Year
2024Credit points
10Campus offering
Prerequisites
LAWS104 Foundations of Law and Legal Research
Teaching organisation
4 hours per week for twelve weeks or equivalent.Unit rationale, description and aim
The Rule of Law, and access to legal advice, are the basis of free, democratic, and just societies which promote personal dignity, thriving communities, and the Common Good. Law graduates working in legal practice, in business, in government, and in the community play an essential role in promoting and upholding the Rule of Law in Australia and across the world. The Bachelor of Laws degree is an accredited degree for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia.
This is a specified unit. The Law of Torts deals with a range of non-contractual civil wrongs including intentional interference with the person, trespass to land or chattels, nuisance and breach of statutory duty. Its principal focus is on the law of negligence including the duty it imposes, breach of that duty, defences and remedies. Discussion will also be in the area of legislation limiting remedies through the various statutory compensation schemes operating in Australia.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
| Learning Outcome Number | Learning Outcome Description | Relevant Graduate Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| LO1 | Describe and critically evaluate the law relating to Torts Law in Australia | GC3, GC4, GC5, GC9, GC10 |
| LO2 | Apply the law to factual situations and have an understanding of essential tort principles regarding rights and obligations in those situations | GC3, GC4, GC5, GC6, GC7, GC10 |
| LO3 | Compare and contrast Australian law with that in other jurisdictions and evaluate its effectiveness | GC3, GC4, GC6 |
Content
Topics will include:
- The nature of the Law of Torts and compensation schemes
- Negligence: The duty of care, the standard of care and breach and causation
- Defences to Negligence
- Damages for Personal Injury
- Liability of Public Authorities and Breach of Statutory Duty
- Negligence resulting in Economic Loss and Mental Harm
- Loss Distribution Mechanisms (Vicarious Liability, Non-Delegable Duties, Contribution between Tortfeasors and Proportionate Liability)
- Trespass to the Person
- Trespass to Land
- Nuisance
- Introduction to False and Misleading Conduct and Economic Torts
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Mode: Lectures, tutorials, electronic consultation, library tasks and presentations or Online lectures and activities.
Duration: 4 hours per week over 12 weeks or equivalent. Students are expected to spend 150 hours in total for this unit.
This level two specified Law unit allows students to demonstrate knowledge, skills and understanding in a specialist area of law to meet the requirements of accreditation.
Our strategy is to encourage students to creatively engage with unit content and to apply fundamental legal knowledge, skills and understandings to address legal problems.
The unit is designed to be delivered in intensive, weekly or online mode. We have taken a multimodal learning approach to provide accessibility and flexibility to our students and a student-focused approach that increases depth of learning and engagement through actively utilising Canvas.
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment strategy is designed to assess knowledge, skills and understanding in a specialist area of law required for accreditation.
The assessment tasks for this unit are designed to demonstrate achievement of each of the learning outcomes listed.
Overview of assessments
| Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment Tasks | Weighting | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
Communication and Engagement: Students are required to participate in a minimum of 8 out of 12 skills-based tutorials, in recognition that the development of skills in locating, referencing and analysing research materials is assisted by attendance and participation in weekly tutorials. A rubric will be utilised to assess students. Should a student fail to achieve the minimum participation requirements due to illness and/or personal circumstances beyond their control, an alternative assessment may be negotiated with the National Lecturer in Charge | 20% | LO1, LO2, LO3 |
Assignment 2: (1,500 words maximum): students are required to demonstrate their ability to research an assigned topic and critically evaluate the relevant legal systems and laws. This assignment recognises the need for developing skills in locating, referencing, analysing research materials and training in legal writing skills. A rubric will be utilised for this assessment. | 30% | LO1, LO2, LO3 |
Final Examination: This assessment recognises the need for developing skills to work through and provide a legal solution to a given legal problem within the time frame of the examination period. Exam will be completed online via Canvas. | 50% | LO1, LO2, LO3 |
Representative texts and references
Martin Davies and Ian Malkin, Torts (LexisNexis Butterworths, latest edition)
Amanda Stickley, Australian Torts Law. (Lexis Butterworths, 4th ed, 2016)
Carolyn Sapideen, Prue Vines and Penelope Watson, Torts: commentary and materials (Lawbook Co., 12th ed, 2016)
Duncan Holmes, Torts (LexisNexis Butterworths, 8th ed, 2016).
Mandy Shircore, Torts (Lawbook Co., 2015)
Sarah Withnall Howe, Greg Walsh and Patrick Rooney Torts (LexisNexis Butterworths, 3rd ed, 2015).
Corrie Goodhand and Peter O'Brien, Intentional tort litigation in Australia: assault, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and related claims (The Federation Press, 2015).
Andrew Clarke, John Devereux, Julia Werren and Jennifer O'Reilly, Torts: a practical learning approach (LexisNexis Butterworths, 3rd ed, 2014).