New LLB Curriculum: Optional Program

Staff Seminar

19 July 2005

Objectives

To summarise key recommendations of Optional Subjects Working Group

To elicit further feedback and discussion from staff

Topics

Structure Scheduling Skills and cross-cutting influences Administrative implications Next steps

[“R” denotes proposed recommendation]

Structure

R: Optional program be organised into structure comprising broad subject suites

Features Not rigidly defined or mutually exclusive Subject to annual review Not prescriptive in any way

Advantages Curriculum planning Course planning External marketing

Structure, cont

Proposed suites

Asian Law International & Comparative Law

Corporate & Commercial Law Labour Law

Criminal Law & Justice Legal Theory

Dispute Resolution Practical

Family Law Property, Land & Resources Law

Indigenous Issues in the Law Public Law

Intellectual Property, Media & Information Technology Law

Taxation

Interdisciplinary

Structure, cont

Proposed suites, contIssues

• Broad vs specific model• Subject classifications (see Appendix B)• Primary / secondary relevance• Legal Theory suite• Removal of subjects not offered for 3

consecutive years

Scheduling

R: Optional subjects be scheduled on a two-year planning cycle

AdvantagesCourse planningResource planning

Scheduling, cont

R: Optional program allow for scheduling in summer semester, provided large enrolment subjects be offered again the next year in the usual teaching period

R: As a general rule, optional program not allow for scheduling in winter break

Skills & Cross-cutting influences Skills and cross-cutting influences have

already been formalised in optional subject design

R: There be horizontal (within optional suites) and vertical (between compulsory and optional programs) co-ordination in relation to skills, cross-cutting influences and related aspects of optional subject design

Administrative implications

R: Information about subject suites, classifications and scheduling in the optional program be available on UGS web-site and in subject descriptions in user-friendly format

Administrative implications, cont

R: Subject suite representatives be appointed with role of facilitating discussions between optional subject teachers within each suite and with related compulsory subject teachers regarding subjects to be offered; scheduling; skills co-ordination; teaching methods; assessment, etc

Administrative implications, cont

R: UGS sub-committee to be appointed with role of monitoring ongoing implementation and development of new curriculum, including the optional program

Next steps

Working group to finalise recommendations and submit to Dean

Subject to Dean’s approval, implementation to be commenced

Student briefings to be held