Overview
Effective, professional communication is central to legal practice. Lawyers must be able to think critically, communicate effectively with clients, opponents and the courts and also draft legal documents with precision. This unit develops these essential legal skills by providing an authentic, practice-based learning experience. In this unit you will undertake a variety of tasks that newly qualified lawyers are likely to undertake, such as drafting pleadings, affidavits, contracts, and letters of advice. You will also refine your oral communication skills by exploring strategies for effective client interviewing and persuasive advocacy.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite of 24 credit points of law units including LAWS11057, LAWS11066 & LAWS11069.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from SUTE comments and informal feedback
Some students identify that they do not keep on top of the weekly tasks because they are not required to submit anything until the end. This also means that the peer review exercises are often rushed and completed (if at all) shortly before the deadline.
Explore with the Learning and Teaching team whether any teaching and learning assets (i.e. in Moodle) can be leveraged so that students submit a compilation of drafting tasks across the term while also requiring students to engage in peer review and collaborative learning on a regular basis.
Feedback from Tutor reflection
Although one module is dedicated to learning the benefits and pitfalls of using generative AI, students should not rely on generative AI to build their portfolio or complete the practical assessment task as they need to first acquire a sufficient level of competency in drafting to be able to recognise any drafting issues produced by generative AI. The assessment design must therefore include components which cannot be completed through reliance on generative AI alone.
Incorporate an oral component into the assessment design.
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
- Apply the principles of plain English drafting, principles of interpretation, and drafting conventions to create legal documents that comply with the client’s instructions and the objectives of the document
- Reflect critically on written work and provide comprehensive feedback to others through a peer review process.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 10% | |||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 60% | |||
| 3 - Portfolio - 30% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Textbooks
Effective Legal Writing: A Practical Guide
Edition: 4th (2025)
Authors: Nichola Corbett-Jarvis and Brendan Grigg
LexisNexis
ISBN: 9780409360509
This textbook is also available as an e-book, but as it will not be published until December 2025, the ebook ISBN is not available yet.
This textbook is also available as an e-book, but as it will not be published until December 2025, the ebook ISBN is not available yet.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Webcam and microphone
- Zoom
- Microsoft Teams
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Australian Guide to Legal Citation, 4th ed
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
n.corbett-jarvis@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Legal Drafting.
Chapter
See the reading list in the study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Module/Topic
Grammar Matters: Part 1.
Chapter
See the reading list in the study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Module/Topic
Grammar Matters: Part 2.
Chapter
See the reading list in the study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Module/Topic
Client Interviews.
Chapter
See the reading list in the study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Module/Topic
Correspondence.
Chapter
See the reading list in the study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Legal Drafting Quiz Due: Week 5 Tuesday (7 Apr 2026) 6:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Outlines of Argument.
Chapter
See the reading list in the study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
No Zoom workshop this week.
Module/Topic
Affidavits.
Chapter
See the reading list in the study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Practical Drafting Task Due: Week 7 Friday (1 May 2026) 6:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Pleadings.
Chapter
See the reading list in the study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Module/Topic
Contracts.
Chapter
See the reading list in the study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Module/Topic
Drafting in the Digital World.
Chapter
See the reading list in the study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Module/Topic
Reflective Practice.
Chapter
See the reading list in the study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Module/Topic
Writing Week.
Chapter
No reading this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Drafting Portfolio Due: Week 12 Friday (5 June 2026) 6:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Online Quiz(zes)
This Quiz will focus on foundational drafting principles, grammar, punctuation and the principles of plain English drafting, which are covered in Modules 1– 3. Students will have a maximum of 30 minutes to complete the Quiz. The Quiz will include both multiple choice and short answer questions.
The Quiz will be made available at 10:00 am on Thursday 2 April 2026 (week 4, Qld time).
You must complete the test by submitting your answers to all questions online. You have one attempt to complete and submit your answers. You must therefore submit your answers online in one sitting (you cannot save your answers and return to them or amend them at a later date).
You will have 30 minutes to submit your answers online once you commence the Quiz.
You must complete your submission online by 6:00 pm on Tuesday 7 April 2026 (week 5, Qld time). Note that answers must be submitted by this time.
Open attempts will be submitted automatically when the time limit (30 minutes) expires and/or when the due date/time is reached.
This assessment requires students to adhere to the guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence tools as specified in the Artificial Intelligence Assessment Scale (AIAS). Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity. The use of AI tools or technology is prohibited in the completion of this assignment (level 1).
Extensions of more than 14 days are not available for this assessment. Due to the need to provide prompt feedback to students and the content of feedback provided, submissions received after the assessment has been returned to students cannot be accepted for academic integrity reasons. Students seeking extensions beyond this timeframe will be required to undertake a different version of the assessment task.
Due to the nature of this task, the 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment.
1
Other
Week 5 Tuesday (7 Apr 2026) 6:00 pm AEST
You will have 30 minutes to submit your answers online once you commence the quiz. Open attempts will be submitted automatically when the time limit (30 minutes) expires and also when the deadline is reached.
The quiz is graded automatically, but quiz results will be released once all students (including any extensions) have submitted the quiz.
The questions will address your ability to:
- identify and correct issues regarding plain English drafting and drafting conventions; and
- identify and correct grammatical and punctuation issues.
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
2 Practical Assessment
This authentic drafting task requires students to undertake a practical task that a trainee or newly qualified lawyer would be expected to complete in legal practice. You must conduct a client interview with another student in order to ascertain relevant factual information and then use your legal research and drafting skills to construct a letter of advice to the client. You must then reflect on your client interview and the document you produced. For this assessment, all students will be required to work in groups of two and perform the role of lawyer and client in the client interview.
Further instructions and the criteria rubric are under the 'Assessment tile' in Moodle.
This assessment requires students to adhere to the guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence tools as specified in the Artificial Intelligence Assessment Scale (AIAS). Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity. The use of AI tools or technology is prohibited in the completion of this assignment (level 1).
Note: As students are reliant upon each other to conduct the client interviews, extensions are not permitted for this assessment.
Week 7 Friday (1 May 2026) 6:00 pm AEST
You must submit a recording of your client interview and your letter of advice by the due date. You must comply with the task instructions regarding the uploading of the video recording to Echo360.
Estimated return time is 3 weeks, but results will be released once all students (including any extensions) have submitted.
This task assesses your ability to:
- open the client interview in an appropriate manner;
- conduct an interview effectively (including both listening and questioning skills);
- communicate effectively with the client during the client interview;
- close the client interview in an appropriate manner;
- conduct research on the legal issues;
- draft correspondence in accordance with the needs of the reader, purpose and context;
- apply the principles of plain English drafting and relevant drafting conventions;
- provide practical and legal advice on legal issues;
- communicate effectively in writing; and
- reflect on the client interview, the drafting process and the document you produced.
The criteria rubric for this assessment is available in Moodle under the 'Assessment' tile.
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
- Apply the principles of plain English drafting, principles of interpretation, and drafting conventions to create legal documents that comply with the client’s instructions and the objectives of the document
- Reflect critically on written work and provide comprehensive feedback to others through a peer review process.
3 Portfolio
The Drafting Portfolio consists of authentic drafting exercises of the kind you would be expected to undertake as a trainee or newly qualified lawyer. As part of the portfolio, students must also engage in peer review tasks and reflect on their drafting. Instructions regarding the content to be included in your Drafting Portfolio will be set out in red in the workshop activities/ questions in the weekly study guides.
Further instructions and the criteria rubric are under the 'Assessment tile' in Moodle.
This assessment requires students to adhere to the guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence tools as specified in the Artificial Intelligence Assessment Scale (AIAS). Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity. The use of AI tools or technology is prohibited in the completion of this assignment (level 1), except for week 11 where students must analyse a generative AI output.
Extensions of more than 14 days are not available for this assessment. Due to the need to provide prompt feedback to students and the content of feedback provided, submissions received after the assessment has been returned to students cannot be accepted for academic integrity reasons. Students seeking extensions beyond this timeframe will be required to undertake a different version of the assessment task.
Week 12 Friday (5 June 2026) 6:00 pm AEST
Students must submit their portfolio as a Word document
Results may be withheld until certification of grades.
This task assesses your ability to:
- evaluate drafting issues in a legal document and redraft any provisions requiring amendment;
- create or amend legal documents in accordance with the purpose, context, needs of the reader and your client's instructions;
- apply the principles of plain English drafting and drafting conventions;
- present factual information in a concise and logical manner;
- present persuasive arguments in an effective manner;
- communicate in an effective and professional manner in writing;
- provide comprehensive and constructive feedback to a peer; and
- critically reflect on the documents you produced and the progression of your drafting skills across the term.
The criteria rubric for this assessment is available in Moodle under the 'Assessment' tile.
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
- Apply the principles of plain English drafting, principles of interpretation, and drafting conventions to create legal documents that comply with the client’s instructions and the objectives of the document
- Reflect critically on written work and provide comprehensive feedback to others through a peer review process.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
