Course Title: Technology, Ethics and the Law

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Technology, Ethics and the Law

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
LAW2600	City Campus	Undergraduate	660H Graduate School of Business and Law	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2021, Sem 2 2022, Sem 2 2023

Course Coordinator: Cathryn Nolan

Course Coordinator Phone: -

Course Coordinator Email: Cathryn.Nolan@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Building 13

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Enforced Prerequisite:
054012 Becoming a Lawyer in Globalised World

Course Description

The ethical concerns arising from working as a lawyer are important aspects of legal practice. This course will engage with lawyers’ duties and ethics and the professional regulation and responsibilities of legal practice.  It will explore the changing nature of legal practice and the rise of technology in legal processes and the legal ethical issues that arise due to the impact of technology. You will engage in critical reflection about the role of the lawyer in a changing world of practice.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

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Course Learning Outcomes  

Upon successful completion of this course, you will:

CLO1: Evaluate the broad theoretical and conceptual basis of lawyers’ ethics and professional regulation, and its social context with a focus on technology in the law and the impact on legal practice;

CLO2: Reflect on the sources of lawyers’ ethical obligations and professional responsibilities (for example, in common law and equity; procedural law; and professional regulation), and the consequences of breach; 

CLO3: Apply the substantive rules and principles governing professional conduct in respect of the lawyer’s duties (for example, to the law; to the administration of justice; to the client; to fellow practitioners; to others); 

CLO4: Demonstrate an understanding of both the contextual difficulties of, and approaches to, ethical tensions that arise for practising lawyers in seeking to discharge their professional obligations with a focus on technology in law and the impact on legal practice;

CLO5: Communicate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive for legal and non-legal audiences, and collaborate effectively;

CLO6: Reflect on and assess personal capabilities and performance in a professional context, and make use of feedback as appropriate, to support personal and professional development.

 

 

Overview of Learning Activities

Students will engage in a series of interactive weekly seminars developing research, presentation and teamwork skills as well as a substantive understanding of the topics. 

In this course you will be encouraged to be an active learner. Your learning will be supported through various in-class and online activities comprising individual and group work. These will include assignments; prescribed readings; researching and analysing specific information; solving problems; conducting presentations; producing written work and collaborating with peers on set tasks or projects. Active and constructive participation in group discussions is expected in addition to weekly reading and careful planning of assessment tasks.

Overview of Learning Resources

Various learning resources are available online through myRMIT Studies/Canvas. These include seminar slides, assessment details, links to relevant internet information, readings and communication tools to facilitate collaboration with your peers.

Resources are also available online through RMIT Library databases and other facilities. Visit the RMIT library website for further details. Assistance is available online via our chat and email services, face to face at our campus libraries or via the telephone on (03) 9925 2020.

Additional resources and/or sources to assist your learning will be identified by your course coordinator and will be made available to you as required during the teaching period.

 

Overview of Assessment

Assessment Task 1 – 10% (Linked CLOs 1, 5, 6)

Assessment Task 2 - 40% (Linked CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Assessment Task 3 – 50% (Linked CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; all content is examinable)