Course Title: Law of Wills

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Law of Wills

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Coordinator: Vanessa Johnston

Course Coordinator Phone: -

Course Coordinator Email: vanessa.johnston@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Building 13, Level 2

Course Coordinator Availability: By Appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Assumed Knowledge: Becoming a Lawyer in a Globalised World, Principles of Contract Law, Property Law


Course Description

This course examines estate and intestate succession, family maintenance and the role of executors and administrators. The topics you will study 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

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On successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

CLO1: Reflect on the law relating to Wills and Succession.

CLO2: Critique the Wills and Succession area of law in light of contemporary legal issues and areas of reform.

CLO3: Analyse and apply the law relating to Wills and Succession and make appropriate choices amongst alternatives.

CLO4: Communicate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive for legal and non-legal audiences.


Overview of Learning Activities

To achieve the objectives listed above this course requires you to participate in various learning activities. These activities comprise participation in class and/or Canvas discussions, small group discussions and practical tasks within class studying legal problems, analysis of relevant decided cases, legislation, and academic writings. The conduct of legal research by traditional means but also using electronic legal data bases and internet searching.


Overview of Learning Resources

Various learning resources are available online through MyRMIT Studies\Canvas. The lecture notes and workshop notes are posted on Canvas.

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 assessment tasks, their weighting and the course learning outcomes to which they are aligned are as follows:

Assessment Task 1: 20%
Linked CLOs: 1, 2

Assessment Task 2: 30% 
Linked CLOs: 3, 4

Assessment Task 3: 50% 
Linked CLOs: 1, 2, 3, 4

Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or in online forums through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and by individual consultation.