Course Title: Apply legal principles in contract and consumer law

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2020

Course Code: LAW5732C

Course Title: Apply legal principles in contract and consumer law

School: 650T Vocational Business Education

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6163 - Advanced 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 research, analyse and apply legal principles to provide advice on contract and consumer law implications to clients.

It applies to individuals whose job role involves the application of knowledge of contract and consumer law in the workplace.

Work functions in the occupational areas where this unit may be used are subject to regulatory requirements. This unit is designed to meet educational requirements of the Tax Practitioner Board (TPB). Refer to the FNS Implementation Guide Companion Volume or the relevant regulator for specific guidance on requirements.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

FNSTPB503 Apply legal principles in contract and consumer law

Element:

1. Research legal aspects of contract and consumer law

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Identify client's circumstances that require advice on contract or consumer law matters 1.2 Research contract and consumer law and related legislation, regulation and practice 1.3 Identify different types of relevant contract and consumer transactions, and clearly outline their legal context, establishment procedures and purpose 1.4 Identify legal principles applying to contract and consumer matters that are relevant to client circumstances

Element:

2. Analyse legal issues and risks associated with operation of a business

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Identify areas of risk in application of law in contract and consumer matters 2.2 Analyse how legal issues impact on different types of business structures and legal entities 2.3 Evaluate relevance to client circumstances and implication of risks for structure, operation and performance of different legal entities

Element:

3. Apply knowledge of contract and consumer laws to client circumstances

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Collect and collate client's available information for analysis 3.2 Interpret, analyse and process available information to obtain required knowledge applicable to client's circumstances 3.3 Seek advice and guidance of specialist, if required, to interpret, analyse and synthesise client and legal information 3.4 Provide advice to clients based on their circumstances and relevant law

Element:

4. Maintain legal knowledge

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Review client's circumstances and apply any changes in relevant aspects of contract or consumer law 4.2 Review relevant legal sources regularly and apply any changes in daily work 4.3 Access and use systems for keeping up with changes and maintaining up-to-date knowledge about relevant legal aspects of contract or consumer law


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to research, analyse and apply legal principles to provide advice on contract and consumer law implications to clients.

It applies to individuals whose job role involves the application of knowledge of contract and consumer law in the workplace.

Work functions in the occupational areas where this unit may be used are subject to regulatory requirements. This unit is designed to meet educational requirements of the Tax Practitioner Board (TPB). Refer to the FNS Implementation Guide Companion Volume or the relevant regulator for specific guidance on requirements.


Teaching Schedule

 Week

Topic

Assessment

Week 1

Introduction Australian Legal System/Parliament

 

Week 2

Australian Legal System/Courts

 

Week 3

Australian Legal System/Disputes

 

Week 4

Torts/Negligence

 

Week 5

Australian Consumer Law (ACL) & ACCC

 

Week 6

ACL- Misleading & Deceptive Practices

 

Week 7

Australian Consumer Law (ACL)

Assessment 1 Due

Week 8

Contract Introduction

 

Week 9

 

In-Class Work

 

Week 10

Mid Term Break 19- 28 April

 

Week 11

Contract law Elements 1-3

Contract Law Elements 3-6

Assessment 2 Due

Week 12

Contract Law Applied

 

Week 13

Agency

 

Week 14

REVISION 

 

Week 15

In Class Case Studies 

Assessment 3 Due


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Performance Evidence

 Evidence of the ability to:

  • research for any changes to, or new, legislative requirements in relation to contract or consumer law relevant to the client’s circumstances
  • apply current statute, common law and equitable principles in relation to contract and consumer laws that are relevant to the client’s circumstances
  • present a recommendation to the client after considering the client’s circumstances and relevant aspects of contract and/or consumer laws

Knowledge Evidence

To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, you must:

  • explain the operation of the Australian legal systems and processes relevant to contract and consumer law including:
    • basic principles, current statute, common law and equitable principles
    • roles and responsibilities of key organisations
    • constitutional considerations
    • separation of powers
    • basic principles of contract law
    • basic principles of the law of torts, particularly relating to negligence and negligent misstatement
    • courts and regulatory bodies
  • explain how laws are enacted and their underlying policy aims, and how those laws may be interpreted by existing common law and equitable rules, and apply to property laws
  • examine legal concepts and scope of contract law with reference to:
    • formation – agreement and intention to create legal relations
    • formation – consideration, form, legality and capacity
    • contents – express terms, exclusion clauses
    • contents – implied terms, common law and statute (Commonwealth and state competition and consumer legislation)
    • vitiating elements – unconscionability, misrepresentation, capacity
    • discharge – remedies, including rescission for unconscionable conduct
    • agency
  • describe legal concepts and scope of consumer law
  • misleading and deceptive conduct:
  • function of the Competition and Consumer Act
  • role and jurisdiction of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)

Assessment Conditions

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

  • office equipment, technology, software and consumables
  • relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice

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

There are three (3) assessments which you will need to complete to be assessed as satisfactory in this subject.

1. Competition & Consumer Act Due Week 7

2. Consumer Law Case Studies Due Week 11

3. ACCC Quizzes & Case Studies Due Week 15


Assessment Matrix

Course Overview: Access Course Overview