in class. The guideline for the total workload for this course is 150 hours.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Recordings are not a reliable substitute for attendance. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
A printed course book will be available for purchase and will include the materials from the Talis reading list. A pdf of the coursebook can also be downloaded for free from the Canvas page.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
We have revised the assessment structure of the course and replaced one written assignment with a quiz to reduce the load on the students.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.
The use of generative AI is not allowed in this course.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course director, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a Student Academic and Support Adviser as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.