Overview
The unit Legal Advocacy is primarily concerned with the craft of lawyering and how to effectively present cases to a court. The unit covers topics such as the qualities of legal advocacy, legal ethics and courtroom etiquette, how to structure and prepare written submissions and oral arguments, examination of witnesses, and other fundamentals. This unit may interest students who wish to pursue careers in litigation, criminal prosecutions, or criminal defence work.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisites: 30 credit point law units including LAWS13010.
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 3 - 2025
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 Student feedback, unit coordinator reflection
Student feedback was to keep the unit content exactly the same. The moot assessment should be maintained.
This will be reviewed
Feedback from Student feedback
The guest lecture was very useful for students
The unit coordinator will review future opportunities for guest lectures and invite speakers where appropriate
- Present persuasive written submissions and oral arguments in a professional and ethical manner
- Research and critically analyse primary sources to formulate and support oral and written arguments for mock court hearings
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |
| 1 - Practical and Written Assessment - 40% | ||
| 2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 60% | ||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |
| 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 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||
Textbooks
Learning to Litigate: A Guide for Young Lawyers
(2022)
Authors: Neil Williams SC and Alison Hammond
The Federation Press
ISBN: 9781760024079
Binding: Paperback
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Microphone and camera for use with Zoom
- Students who do not have access to internet adequate for Zoom (both video and audio) should not enrol in this elective. Zoom.us is a free application via Google, which must be downloaded by all students in this unit. Assessments 1 and 2 are via Zoom. Familiarity with Zoom and access to good quality stable internet is essential.
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Australian Guide to Legal Citation, 4th ed
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.capuano@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Qualities and Skills of Legal Advocacy, Ethics and Etiquette
Chapter
Neil Williams SC and Alison Hammond, Learning to Litigate (2022, Federation Press), ch 4, 5 and 6.
Reference readings in Study Guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The Tasks of a Legal Advocate and Preparation for Trial
Chapter
Neil Williams SC and Alison Hammond, Learning to Litigate (2022, Federation Press), chs 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Reference readings in Study Guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Oral Submissions, Written Submissions and Appeals
Chapter
Neil Williams SC and Alison Hammond, Learning to Litigate (2022, Federation Press), chs 17 and 18.
Reference readings in Study Guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Witness Examinations, Special Witnesses, Exhibits and Objections
Chapter
Neil Williams SC and Alison Hammond, Learning to Litigate (2022, Federation Press), chs 15 and 16.
Reference readings in Study Guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1: Interlocutory application
Module/Topic
Criminal practice
Chapter
Neil Williams SC and Alison Hammond, Learning to Litigate (2022, Federation Press), ch 11.
Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (Qld).
Reference readings and links in Study Guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Preparation for moots
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2: Moots
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Practical and Written Assessment
This assessment will require students to make an interlocutory application to a court on an issue relevant to the final moots. Students must: (1) submit written outlines of submission via Moodle; and (2) make oral submissions at a day and time to be set in week 5 of term.
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). You must not use AI tools or technology to produce substantive content in any manner. You are permitted to use technology or tools that assist with spelling, grammar or formatting.
This assessment must be submitted by the specified due date and time. Due to the nature of this task, the standard 72-hour grace period does not apply. We recognise that unexpected circumstances may arise, and encourage students to reach out as early as possible if they are experiencing difficulties, so that appropriate support or adjustments can be considered in line with university policy.
Extensions are not available for this assessment given its practical nature. 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 5 Monday (8 Dec 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Written submissions to be submitted via Moodle. Oral submissions to be made at a day and time to be set by the unit coordinator.
Week 7 Friday (9 Jan 2026)
Online
- Ability to identify the issues
- Coherence of argument
- Clarity of argument
- Logical structure
- Proper use of authorities
- Knowledge of facts
- Knowledge of law
- Use of proper court etiquette
- Use of legal ethics
- Present persuasive written submissions and oral arguments in a professional and ethical manner
- Research and critically analyse primary sources to formulate and support oral and written arguments for mock court hearings
2 Practical and Written Assessment
The moot will involve the presentation of written and oral arguments before a court. The moot problem will be posted on Moodle and will be the same for all students. Students will form teams of 2 (each team will either act for the applicant(s)/appellant(s) or the respondent(s)). The Moot Rules will also be posted on Moodle.
Each team will post and exchange a written outline of their intended argument in accordance with the Moot Rules. Each team member will then be required to support that argument in oral submissions before the court and respond to questions from the court. The hearings, which will be no longer than one hour, will be via Zoom.
The written outline of the intended argument must be posted on Moodle and be delivered to the opposing team on or before the due date below. Timetables and hearing times will be fixed. The moots take place during week 8 of term.
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). You must not use AI tools or technology to produce substantive content in any manner. You are permitted to use technology or tools that assist with spelling, grammar or formatting.
This assessment must be submitted by the specified due date and time. Due to the nature of this task, the standard 72-hour grace period does not apply. We recognise that unexpected circumstances may arise, and encourage students to reach out as early as possible if they are experiencing difficulties, so that appropriate support or adjustments can be considered in line with university policy.
Extensions are not available for this assessment given its practical nature and that it requires completion of a moot with other students. Given the nature of the assessment as a moot it is not possible to accommodate extensions for individual students. Due to the need to provide prompt feedback to students and the content of feedback provided, submissions received after the moots have been completed by all 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 7 Friday (9 Jan 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
The moots will be held live via Zoom at a date and time to be set by the unit coordinator
Week 10 Friday (30 Jan 2026)
- Competently prepare and present a concise, relevant and persuasive outline of the intended oral argument
- Make a presentation that is persuasive, and is clear, comprehensive, unambiguous, ethically sound, ethnically sensitive and in plain language
- Implement a research strategy to support the argument
- Apply analytical and critical legal skills in formulating the written and oral argument
- Apply the qualities and skills of advocacy including an ability to respond to questions orally
- Demonstrated use of proper court etiquette
- Demonstrated use of legal ethics
- Present persuasive written submissions and oral arguments in a professional and ethical manner
- Research and critically analyse primary sources to formulate and support oral and written arguments for mock court hearings
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?
