Overview
Legal Research builds upon your existing legal research skills acquired in Introduction to Law to enhance your ability to locate, analyse and apply legal and interdisciplinary sources in a range of contexts in preparation for your future law studies and legal practice. In this unit, you will engage in authentic research exercises you would be expected to complete as a trainee or newly qualified lawyer and carry out related skills-based tasks, such as conducting a client interview and drafting a letter of advice. You will also prepare a research portfolio in response to authentic research tasks.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite: LAWS11057 and a minimum of 24 credit points.
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 2 - 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 SUTE student feedback
I really enjoyed the unit and how there was a task each week to complete for the assessment. Overall the delivery of the unit was outstanding! It was engaging, interesting and informative.
Continue to deliver the unit content in an engaging, interesting and informative way.
Feedback from SUTE student feedback
I also found the final assignment to be very large for not many marks.
Review the weighting of the research portfolio and oral presentation components of Assessment 2.
- Strategise and conduct a client interview to obtain relevant information from a client and provide advice to a client in an effective and professional manner.
- Locate and evaluate relevant and credible legal and interdisciplinary sources.
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing in a range of professional and academic contexts.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 60% | |||
| 2 - Portfolio - 40% | |||
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 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Microphone
- Webcam
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.mcewan@cqu.edu.au
s.beattie@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Client Interviewing
Chapter
See weekly study guide
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Module/Topic
Legal Writing: Drafting Letters
Chapter
See weekly study guide
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Module/Topic
Project Management
Chapter
See weekly study guide
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Module/Topic
Analysing Legal Issues
Chapter
See weekly study guide
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Module/Topic
Focus on Rules
Chapter
See weekly study guide
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Focus on Cases
Chapter
See weekly study guide
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Module/Topic
Focus on Secondary Sources
Chapter
See weekly study guide
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Practical Assessment Due: Week 7 Friday (5 Sept 2025) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Focus on Data and Other Sources
Chapter
No reading this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Module/Topic
Legal Writing: Drafting an Argument
Chapter
See weekly study guide
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Module/Topic
Presenting Research to an Audience
Chapter
See weekly study guide
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Module/Topic
Professional Practice and Reflection
Chapter
See weekly study guide
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Module/Topic
Building a Professional Portfolio
Chapter
See weekly study guide
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online Zoom workshop.
Research Portfolio Due: Week 12 Friday (10 Oct 2025) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
For term 2, 2025 we will take a team approach to teaching in this unit. Dr Alexandra McEwan will be Unit Coordinator (UC) for weeks 1-5, and over the mid-term break. From week 6 onwards, Associate Professor Scott Beattie will take over in the role of Unit Coordinator and lecturer. The UC will be available for consultation via Zoom or telephone. Please email to arrange a convenient time.
1 Practical Assessment
This unit is designed to enhance a range of practical legal skills, and this is achieved through your work on a ‘client file’ as part of this practical assessment. You will be required to conduct a client interview with another student in order to ascertain relevant information and you will then use your legal research skills to write a letter of advice to the client. For this assessment, all students will therefore be required to work in groups of two and perform the role of lawyer and client. Note: As students are reliant upon each other to conduct the client interviews, extensions are not permitted for this assessment.
AI scale level for this assessment task: NO AI
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.
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
Week 7 Friday (5 Sept 2025) 11:59 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 is 2 weeks
The client interview assesses your:
- ability to open the client interview in a courteous, professional and informative manner;
- ability communicate effectively with the client in a professional manner;
- interview technique;
- ability to respond to a client's questions and address areas of ambiguity;
- ability to close a client interview;
The letter of advice assesses your ability to:
- communicate in accordance with the needs of the reader and apply the principles of plain English drafting;
- conduct legal research on the legal issues;
- provide legal and practical advice on the legal issues;
- adopt a suitable structure in the letter and present information in accordance with drafting convention;
- communicate in writing in an effective and professional manner.
A criteria rubric is available under the 'Assessment tile' in Moodle.
- Strategise and conduct a client interview to obtain relevant information from a client and provide advice to a client in an effective and professional manner.
- Locate and evaluate relevant and credible legal and interdisciplinary sources.
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing in a range of professional and academic contexts.
2 Portfolio
As part of your portfolio, you will be required to undertake research exercises similar to those you might be expected to perform as a newly qualified lawyer. The work setting will be specified in the task instructions. These authentic exercises will require you to use advanced research techniques to locate relevant primary and secondary sources to formulate an oral presentation detailing your position on a particular project. You must produce an oral presentation on the research topic and compile your weekly workshop tasks from weeks 3 - 11 to form a research portfolio.
AI scale level for this assessment task: NO AI
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.
Week 12 Friday (10 Oct 2025) 11:59 pm AEST
Both the oral presentation and portfolio must be submitted by the deadline (and the oral presentation must therefore be uploaded to Echo360 by the deadline).
Results may be withheld until the certification of grades.
This task assesses your ability to:
- Locate and critically analyse suitable sources;
- Engage in self-evaluation and critical reflection;
- Communicate effectively in writing;
- Present arguments in a logical and persuasive manner;
- Present information orally in an effective manner;
- Critically analyse legal and interdisciplinary sources and adopt an evidence-based approach; and
- Reach logical, informed conclusions grounded in the arguments presented.
- Strategise and conduct a client interview to obtain relevant information from a client and provide advice to a client in an effective and professional manner.
- Locate and evaluate relevant and credible legal and interdisciplinary sources.
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing in a range of professional and academic contexts.
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?
