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Course Outline

LAW204 Contracts B

Course Coordinator:Quinn Edwards (qedwards@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society

2025Semester 2

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

Contracts B completes your studies in the Australian law of contract. In this course you will consider rules concerning performance, termination and remedies for breach and you will examine a range of factors that may impact on the enforceability of a contract.  You will continue to develop your skills of case reading and analysis and your skills of statutory interpretation.

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 – On campus tutorial - 2 hours in Weeks 1-13 2hrs Week 1 13 times

Course Topics

Misleading & Deceptive Conduct

Mistake and non est factum

Duress and Undue Influence

Unconscionable conduct

Unfair Contract Terms

Illegality

Discharge by Performance

Termination for Breach or Repudiation

Termination by Agreement or by Frustration

Damages for Breach

Specific Performance, Restitution & Injunctions

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 skills of legal reasoning utilising case law and statute and knowledge of Australian contract law to resolve contract disputes based on theoretical propositions and real world fact scenarios Empowered
4 Apply skills of communicating complex legal matters in plain English 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

LAW203 and enrolled in any Law Program

Co-requisites

Not applicable

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

Early feedback on progress is available in weekly hands-on tutorials, where students have an opportunity to present (and receive feedback on) responses to hypothetical advice scenarios and discussion questions.

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 Quiz/zes Individual 15% 
15 mins each
 Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) Online Test (Quiz)
All 2 Written Piece Individual 35% 
1800 words
 Week 10 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Examination - Centrally Scheduled Individual 50% 
3 Hours
 Exam Period Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Quiz
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: 
Online Quizzes. You will have the opportunity to complete up to six 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.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Demonstrates a capacity to identify legal issues
 1
2 
Applies principles derived from case law and/or statute to provide appropriate legal advice by selecting the most appropriate response
 1 2 3 4
3 
Where relevant, demonstrates an understanding of the wider principles of contract law
 3 4
Generic Skills: 
Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Contract Law Advice
Goal: 
The goal of this assessment is to assess your understanding and application of some of the principles of contract law and your
ability to provide sound legal advice in response to a legal problem.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
This is an individual assessment of 1800 words (excl. footnotes)
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Application of law, principles and knowledge
 1 2 3
2 
Critical thinking, analysis and reasoning
 1 3
3 
Structure and writing
 4
4 
presentation and referencing
 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving
All - Assessment Task 3:Invigilated Final Examination
Goal: 
The goal of the examination is to assess your understanding of the rules of contract in relation to performance, breach and remedies and to assess your capacity to apply that understanding to new fact scenarios.
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 
Correct identification of legal issues, statute and case law appropriate to resolve issues
 1 2
2 
able to organise an answer that demonstrates the skill of legal analysis.
 3 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving

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 Lindy Willmott,Sharon Christensen,Des Butler,Bill Dixon 2018 Contract Law n/a Oxford University Press, USA
Required Des Butler,Sharon Christensen,Bill Dixon,Lindy Willmott 2018 Contract Law Casebook n/a Oxford University Press, USA

Specific requirements

Not applicable

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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