Course Title: Wills and Succession

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Wills and Succession

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
LAW1043	City Campus	Postgraduate	660H Graduate School of Business and Law	Face-to-Face	Spring2010, Spring2011, Sem 1 2017, Sem 1 2019, Sem 1 2021

Course Coordinator: Kathy Douglas

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 0133

Course Coordinator Email: Kathy.Douglas@rmit.edu.au

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required Prior Study
040015 - Introduction to the Australian Legal System and Legal Methods
 

Course Description

This course examines estate and intestate succession, family maintenance and the role of executors and administrators. Topics include; nature and formalities of wills; testamentary capacity and undue influence; the operation of wills; legacies and devises; grants of probate and letters of administration, the construction of wills; intestate succession; personal representatives, administration of estates and testator’s family maintenance.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

See learning outcomes

 

Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:

1. demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of the law relating to wills and succession;
2. critically evaluate the wills and succession area of law and identify areas of reform;
3. analyse and research complex problems relating to wills and succession and make reasoned and appropriate choices amongst alternatives;
4. demonstrate sophisticated cognitive and creative skills in approaching legal issues relating to wills and succession and generate appropriate responses
5. show effective, appropriate and persuasive collaboration and communication skills for legal and non-legal audiences through engagement with drafting a will.

 

Overview of Learning Activities

To achieve the objectives listed above this course requires you to participate in various learning activities. These activities comprise the following:

* Leading class discussion on legal problems and policy issues.
* Engaging in legal research by traditional means but also using electronic legal data bases and internet searching,
* Participation in class discussion
* Drafting exercises
 

Overview of Learning Resources

Various learning resources are available online through myRMIT/Canvas. In addition to topic notes, assessment details and a study schedule, you may also be provided with links to: relevant online information, readings, audio and video clips and communication tools to facilitate collaboration with your peers and to share information.

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

The courses of the RMIT Graduate School of Business and Law use assessment to measure and report on your achievement of capabilities against learning outcomes and to provide you with feedback on your performance and progress.

Generally, assessment you will face may include assignments, group projects, individual case studies and examinations.

Assessment Type	Learning Outcomes	Percentage
Draft of will and letter of advice	3, 5	30%
Memorandum of Advice	1, 2, 4	20%
Final Exam	1, 3, 4	50%