Availabilities:

Location Domestic International
Gold Coast Session 2 Session 2
Lismore Session 2 Session 2
Online Session 2 N/A

Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

7

Level of learning

Intermediate

Former School/College

Former School of Law and Justice

Pre-requisites

LAW00051 - Legal Research and Writing AND LAW00130 Introduction to Law and Contract OR LAW00150 - Introduction to Business Law OR LAW10157 - Australian Legal System

Anti-requisites

3007083 - Bachelor of Laws AND 3206101 - Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws AND 3206102 - Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Laws AND 3206105 - Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science, Bachelor of Laws AND 3206108 - Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Laws AND 3706100 - Bachelor of Laws AND 3207006 - Bachelor of Social Science, Bachelor of Laws

Unit aim

Explores the enforcement of private rights created by civil law. Students analyse the fundamental principles of the law of torts and develop the vocational skills required by paralegals to work in this area of the law.

Unit content

Topic 1 Definition and description of torts 
Topic 2 Duty of care 
Topic 3 The standard of care 
Topic 4 Causation 
Topic 5 Defences to negligence 
Topic 6 Assessment of damages for personal injuries 
Topic 7 Vicarious liability and non-delegable duties 
Topic 8 Intentional torts and private nuisance 
Topic 9 Litigation: Civil procedure 
Topic 10 Case study: Motor vehicle accidents 
Topic 11 Case study: The 'stolen generations' litigation 
Topic 12 Torts: New directions and revision

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 identify the elements of a negligence action and a limited number of other torts
2 explain the role of tort law and how it has been impacted by legislative change
3 determine how damages are assessed
4 describe the processes by which claims for compensation are pursued
5 apply to factual situations the principles of liability to pay compensation
6 demonstrate legal writing skills appropriate to the role of a paralegal

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. identify the elements of a negligence action and a limited number of other torts
    • GA4:
  2. explain the role of tort law and how it has been impacted by legislative change
    • GA4:
  3. determine how damages are assessed
    • GA4:
  4. describe the processes by which claims for compensation are pursued
    • GA4:
  5. apply to factual situations the principles of liability to pay compensation
    • GA7:
  6. demonstrate legal writing skills appropriate to the role of a paralegal
    • GA6:

Prescribed texts

  • Davies, M & Malkin, I, 2014, Focus: Torts, 7th edn, Lexis Nexis Butterworths. ISBN: 9780409337396.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.