units

LAW5410

Faculty of Law

Monash University

Postgraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2015 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 3, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

LevelPostgraduate
FacultyFaculty of Law
OfferedCity (Melbourne) Trimester 2 2015 (Day)

Quota applies

Postgraduate programs are based on a model of small group teaching and therefore class sizes need to be restricted.

Synopsis

This unit provides a comprehensive overview of collaborative dispute resolution, a non-adversarial approach to resolving disputes, whereby the parties, their lawyers and other experts enter into a formal agreement to focus on settlement rather than litigation. If the dispute is not resolved and proceeds to litigation, the lawyers who are engaged in the collaborative process must withdraw. Collaborative law has been practised overseas for many years and has been used in Australia since 2006.
This unit has a practical focus and includes a series of interactive simulation exercises which encourage students to integrate their skills and to become aware of their own personal style as well as the values, attitudes and cultural influences that they bring to the resolution of conflicts. It also encourages students to consider other styles they can access, as appropriate. It assumes some basic understanding of negotiation processes and skills but does not assume any prior legal training or legal knowledge.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

  • Apply knowledge and understanding of recent developments in relation to collaborative dispute resolution, with creativity and initiative, to new situations in professional practice.
  • Investigate, analyse and synthesise critical issues and major trends in conflict resolution policy and theory.
  • Conduct research in collaborative dispute resolution based on knowledge of appropriate research principles and methods.
  • Use cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate at an abstract level complex ideas and concepts relevant to the importance and diversity of collaborative dispute resolution in society today.

Assessment

One research assignment (3,750 words): 50%
One take-home problem-based(3,750 words): 50%

Workload requirements

24 contact hours per teaching period (either intensive, semi intensive or semester long, depending on the Faculty resources, timetabling and requirements)

Chief examiner(s)