LAW5052 - Professional project - 2019

6 points, SCA Band 3, 0.125 EFTSL

Postgraduate - Unit

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

Faculty

Law

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Jacqui Horan

Quota applies

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

Unit guides

Offered

City (Melbourne)

  • First semester (extended) 2019 (Flexible)
  • Second semester (extended) 2019 (Flexible)

Prerequisites

The completion of 14 JD core units, not including:

LAW5013 Principles of litigation & dispute resolution

LAW5015 Ethics in legal practice

Notes

For postgraduate Law discontinuation dates, please see http://www.law.monash.edu.au/current-students/postgraduate/pg-disc-dates.html

For postgraduate Law unit timetables, please see http://law.monash.edu.au/current-students/course-unit-information/timetables/postgraduate/index.html

Synopsis

In this unit, students apply research, thinking and communication skills and specialist discipline knowledge to complete an independent research project. Students will receive a six hour introduction on research skills at the start of the project and three hours mid way. The emphasis is upon independent study with the use of library online information regarding study skills.

Outcomes

At the successful completion of this unit students will be able to:

  1. demonstrate advanced and integrated knowledge of contemporary developments in the law and its professional practice;
  2. identify, synthesise, evaluate and apply relevant legal and factual issues;
  3. apply legal reasoning, specialised discipline knowledge and research skills to generate appropriate jurisprudential and practical responses to legal issues;
  4. demonstrate the intellectual and practical skills to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, legal methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions and develop new understandings;
  5. collaborate and communicate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive for legal and non-legal audiences; and
  6. learn and work with a high level of autonomy, accountability and professionalism to plan and conduct a professional project with some independence.

Assessment

For students who complete the research project as an individual activity:

  • Hurdle requirement: Completion of online masters research skills module; and
  • Project plan (1,500 words): 20%;
  • Research paper (6,000 words): 80%

For students who complete the research project as group activity (in groups of 3 or 4):

  • Hurdle requirement: Completion of online masters research skills module; and
  • Reflective journal entries on the conduct of the project (individual online activity, 750 words): 10%;
  • Project plan (group activity, 2,000 words): 20%;
  • Research project paper (group activity, 12,000 words): 70%.

Workload requirements

Students enrolled in this unit will be required to attend nine hours of teaching and complete the online research modules. The rest will be independent research.