LAWGENRL 713 : Selected Issues in Family Law
Law
2024 Semester One (1243) (30 POINTS)
Course Overview
Kia ora prospective Advanced Family Law students. I very much look forward to meeting you all. Please do not hesitate to email me at mark.henaghan@auckland.ac.nz if you have any questions about the course. It is taught on a whanaungatanga basis where everyone contributes to the ideas and development of each other’s papers. The sole assessment is a 12,500-word researched and written paper.
A selection of topics designed to consolidate and advance understanding of the theory and practice of family law. The topics covered will vary according to current legal developments, but are likely to include: law relating to cohabitation and marriage, the establishment of parenthood, and the relationship between parent and child, as well as the interrelationship between the state, the family and child protection and support, and the financial and property implications of family breakup including State support for families. How the law allocates duties, rights, and responsibilities in families, including extended family and whānau, as well as how power in relationships is restrained will also be foci for the course.
The course is very wide, and you will be free to choose any topic you want to research and write on that relates to family law. It is crucial that you research a topic you are passionate about, as that will ensure you produce your best work.
Undergraduates who have a strong interest in Family Law are able to enrol in this course and are most welcome.
Ngā mihi nui
Mark
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| 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
- Critically explore the central importance of family law to a thriving functioning community (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)
- Critically reflect on the key (historical) principles of family law in Aotearoa New Zealand (Capability 1.2, 3.1 and 4.1)
- Critically engage with the key legal principles, processes and policies governing family law in Aoteaoa New Zealand (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)
- Engage critically with comparative family law in order to find new solutions to contemporary problems (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1)
- Comment critically on the law and policy relevant to specific family law issues. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 3.1, 4.1, 6.1 and 8.1)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Research Essay | 100% | Individual Coursework |
| 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| Research Essay | ||||||||||
Workload Expectations
There will be 36 contact hours in this course. As a postgraduate course, there is an expectation that you prepare well for each class. The nature of the substantive assessment involving independent research also requires a significant amount of work outside of class. As a general guide, you should expect a workload of six hours outside of the classroom for each hour spent in class. The guideline for the total workload for this course is 300 hours.
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.
The topics for the course, and the process of teaching and learning in the course, always takes into account the feedback of students, both during and after the course.
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.
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.