Advocacy

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

LAWS50023 Legal Method and Reasoning; LAWS50024 Principles of Public Law; LAWS50025 Torts; LAWS50026 Obligations; LAWS50027 Dispute Resolution.

The Melbourne Law School welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and Law School policy to take all reasonable steps to enable the participation of students with disabilities, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the School’s programs.

The inherent academic requirements for the study in the Melbourne Law School are:

1. The ability to attend classes and actively engage in the analysis of complex materials and debate;
2. The ability to read, analyse and comprehend complex written legal materials and complex interdisciplinary materials;
3. The ability to clearly and independently communicate in writing a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and critically evaluate these;
4. The ability to clearly and independently communicate orally a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and critically evaluate these;
5. The ability to work independently and as a part of a group;
6. The ability to present orally and in writing legal analysis to a professional standard.

Students must possess behavioural and social attributes that enable them to participate in a complex learning environment. Students are required to take responsibility for their own participation and learning. They also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative learning environments, demonstrating interpersonal skills and an understanding of the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students.

Students who feel their disability will prevent them from participating in tasks involving these inherent academic requirements are encouraged to contact the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/.

A candidate who has successfully completed the subject should be able to:

• Identify aims and objectives for the conduct of a trial;
• Develop plans and strategies for the achievement of those aims and objectives;
• Implement those plans and strategies in the preparation of, and through the course of, a trial;
• Reflect on all of the above at the conclusion of a trial.

More specifically candidates completing this subject should be able to:

• Prepare a case for trial including:
  
  - Develop a case theory;
  - Draft an opening address;
  - Draft a closing address;
  - Draft examinations and cross-examinations of witnesses;
  - Assess the strengths and weaknesses of a case.
  
• Conduct a trial including:
  
  - Deliver an opening address;
  - Examine, cross-examine and re-examine witnesses;
  - Deliver a closing address.
  
• Reflect on their performance at the above tasks.

• Class participation (hurdle);
• Written preparation including drafts of opening and closing addresses and outline of objectives for trial and examination of witnesses, due prior to scheduled trial performance (25%);
• Trial performance, scheduled in accordance with trial performance timetable (50%);
• Reflective Report, due not less than a week after trial performance (25%).

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of the subject, students should have developed the following generic skills:

• Attitudes towards knowledge that include openness to new ideas and ethics associated with knowledge creation and usage;
• The capacity for close reading and analysis of a range of sources;
• The capacity for critical and independent thought and reflection;
• The capacity to solve problems, including through collection and evaluation of information;
• The capacity to communicate, both orally and in writing;
• The capacity to plan and manage time.

This subject has a quota of 40. Please contact the Law Student Centre for enrolment information.