Lecture 22 LR.

Acknowledgment of Country

  • Acknowledgement of the Wodjuk people of the Noongar nation.

  • Recognition of enduring cultures and survival despite colonisation.

  • Emphasis on the path forward being one of reconciliation and unity.

  • Importance of respect for First Nations people, particularly during Reconciliation Week.

Reflection on the Semester

  • The end of the first semester is a time for reflection on career paths and the world at large.

  • Discussion on the intersection of science and law, inspired by a Radio National segment featuring the Chief Executive of the Australian Academy of Science.

The Case of Kathleen Folbigg

  • Kathleen Folbigg was convicted due to the unexplained deaths of her four babies.

  • Initially, the legal system was suspicious due to the multiple deaths without a clear cause.

  • In 2019, a genetics study revealed a genetic malfunction as the cause of the babies' deaths, exonerating Folbigg.

  • Conviction was quashed in 2023 after spending approximately 15-20 years in jail.

The Intersection of Law and Science

  • Scientists often struggle with the legal system's adversarial nature and need for binary answers.

  • Scientists aim to communicate and educate judges and juries for comprehensive understanding, but the legal system's evidence process can hinder this.

  • The failure to quash Folbigg's conviction in 2019 highlighted these issues.

Importance of Interdisciplinary Respect

  • Lawyers are not the only or most important professionals; humility and respect for other fields of expertise are crucial.

  • Need to identify and address systemic issues like those in the Folbigg case and be agents of change.

Encouragement to Pursue Multiple Disciplines

  • Students considering science and law should pursue both, as they train the brain differently.

  • The ability to bridge different disciplines is valuable.

  • Encouragement to combine law with fields like forensic science, marine science, accounting, sociology, politics, or terrorism.

Broader Context of Law

  • The unit aims to elevate understanding beyond statutory interpretation and case analysis.

  • Focus on law's role in society, regulation, and continuous improvement.

The Dynamic Nature of Science

  • Science should be viewed as a dynamic field that is subject to questioning and new developments.

  • Society's view of science has shifted, where questioning it is now viewed negatively.

Intersection with Other Fields

  • Law significantly intersects with fields like climate change regulation.

Admin Announcements

  • Grammar quiz is available for practice and must be completed within the specified period (closes Tuesday of next week).

  • LMS (Learning Management System) is the primary communication channel for updates and announcements.

  • Assessment 2 will be returned by the end of the week; grades are generally good.

Unit and Teaching Surveys

  • Importance of completing unit and teaching surveys for valuable feedback.

  • Answers are anonymous and not released until after results.

  • Unit surveys cover structure, assessment, lectures, skills, and administration.

  • Teaching surveys evaluate lecturers and workshop leaders.

Lecture 13 Review: How to Study

  • Revisit or listen to Lecture 13 for guidance on exam preparation, marking criteria, feedback utilisation, and study techniques.

Assessment 2 Feedback

  • Assessment Two grades are being finalized and will be released via LMS.

  • Assessment was marked by a single, experienced marker to ensure consistency.

  • The average mark was 65%, with a top mark of 33 out of 35.

  • Exemplary work may be used as an anonymized example for future students.

Exam Details

  • Worth 50% of the final grade, equivalent to 50 marks.

  • Ten minutes of reading time to make notes on the exam paper but not in the answer booklet.

  • Open book exam with limited table space (70cm tables).

  • No phones or computers allowed; bags must be placed at the front of the room.

  • Photo ID is mandatory.

Exam Structure

  • Pink booklet: cases and problem solving (including statutory interpretation).

  • Blue booklet: writing questions and a question on the guest lecture.

  • Allocate time based on mark weighting.

  • Aim to save time on multiple-choice questions.

  • Answer short-mark questions directly without unnecessary details.

  • One scenario with two questions.

Examinable Content

  • All lectures (including guest lectures).

  • Skills taught in workshops (excluding the stress less workshop).

  • Substantive skills: problem-solving, legal writing, and statutory interpretation.

Content Focus

  • Focus on main concepts rather than fine details.

  • Case scenarios serve as examples rather than examinable material themselves.

  • Knowledge of cases setting out the principles of statutory interpretation and precedent is expected.

  • Citations are not required unless the question is specifically about citation.

Readings

  • Readings provide background knowledge and comprehension.

  • Readings not directly examinable in terms of specific author statements.

  • Used to deepen understanding and embed knowledge.

Clear Writing

  • Emphasis on clear, concise, and active voice.

  • Avoid unnecessary phrases, complex language, and Latin terms.

  • Resources available in textbooks and workshop materials for improving writing.

Practical Exam Tips

  • Check university exam timetable for correct time and day.

  • Plan to arrive early.

  • Know what materials are allowed.

  • The purpose of open book is for mental blanks, not for finding answers.

  • No smart devices allowed.

Ethical Considerations

  • Lawyers must uphold the law and respect rules.

  • Cheating is unacceptable and can jeopardise a legal career.

  • Act as a lawyer in training now to prepare for ethical practice.

Deferred Exams

  • Available for illness or significant events preventing exam attendance.

  • Require a medical certificate or evidence to support the application.

  • Applications go through the Exams Office, not unit coordinators.

  • Deferred exam period is typically the week before the semester starts.

  • COVID-related absences may also qualify for deferral.

Preparing for Different Exam Sections

  • Grammar Questions:

    • Self-instruction exercises and workshop questions.

    • Socrative recordings.

    • Practice quizzes on LMS.

    • Focus on weaknesses.

    • Use Copilot to generate practice questions.

  • Redrafting Questions:

    • Editing and simplifying language.

    • Role for both chopping words and rewording.

    • Workshop exercises and lecture content.

    • Generate summaries and notes about clear writing and then use as a resource.

  • Questions on a Case:

    • Review workshop and lecture content to do with cases and precedent and courts.

    • Consider possible questions that might be asked about a case.

    • Make a note of these questions.

    • Use pinpoints to identify where you're talking about inside the case.

  • Research and Citation Questions:

    • Be familiar with the main AGLC referencing.

    • Create your own examples.

    • Recap why it is that we cite.

  • Exam Problem Solving Question:

    • Understand basics and know what steps you need to go through.

    • Review the skill of problem solving.

    • Practice is important.

General Exam Advice

  • Avoid running out of time and missing questions.

  • Allocate time for each question.

  • Be sure to answer all the questions and every part of the questions.

  • Don't leave the exam room early unless you are confident that you have absolutely answered every single one and you've double checked that you're happy with all of your answers.

  • Write clearly. Write every second line and with a dark pen if you have messy writing.

Old Exam Papers

  • Problem that the unit is brand new, so there aren't any old exams.

Consultation Before Exams

  • Use emails rather than face to face

  • Explain your problem and then say and I'm thinking that the answer is probably X but am I right? And then that allows me to go, Yes you're right, good job, on the track, off you go, or Thank you for explaining it, you're not quite right and here's the error in your reasoning and here's the answer.

Peer Support

  • The best way of learning actually is to have to teach someone.

Key to Success

  • Try to remain calm if you have been to pretty much every lecture or listened to every lecture, you have been to the workshops and diligently applied yourself and got reasonable marks in your assessments, you are going to be fine.

Perspective

  • Keep everything in perspective. These are just assessments.

Future

  • These skills are the very beginnings of teaching you problem solving, the very beginnings of teaching you communications, the very beginnings of teaching you stuff. And you need to layer up every unit you need to be saying, okay, I need to be getting better at this.

  • A sure way to get better is to read case. Every time you read a case you're going, oh, wow, okay, I can see how the cadence of this case works. I can see how their judicial mind is working.

  • Lord Denning delivered a case called Beswick and Beswick.

Final Information

  • The three cases for the exam are now available.

  • Only one will be used in each of those exams, not necessarily the same one.

  • You don't have a choice.