Unit rationale, description and aim
This unit introduces students to the core principles in family law and to consider the role of the law in constructing and regulating family life. The unit considers the way in which the law defines and regulates the formation and dissolution of marriage and de facto relationships, the care of children and the reallocation of property interests after a marriage or de facto relationship ends. The unit also examines family violence as it impacts on family law decision making and the legal protection of parents and children from family violence.
Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unitLearning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Critically discuss and appreciate contemporary leg...
Learning Outcome 01
Identify and critically apply law relevant and app...
Learning Outcome 02
Communicate effectively to others the outcome of l...
Learning Outcome 03
Content
Topics will include:
- Overview, historical and theoretical context
- Jurisdiction
- Marriage, divorce and nullity
- De facto and other relationships
- Family dispute resolution
- Family violence
- Children and parenting orders
- Financial orders and property settlement
- Spouse maintenance
- Child maintenance and child support
- Mediation and other dispute resolution in family law
- Ethics in family law practice
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment strategy is designed to assess knowledge, skills and understanding in a specialist area of law, and to apply Priestley knowledge to a specialist area of law.
The assessment tasks for this unit are designed to demonstrate achievement of each of the learning outcomes listed.
Overview of assessments
Letter of Advice to Client (1000 words)
Letter of Advice to Client (1000 words)
20%
Research assignment: requires students to demonst...
Research assignment: requires students to demonstrate their ability to research the assigned topic and critically evaluate the relevant laws
40%
Examination: requires students to answer hypothet...
Examination: requires students to answer hypothetical problems and short answer questions that will be based on the material presented in lectures and tutorials.
40%
INTENSIVE DELIVERY
Preparatory Participation Activities
Preparatory Participation Activities
20%
Research assignment: requires students to demonst...
Research assignment: requires students to demonstrate their ability to research the assigned topic and critically evaluate the relevant laws
40%
Examination: requires students to answer hypothet...
Examination: requires students to answer hypothetical problems and short answer questions that will be based on the material presented in lectures and tutorials.
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Mode: Lectures, tutorials, electronic consultation, library tasks and presentations or Online lectures and activities.
Duration: 3 hours per week over 12 weeks or equivalent. Students are expected to spend 150 hours in total for this unit.
This level two elective unit allows students to demonstrate more advanced knowledge, skills and understanding in a specialist area of law building on knowledge developed in the compulsory units.
Our strategy is to encourage students to creatively engage with unit content and to apply Priestley knowledge in a specialist area of law.
The unit is designed to be delivered in intensive, weekly mode or online mode. We have taken a multimodal learning approach to provide accessibility and flexibility to our students and a student-focused approach that increases depth of learning and engagement through actively utilising Canvas.