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Course Outline

LAW203 Contracts A

Course Coordinator:Charlotte Linklater-Steele (clinklaterstee@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society

2025Semester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

The law of contracts underpins commercial life. This course provides an essential understanding of the way the law protects economic activity, and the way in which voluntary agreements may become legally enforceable.  Contracts A is the first of two courses examining the Australian law of contract. Taken together, they cover the 'life-cycle' of contracts from their formation to their performance or breach. In this course you will consider rules concerning the formation of contracts, their terms and meaning.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online Learning Materials 1.5hrs Week 1 13 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Weekly workshops throughout the semester. Some workshops may include assessment tasks 2hrs Week 1 13 times

Course Topics

This course provides a critical introduction to contract law. It explores the various elements which relate to the formation of a legally-binding contract, the legal validity of parties to a contract, and the means through which contractual terms are established.

The course, in addition to providing an introduction to contract law, covers: 

  • Contractual Formation – Is there a legally binding agreement? (Agreement, Intention to Create Legal Relations; Consideration; Certainty, Completeness and Formalities)
  • Parties – Are the persons party to the contract able to enforce the bargain? (Capacity, Assignment and Privity) 
  • Contractual Terms – What are the terms (obligations) of the contract, and what do they mean? (Express and Implied Terms; Construction of Terms and Exclusion Clauses)
  • The Nature of Contract and Theories of Contract Law.

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Analyse facts to identify legal issues raised by those facts. Empowered
2 Explain the correct principle(s) of law to resolve a factual problem. Knowledgeable
3 Apply knowledge of Australian contract law to resolve contractual disputes based on authentic real-world fact scenarios. Knowledgeable
Empowered
4 Apply questioning techniques to obtain relevant information and provide appropriate support when interviewing a client. Knowledgeable
Empowered
Ethical
5 Deploy communication skills to effectively, appropriately and persuasively present legal information and advice. Knowledgeable
Empowered

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

LAW102 and enrolled in any Law Program except AR391

Co-requisites

LAW101 and enrolled in AR391

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Students will have an opportunity to receive formative feedback on academic progress by participating in the tutorial program. Weekly tutorial questions are posted at the commencement of the semester, and students have the opportunity to complete these questions and receive both peer and instructor review of this work. Tutorial questions are designed to model real-world advice scenarios, and scaffold students towards developing responses to law assignments and exams.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Activity Participation Group 10% 
2 Hour Tutorials
 Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Quiz/zes Individual 15% 
15 Minutes
 Refer to Format Online Test (Quiz)
All 3 Artefact - Professional Individual 25% 
1500 words
 Week 10 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 4 Examination - Centrally Scheduled Individual 50% 
3 Hours
 Exam Period Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Tutorial Participation
Goal: 
The goal of this task is to assess your ability to identify and respond to contract law questions.
Product: Activity Participation
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Oral responses to questions within the tutorial time or written responses to the tutorial activities each week if unable to attend the tutorial. Students will need to complete participation for 10 tutorials, with each tutorial being worth 1% of the mark.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Ability to synthesis and explain principles of contract law
 2 5
2 
Identification of relevant facts and legal issues
 1 4
3 
Communication skills appropriate for the audience
 5
4 
Supportive and collaborative professional etiquette
 4 5
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Organisation
All - Assessment Task 2:Contract Law Online Quizzes
Goal: 
The goal of this assessment is to assess your ability to engage in legal analysis of simple fact scenarios based on your understanding of the legal principles governing contract law.
Product: Quiz/zes
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You will have the opportunity to complete five marked quizzes, and of these, the three quizzes you score highest in will be counted towards your mark for this assessment. Each of these quizzes is worth a maximum of 5% of your final grade. Quizzes are to be completed prior to commencement of the tutorial covering the material.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Knowledge of the law
 1 2 3
Generic Skills: 
Problem solving, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Contract Law Advice
Goal: 
The goal of this assessment is to mirror real world practice by testing your ability to resolve a multi-issue legal problem using the knowledge learnt so far in the course, as well as your skills of legal reasoning.
Product: Artefact - Professional
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Written legal advice
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Identification of legal issues
 1
2 
Knowledge of relevant legal principles
 2
3 
Application of legal principles to factual scenario
 2 3
4 
Communication skills
 5
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 4:Invigilated Final Examination
Goal: 
In this task, you will demonstrate your knowledge and application of contract law in response to unseen exam questions.
Product: Examination - Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
This assessment task is an online, open-book and invigilated exam. You will be required to attend a live Zoom session throughout the duration of the exam and need access to a working computer, a stable internet connection, and a webcam.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Identification of legal issues and explanation of relevant legal principles
 1 2
2 
Application of legal principles and rules
 3
3 
Accurate and appropriate communication and citation skills
 5
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Des Butler,Sharon Christensen,Bill Dixon,Lindy Willmott 2018 Contract Law Casebook n/a Oxford University Press, USA
Required Lindy Willmott,Sharon Christensen,Des Butler,Bill Dixon 2018 Contract Law n/a Oxford University Press, USA

Specific requirements

Nil

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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