Legal Writing and Drafting

Unit code: LLW1003 | Study level: Undergraduate
Credit points
12
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
Location
City Campus
Online Real Time
Prerequisites
BLB1101 - Australian Legal System in Context
BLB1114 - Legal Research Methods
Plus 2 Level 1 Law units.
(Or equivalent to be determined by unit coordinator)
Overview
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Overview

This unit of study focuses on developing skills in good legal writing and drafting. It includes principles of plain English, effective written communication and drafting legal documents, including court documents and how to apply them in practice. The unit will cover the function and operation of a document, stages in preparing a document and structuring a document. Students will also learn about style, appearance, content and presentation of documents. The unit will further address legal rules of construction that apply to documents such as agreements, the use of precedents and rules of evidence and procedure that apply to court documents.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Scrutinise complex legal problems; conduct research and draft legal documents in plain English language;
  2. Interpret and apply different types of legal writing and drafting techniques and conventions;
  3. Locate, analyse, adapt and use relevant legal precedents for effective legal drafting;
  4. Employ analytical, cognitive, and written communication skills in producing context-specific legal documents, in contemporary Australian legal contexts; and
  5. Utilise a variety of approaches to interpreting legal documents (“statutory interpretation”) and understand how such approaches may inform the process of drafting legal documents in appropriate contexts.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment type: Assignment
|
Grade: 30%
Drafting a letter of advice to a client
Assessment type: Assignment
|
Grade: 40%
Drafting a settlement agreement or affidavit and reflection
Assessment type: Assignment
|
Grade: 30%
Drafting an affidavit or pleading (in-class assessment)

Required reading

Additional readings listed Unit of Study Guide and/or VU Collaborate space

Foundations of Australian Law and Legal, Writing A custom publication for Victoria University
Raponi, K,de Saint, J, O’Sullivan, C, (2022),(eds)| LexisNexis

As part of a course

This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):

Bachelor of Laws
BLAW | Bachelor degree | Duration: 4 years
Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry)
BLGE | Bachelor degree | Duration: 3 years
Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
LHLW | Bachelor honours degree | Duration: 4 years
Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (Graduate Entry)
LHGE | Bachelor honours degree | Duration: 3 years
Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts
LHWA | Bachelor honours degree | Duration: 5 years
Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Business
LHWB | Bachelor honours degree | Duration: 5 years
Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Commerce (Applied Finance)
LHLC | Bachelor honours degree | Duration: 5 years
Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Criminology
LHCR | Bachelor honours degree | Duration: 4.5 years
Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
LHWP | Bachelor honours degree | Duration: 6 years
Bachelor of Laws/ Bachelor of Criminology
LBLC | Bachelor degree | Duration: 4.5 years
Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts
LBLA | Bachelor degree | Duration: 5 years
Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Business
LBWB | Bachelor degree | Duration: 5 years
Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Psychological Studies
LBWP | Bachelor degree | Duration: 5 years
Bachelor of Legal Services
LBLS | Bachelor degree | Duration: 3 years

Refer to the course page for information on how to apply for the course. VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this unit information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that unit information is current with the Student Contact Centre.

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