Course Outline

LAW419 Family Law

Course Coordinator:Kirsty Mackie (kmackie@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society

2026Trimester 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.

Online

Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

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

Family Law concerns the law of family relationships and the institutions that are responsible for assisting people when those relationships fail. You will consider those family relationships that are recognised by law as well the processes that are available to end them formally. You will examine the law governing care of, and financial support for children when relationships break down, as well as the law concerning spousal maintenance and division of property in these circumstances. There will be considerable emphasis upon the growing use of non-adversarial techniques in family law practice

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online Learning Materials 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On-Campus Tutorials 2hrs Week 2 10 times
Online
Learning materials – Online Learning Materials 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Online Tutorials 2hrs Week 2 10 times

Course Topics

Family Law an introduction history and overview, Judicial Framework and Constitutional basis; Social issues and context; 
Marriage, Nullity, defacto relationships and Divorce
Children and Parenting issues
Dispute resolution in Family Law Contexts; Consent Orders; Parenting Plans and Binding Financial agreements. 
Child Support and Spousal Maintenance;
Property disputes and the alteration of property interests by a Court; 
The Factors involved in a property division/adjustment and; Superannuation; Third Party interests. 

[Adult themes across all topics]

Mature Content

Adult themes

What level is this course?

400 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

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 The ability to explain, describe, analyse and apply key concepts in Family Law Knowledgeable
Empowered
2 Demonstrate an understanding of the role of lawyers in Family Dispute Resolution processes and in court proceedings. Ethical
Engaged
3 Demonstrate the ability to process a client's instructions, filter the relevant material, and give basic advice that is relevant and practical and comprehensive. Knowledgeable
Empowered
4 Enhanced capacity to locate primary and secondary legal sources and to use those sources to engage in persuasive writing. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
5 Demonstrate the ability for oral persuasion. 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

(LAW102 or LAW108) or ((LAW100 or LAW101) and (LAW105 or LAW103))

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

LAW305

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 Activity Participation Individual 10%
2 Hour Tutorials
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) In Class
All 2 Written Piece Individual 40%
1500 words
Week 8 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:Tutorial Participation
Goal:
The goal of this task is to assess your ability to identify and respond to family 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
Demonstrate knowledge of the Family Law material within the tutorial
1 2
2
Actively participate in the tutorial activities
3 5
3
Demonstrate oral speaking skills
5
Generic Skills:
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Letter of Advice and Memorandum
Goal:
Enhance your knowledge of family law by applying your legal knowledge of a particular scenario to the relevant law in the form of a memorandum to a senior partner at a law firm.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Memorandum (1500 words) excluding footnotes and bibliography, referenced according to the Australian Guide to Legal Citation.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Demonstrate knowledge of Family Law
1 2
2
Evaluate and apply knowledge of Family Law to a scenario
3 4
3
Evidence clear, suitable presentation of a memorandum of advice
3
4
Demonstrate clear and concise written communication skills, including correct grammar, spelling and referencing.
4
5
Demonstrate analytical and critical thinking skills
3
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Final Examination
Goal:
To demonstrate your ability to analyse family law issues arising from factual scenarios, to find and formulate legal principles, to apply them to the facts and to reach reasoned conclusions.
Product: Examination - Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format:
You may use any materials to construct an answer to unseen legal problems or legal issues drawn from any part of the course. This assessment task is an online, open-book exam.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Demonstrate knowledge of Family Law
1 2
2
Apply knowledge of Family Law to a scenario
3
3
Evidence clear, effective written communication
4
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation

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 ALEXANDRA & COOPER HARLAND (DONNA & TURNBULL, CHRIS.) 2023 FAMILY LAW PRINCIPLES. 3rd Edition THOMSON REUTERS

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:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

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

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: