Overview
Criminal Law in Practice is delivered via intensive mode. The unit will build on your existing knowledge of criminal law with an emphasis on developing practical oral and written communication skills designed to assist you in the practice of criminal law. You will complete advocacy based assessment tasks that will require you to present legal argument, orally, via the use of zoom. You will analyse fundamental aspects of criminal law and apply the law using a practical methodology. In this unit you will study practical topics relating to specific criminal law issues including police powers and responsibilities in arrest and questioning, applying for bail, the registry committal and committal hearing process, procedures to ensure a fair trial, the role of the jury and verdict, sentencing of youth offenders and adult offenders and the appeals process to the District Court of Queensland, the Queensland Court of Appeal and the High Court of Australia. The unit has a maximum number of students who can enrol due to the advocacy based assessment tasks.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisites: 48 credit points of law units including LAWS11060 and Co-requisite 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 1 - 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 Teacher reflection
Student enrolments in 2023 and 2024 and student feedback indicate that the unit is popular and seen as beneficial for students' future legal careers
Consider running the unit every year rather than once every two years
Feedback from SUTE results
Further feedback on assessments
Review when and how feedback is delivered as well as the extent of the feedback.
Feedback from Reflection of UC
Include guest lectures from practitioners or judges
Include a guest lecture designed to provide insight into a day in the life of a criminal law practitioner.
- Research and apply principles of criminal law from legislation, rules and case law to the analysis of practical criminal law scenarios
- Demonstrate persuasive written and oral communication skills in response to practical criminal law scenarios
- Apply critical legal thinking, analytical reasoning and professional judgment that demonstrate an in-depth understanding of criminal law issues.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 40% | |||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 60% | |||
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
Criminal Process in Queensland
- 2nd Edition (2017)
- Authors: Douglas.H., Barrett. M., Higgins. E.
- Thomson Reuters
- Pyrmont Pyrmont , NSW , Australia
- ISBN: 9780455239750
- Binding: Paperback
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Webcam and microphone
- Zoom
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Australian Guide to Legal Citation, 4th ed
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
d.f.jorgensen@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 10 Mar 2025Module/Topic
Module 1: Criminal procedure, courts, arrest, warrants and bail
Chapter
Textbook: Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom workshop module 1
Week 2
Begin Date: 17 Mar 2025Module/Topic
Module 2: Committal, trial, jury and verdict
Chapter
Textbook Chapters 6, 7 (pp161-181), 8, 9, and 10.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom workshop module 2
Week 3
Begin Date: 24 Mar 2025Module/Topic
Module 3: Sentencing
Chapter
Textbook: Chapters 7 (pp 147-161), 11, and 12.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom workshop module 3
Week 4
Begin Date: 31 Mar 2025Module/Topic
Module 4: The appeals process
Chapter
Textbook: Chapters 13 and 14 (pp 389-395).
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom workshop module 4
Week 5
Begin Date: 07 Apr 2025Module/Topic
Assessment 1: Criminal law advocacy
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 14 Apr 2025Module/Topic
Mid-term break
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 21 Apr 2025Module/Topic
Self-guided learning
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 28 Apr 2025Module/Topic
Self-guided learning
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 05 May 2025Module/Topic
Assessment 2: Final assessment task
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
CONSULTATION HOURS: I am generally available for consultation on Wednesdays from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm (Eastern Standard Time).
The best way to contact me is by email. I check my emails regularly and will get back to you to arrange a time to talk.
1 Practical Assessment
In week 1, on Moodle, you will be provided with a criminal law scenario and details to complete assessment 1.
You will be required to present your legal argument via Zoom in a live format to the unit coordinator and in the presence of other students.
You will be graded on your legal advocacy in addition to how you link your legal argument with reference to the law and facts.
You will be required to nominate via a share document on Moodle your role for the assessment (either prosecutor or defence) as well as select a date and time to present your legal argument. The share document will be made available on Moodle in week 1.
The purpose of this assessment is to develop your legal advocacy skills. Therefore, the feedback is designed to refine and improve your advocacy skills to better prepare you for criminal law legal practice. You receive your feedback from the unit coordinator immediately following your oral submissions.
You must not use any generative AI, large language model or equivalent in any manner for this assessment.
Academic Integrity standards apply to the assessment.
Week 5 Monday (7 Apr 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
The written component must be submitted via Moodle. The oral component will be conducted via zoom during week 5.
Students will receive verbal feedback after their zoom presentation. A grade will be confirmed via Moodle Gradebook after all students complete the assessment task.
You will be assessed on your legal advocacy skills in addition to how you link your legal argument with reference to the law and the facts in a persuasive and concise style using grammatically correct language.
Assessment criteria:
These criteria are a general guide as to the standard expected at the various levels. It is not necessarily the case that all criteria will be met at a particular standard, as there may be superior performance on one of the criteria and not so satisfactory performance on another.
High Distinction standard:
· the assignment is very well written/spoken and clearly expressed
· there is a demonstrated appreciation and understanding of the issues involved
· the assignment is well structured and logically organised
· demonstrated mastery of referencing system
· there is evidence of a comprehensive analysis of the issues
Distinction standard:
· the assignment is well written/spoken and expressed
· the assignment is structured and logical
· the issues have been reasonably well identified and appreciated
· there is correct use of referencing
· issues have been analysed
Credit standard:
· the assignment is generally well written/spoken and expressed
· the assignment is structured and sequential
· referencing is satisfactory
· issues are identified and addressed
· there has been an attempt to analyse some of the issues
Pass standard:
· the assignment is able to be followed and understood
· the assignment could perhaps be better organised and structured
· the referencing may need improvement
· issues may need to be identified and addressed in more depth
· analysis when present may be incorrect
Fail standard:
· the assignment is sometimes significantly short of the required length
· the expression is poor and difficult to understand
· the assignment is poorly organised
· there has been a failure to address the issues in the question
· referencing is generally inadequate
- Research and apply principles of criminal law from legislation, rules and case law to the analysis of practical criminal law scenarios
- Demonstrate persuasive written and oral communication skills in response to practical criminal law scenarios
- Apply critical legal thinking, analytical reasoning and professional judgment that demonstrate an in-depth understanding of criminal law issues.
2 Written Assessment
The take home paper will be released on Moodle. The assessment will comprise criminal law problem scenarios requiring a legal argument with reference to legislation and case law to support your argument. A marking rubric will be released with the question.
This assessment must be completed by the due date. You will have 2.5 hours to complete the assessment. You must upload your answer to Moodle in a Word document to the assessment upload link.
Extensions are not permitted for take home papers.
Submissions after the deadline has passed will not be accepted and will receive a mark of zero.
Exam conditions apply to all take home papers.
You must not use any generative AI, large language model or equivalent in any manner for this assessment.
Academic Integrity standards apply to the assessment.
Week 8 Friday (9 May 2025) 1:00 pm AEST
Students are to submit their answer via the assessment 2 link on Moodle
The take home paper takes the form of an examination and will not be returned to students. Students will receive their mark for this assessment and their grade for the unit on the date of certification/ release of grades.
You will be assessed on your :
- research skills, including your reference to case law and reference of legislation
- legal argument linking the law to the problem scenario; and
- use of persuasive, concise, and grammatically correct language.
- Research and apply principles of criminal law from legislation, rules and case law to the analysis of practical criminal law scenarios
- Demonstrate persuasive written and oral communication skills in response to practical criminal law scenarios
- Apply critical legal thinking, analytical reasoning and professional judgment that demonstrate an in-depth understanding of criminal law issues.
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?
