LAW 298A/B : Legal Research, Writing and Communication
Law
2025 Semester One (1253) / Semester Two (1255) (10 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
You will use a range of print and electronic sources, systems, and processes required for legal research covering primary sources of law (case law and legislation) and also secondary sources (journal articles, textbooks and other materials).
(20%).
2. Legal Writing - In Person
You will practise the language and structures supporting effective legal analysis to prepare you for legal writing tasks on your other law courses in Part II.
(45%).
3. Oral Communication - In Person
Course Requirements
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| 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
- Demonstrate and apply effective legal research strategies including but not limited to using the Moys library classification system. (Capability 3.2)
- Demonstrate appropriate and effective oral and written communication strategies . (Capability 6.1 and 7.1)
- Use effective writing techniques and styles appropriately pitched for purpose and audience. (Capability 6.1)
- Develop a strategy for extracting legal principles from judgments. (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1)
- Analyse hypothetical fact scenarios to identify the rights and duties attaching to different parties and the questions of law arising from these facts. (Capability 4.1, 4.2 and 5.1)
- Identify and analyse the individual elements and sub-elements of legal rules derived from statue and common law and apply these legal rules to the material facts of hypothetical scenarios to generate reasoned conclusions. (Capability 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 8.1)
- Interact constructively in a group setting valuing different perspectives to augment critical thinking skills. (Capability 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1)
- Demonstrate principled decision making. (Capability 8.1)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Online Tests (x 2 ) : Legal Research | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| Written Analysis 1 | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| Written Analysis 2 | 35% | Individual Coursework |
| In-class oral discussion and reflection | 35% | Individual Coursework |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |||
| Online Tests (x 2 ) : Legal Research | ||||||||||
| Written Analysis 1 | ||||||||||
| Written Analysis 2 | ||||||||||
| In-class oral discussion and reflection | ||||||||||
Workload Expectations
1. Course Enrolment
You must enrol onto and attend the same workshop in BOTH semesters one AND two.
(If you do not your enrolment will be DROPPED from both so you will most likely lose your preferred workshop time.)
2. Course Timetable
The schedule for this course is different from other Part II core courses: you will attend one introductory large group lecture at the start of semester 1 and thereafter you will participate in your scheduled small group workshop sessions once every second week.
3. Class Participation (35%)
Your communication skills coursework assessment starts during your first workshop and continues at each workshop after that. Points attach to each/every task. If you do not attend your workshop you will lose these points. As with quizzes, there are no make-up tasks.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
- Legal Research includes one large group lecture and five online modules.
- Legal Writing and Communication includes eight x two-hour, in-person workshops which are NOT RECORDED. You will select/enrol on one group to attend once every second week. Workshops end in semester 2, mid semester break.
- Your group will have up to 25 students and you will have the same instructor and classmates for all eight workshops.
- Workshops are NOT RECORDED. These are run in a small group seminar format so that you can talk freely and openly and get to know other law students in a more relaxed small group learning setting.
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.
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.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations 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. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
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.
There will be four class reps - one for each day of the week that classes are offered (Tuesday-Friday).
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 your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, 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 you may be asked to submit your 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. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.