Course Title: Make decisions in a legal context

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2021

Course Code: LAW5751C

Course Title: Make decisions in a legal context

School: 650T Vocational Business Education

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5390 - Diploma of Accounting

Course Contact: Doug Gourlay

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5944

Course Contact Email: doug.gourlay@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Anthony Di Stasio

anthony.distasio@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 60

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to make decisions, particularly those relating to compliance issues, in a legal context. It is intended to satisfy the requirement for a course of study in commercial law at an introductory or foundation level, covering Australian legal systems and processes.

It applies to individuals who, within the scope of own responsibility, use specialised knowledge to make decisions that require consideration of the legal context.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

FNSACC413 Make decisions in a legal context

Element:

1. Examine legal context of financial services work

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Identify key features of Australian legal systems and processes relating to own role 1.2 Identify functions of courts and other regulatory bodies relating to own role 1.3 Analyse implications of related legislation, regulations and legal precedents for operational decisions, and apply findings in decision-making process 1.4 Seek advice and guidance to evaluate and moderate decision-making processes

Element:

2. Identify compliance requirements of financial services work

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Interpret compliance requirements of own financial services work, and confirm interpretation with authoritative source relating to own role 2.2 Review legislative and regulatory sources of information to identify changes to compliance requirements 2.3 Analyse impact of changes to compliance requirements on business operations, policies and procedures

Element:

3. Develop compliance procedures

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Develop procedures in consultation with others to address compliance requirements 3.2 Establish timeframes to meet compliance requirements to align with statutory deadlines


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

A range of learning activities are planned for this course including self-paced and collaborative classroom based activities.

The self-paced activities will be delivered thought various technology platforms and include your contribution to wikis and discussion threads, reflective journals, quizzes and interactive sessions.

The collaborative classroom based activities will include group discussion, group problem solving activities and opportunities to practice your skills in a simulated/real workplace environment.

We expect you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities


Teaching Schedule

Course Schedule: Make decisions in a legal context                                                                                                                                

 Week

Topic

Content

Assessment

 

Week 1

 

Introduction to Australian legal system (1)

 Refer to canvas shell for weekly reading & activities

 

 

Week 2

 

Introduction to Australian legal system (2)

 Refer to canvas shell for weekly reading & activities

 

 

Week 3

 

Negligence 

 Refer to canvas shell for weekly reading & activities

 

 

Week 4

 

Contract law (1)

 Refer to canvas shell for weekly reading & activities

 

 

Week 5

 

Contract law (2)

 Refer to canvas shell for weekly reading & activities

 

 

Week 6

 

Assessment 1

The Australian Legal System

Assessment 1

 

Week 7

 

Business Structures (1)

 Refer to canvas shell for weekly reading & activities

 

 

Week 8

 

Business Structures (2)

 Refer to canvas shell for weekly reading & activities

 

 

Week 9

 

 

Compliance

 Refer to canvas shell for weekly reading & activities

 

 

Week 10

 

Assessment 2

Business Structures/Franchising & Compliance

Assessment 2

 

Week 11

 

Employment law 

 Refer to canvas shell for weekly reading & activities

 

 

Week 12

 

Consumer law

Activity: Business Structures/Franchising & Compliance

 

 

Week 13

 

Property law

 Refer to canvas shell for weekly reading & activities

   

Week 14 

Revision

 Refer to canvas shell for weekly reading & activities

 

 

Week 15

Assessment 3

Case Studies

 

Case Studies

Assessment 3

 

Week 16

Re-sits

 

         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
     


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to:

  • access information on legislation, statutes, regulations, and legal precedents related to operational decisions
  • interpret impact of legislation, statutes, regulations and legal precedents on operational decisions regarding compliance requirements
  • review, and assist in developing, organisational procedures to meet compliance requirements.

 

Note: If a specific volume or frequency is not stated, then evidence must be provided at least once.

 

Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must be able to demonstrate the following knowledge to effectively complete the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit, and to manage tasks and reasonably foreseeable contingencies in the context of the work role.

  • Key features of Australian legal systems and processes, and the context in which they operate, including:
  • basic principles, current statute and common law
  • roles and responsibilities of key organisations
  • constitutional considerations
  • separation of powers
  • basic principles of the law of torts, particularly relating to:
  • negligence
  • negligent misstatement
  • courts and regulatory bodies
  • Key features of current legislation and its general impact on business operations in the areas of:
  • consumer law
  • contract law
  • corporations law, including different business organisational structures and regulations for:
  • public and private companies
  • trusts
  • partnerships
  • sole traders
  • property law
  • superannuation law
  • taxation law
  • Key decisions in case law and findings

 

Assessment Conditions

Assessment must be conducted in a safe environment where evidence gathered demonstrates consistent performance of typical activities experienced in the accounting field of work and include access to:

  • office equipment, technology, software and consumables required to access information on Australian legal systems and processes, including:
  • access to the internet
  • legislative and regulatory documentation required for decision making in own role.

 

Assessors of this unit must satisfy the assessor requirements in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.

You are advised that you are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate your assessment work to your teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.

Feedback

Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions.  You are encouraged to ask and answer questions during class time and online sessions so that you can obtain feedback on your understanding of the concepts and issues being discussed. Finally, you can email or arrange an appointment with your teacher to gain more feedback on your progress.

You should take note of all feedback received and use this information to improve your learning outcomes and final performance in the course. 


Assessment Tasks

Assessment

There will be three assessment tasks for this course as below:

  1. The Australian legal System/Negligence  - Due: Week 6

  2. Business Structures/Franchising & Compliance - Due: Week 10

  3. Procedures/Case Studies -  Due: Week 15


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix that maps all the assessment is available on CANVAS under Assignments.

All assessments will utilise a competency-based model and will be deemed as either Satisfactory or Not Yet Satisfactory. 

Other Information

Submission Requirements

 

You should:

  • Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date. 
  • Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy)
  • When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use the Assessment task document that includes a declaration and statement of authorship.
  • Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers.

Late Submission Procedures

You are required to submit assessment items and/or ensure performance based assessment is completed by the due dates.

If you are prevented from submitting an assessment item on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply in advance to your teacher for an extension to the due date of up to seven calendar days.

More Information:  https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/extensions-of-time-for-submission-of-assessable-work

Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for Special Consideration.  Applications for special consideration must be submitted no later than five working days after the assessment task deadline or scheduled examination.

More Information: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/special-consideration

 

Re-submissions (VE Programs):

If you are found to be unsuccessful (Not satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) in a Course Assessment Task you will be allowed one resubmission. Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the resubmission. If you are still not meeting the assessment requirements you must apply to your Program Manager in writing outlining the steps you will take to demonstrate competence in your course. Your submission will be considered by the Program Team and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.

 

Adjustments to Assessment

In certain circumstances students may be eligible for an assessment adjustment. For more information about the circumstances under which the assessment arrangements might be granted please access the following website:

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/adjustments-to-assessment

 

  

 

Final Results

You must demonstrate that you have all the required skills/knowledge/elements in the unit of competency you are studying. You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you about your progress and how well you are performing. The following grades are available for this course:

CA Competency Achieved

NYC Not Yet Competent

DNS Did Not Submit for Assessment

Course Overview: Access Course Overview