Course Outline
LAW403 Evidence
Course Coordinator:Leon Harris (lharris@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society
2026Semester 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast |
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
This course introduces you to the sources of evidence law and fundamental principles of evidence law including burdens and standards of proof; the presumption of innocence; relevance; probative value; admissibility, weight, judicial notice, illegally obtained evidence; judicial discretion; judicial directions; judicial warnings; corroboration and public policy. You will examine the rules about oral, documentary and real evidence including the competence and compellability of witnesses; credibility of witnesses; examination of witnesses during the trial process; the role of views; and how to prove documents and real evidence. You will also examine the rules excluding evidence and the exceptions to those rules, for example, privileged, hearsay, implied admissions, circumstantial, similar fact, coincidence, tendency (disposition) evidence, character and opinion.
How will this course be delivered?
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Learning materials – Asynchronous online learning materials - 1.5 hours in weeks 1-13. | 1.5hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Synchronous on campus tutorial - 2 hours in weeks 1-13. | 2hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
Course Topics
Sources of law of evidence; functions of the judge, counsel and jury in the adversarial system; burden and standard of proof
Main facts in issue and collateral facts in issue; relevance, admissibility, weight, exclusionary rules, discretion to exclude, illegally obtained evidence, voir dire
Competence, compellability and privilege, including the accused as a witness; examination of particular classes of witnesses – children, Indigenous people, people from non-English speaking backgrounds and complainants in sexual offences (including corroboration)
The trial process – examination-in-chief
The trial process – cross-examination, re-examination, rebuttal, objections
Documentary evidence and real evidence
Hearsay
Exceptions to hearsay including common law, statutory and res gestae
Admissions and confessions (including illegally obtained evidence)
Circumstantial evidence; similar fact evidence; character evidence
Opinion evidence
[All course topics could contain mature content]
Mature Content
What level is this course?
400 Level (Graduate)
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 | Demonstrate a coherent and advanced knowledge of the rules of evidence, evidential concepts and principles |
Knowledgeable Empowered |
| 2 | Demonstrate cognitive skills to exercise critical thinking, such as interpret, analyse, evaluate and synthesise knowledge of the rules of evidence to identify and provide solutions to complex problems with intellectual independence. | Creative and critical thinker |
| 3 | Demonstrate communication skills to present a clear and coherent understanding of the rules of evidence to a legal audience. | Engaged |
| 4 | Demonstrate the application of the rules of evidence and skills with responsibility and accountability for own learning and reflective practice and in collaboration with others. |
Empowered Engaged |
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
LAW104 and LAW304 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
In the tutorials in Weeks 2-6, you will engage in activities that ask you to self-assess and reflect on your learning; and provide peer feedback on tutorial answers.
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 | Essay | Individual | 25% | 1000 words |
Week 6 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 2 | Journal | Individual | 25% | 1000 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:Written Piece | |||||||||||||
| Goal: | The goal of the written piece is to assess your knowledge of the rules of evidence, evidential concepts and principles. It will also assess your communication skills. |
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| Product: | Essay | ||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||||||||
| Format: | This task is to be completed individually and requires an analytical essay format. The maximum word limit is 1000 words. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication |
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| All - Assessment Task 2:Journal | ||||||||||
| Goal: | The goal of the journal is to assess your knowledge of the rules of evidence, evidential concepts and principles. It will also assess your problem-solving skills, communication skills and collaboration skills. |
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| Product: | Journal | |||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | ||||||||||
| Format: | This task requires an individual written reflection on learning activities relevant to the trial process. The learning activities will be completed collaboratively in a law firm (team of 4-5 students) in the tutorials in Weeks 8 and 9. This includes reflecting on planning questions for examination-in-chief and cross-examination; simulating counsel by asking questions of a witness in the Moot Court; objecting to questions asked by opponent counsel; and collaborating with other students. The maximum word limit is 1000 words. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation |
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| All - Assessment Task 3:Invigilated Final Examination | |||||||
| Goal: | The goal of this assessment is to test your ability to apply the legal principles and concepts learned this semester to unseen questions. |
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| 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. In preparation for this task, you will receive formative feedback from your lecturer and tutor throughout this course. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Problem solving, Organisation |
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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 | D Field; W van Caenegem; C Duffy | 2022 | Queensland Evidence Law, 6th Edition | n/a | LexisNexis |
Specific requirements
Nil
How are risks managed in this course?
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
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