LAWCOMM 413 : Conflict of Laws

Law

2023 Semester One (1233) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An introduction to private international law (i.e., the body of law dealing with international civil or commercial issues or disputes that are not governed by substantive conventions) including: a study of the jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts, recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and decrees, and choice of the governing legal system.

Course Overview

The course studies the rules and principles New Zealand courts apply in private law cases with international elements. It deals with three main questions:
1. Jurisdiction: when will a New Zealand court hear a case with international elements? What happens when there are proceedings about the same matter in New Zealand and in another country? What foreign matters will a New Zealand court not deal with?
2. Choice of law: when a New Zealand court hears a cross-border case, when will it apply foreign law and how is foreign law proved? How is the foreign law selected?
3. Foreign judgments: which foreign judgments will a New Zealand court recognise and enforce?
The subject straddles substantive law and procedure. Most areas of private law are covered: contract, tort, employment law, property and trusts, wills and succession, intellectual property, family law and insolvency.
You will develop the skills to analyse cases with foreign elements, to identify and characterise issues and to apply conflicts principles and rules in practical situations.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: LAW 201, 211, 231, 241 Restriction: LAW 420, 477, LAWCOMM 407

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Laws

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Apply conflicts rules with an understanding of the underlying principles. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 3.1 and 5.1)
  2. Apply the procedural rules for proceedings with foreign elements, including service abroad, submissions to the jurisdiction and protests to the jurisdiction. (Capability 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3)
  3. Recognise matters that are not suitable for determination in New Zealand courts. (Capability 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 5.1 and 6.3)
  4. Prove foreign laws. (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3)
  5. Correctly characterise issues and apply choice of law rules. (Capability 1.3, 2.1, 3.1 and 5.1)
  6. Enforce foreign judgments and resist enforcement. (Capability 1.3, 2.2, 3.2, 3.3, 4.2 and 5.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Practical assessment 70% Individual Coursework
Essay 30% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Practical assessment
Essay
Zero-point formative tasks offered in the early weeks of the course will help you track your understanding of course content. 

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 practical sessions to receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including workshops will not be available as recordings.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable delivery.

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.

A new version this year so no feedback to respond to. 

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 against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

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.

Published on 02/02/2023 10:48 a.m.