UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

Entry to this unit is by application. The delivery of this unit is subject to staff availability on an alternating semester basis, and may involve either an exclusive focus on strategic litigation or mediation, or a combined focus. Please contact the Law School to confirm unit availability in any relevant semester.

This unit involves students researching and participating in the work of the Minderoo Tech & Policy Lab and/or the UWA Mediation Clinic. Students will attend case rounds, seminars, and undertake a major research project. The unit objectives are to (1) give students a deeper and real life understanding of strategic litigation/mediation practice and research; (2) provide students with a professional practice experience; (3) foster students' skills in research in substantive law and strategic litigation/mediation; (4) appreciate the importance of ethical and professional conduct within the practice of law and strategic litigation/mediation; (5) foster students' critical understanding of approaches to litigation, mediation and lawyering; and (6) encourage students to critically analyse and reflect upon issues of access to justice, strategic litigation/mediation practice, and the impact of these on affected individuals and communities.

Credit

6 points

Offering

Availability	Location	Mode
Not available in 2025	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) consolidate student understanding of legal practice and research through application to real-life scenarios; (2) develop capacity to think critically, strategically and creatively in developing case theories and litigation/mediation approaches to legal issues; (3) interact directly with affected communities, lawyers and policymakers in a collaborative relationship and work with the UWA academics and Lab/Clinic teams on legal practice and research issues; (4) foster a deep understanding of the ethical and professional responsibilities of legal practitioners; (5) develop a critical approach to issues impacting upon legal practice and research, with a particular focus on strategic litigation/mediation; (6) demonstrate an understanding of the role of lawyers and researchers in a practical litigation/mediation context; (7) develop critical reflection skills; and (8) develop advanced, e?ective and meaningful oral and written communication skills.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) clinical placement in the Minderoo Tech & Policy Lab/UWA Mediation, comprising attendance at case round meetings and seminars and preparation of short oral and written reports; (2) major project; and (3) final reflective essay. Further information is available in the unit outline.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Associate Professor Julia Powles and Associate Professor Jill Howieson

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Enrolment in

LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering
and LAWS5109 Dispute Resolution
and LAWS5158 Negotiation and Mediation and five Unit(s) ( LAWS4102 Criminal Law
, LAWS4103 Contract
, LAWS4104 Property
, LAWS4106 Torts
, LAWS4107 Land Law
, LAWS4108 Foundations of Public Law and ( LAWS4109 Legal Theory and Ethics
or LAWS4110 Interpretation

) and )

Approved quota: 12—places will be allocated as follows:

1. Final year students given priority
2. Results achieved and professional performance in either LAWS 5109 Dispute Resolution and LAWS 5158 Negotiation and Mediation (for Strategic Mediation) or LAWS5296 Technology Law and Governance (for Strategic Litigation).
3. Expression of Interest demonstrates strong reasons for interest in participating in the Unit.

Contact hours

This unit involves clinical placement in the Minderoo Tech & Policy Lab and/or UWA Mediation Clinic. The contact hours will consist of: (1) an introductory workshop (date, time and venue to be advised)
(2) weekly legal practice and research work in the Lab/Clinic, including research and work on short papers and a major project arising from the Clinic/Lab's activities.
(3) 5 x fortnightly case rounds (2 hrs each) where all students meet with the Unit Coordinator(s) and other members of the teaching team to discuss cases and research projects
and (4) 5 x fortnightly seminars (2 hrs each) fortnightly seminars (on alternate weeks to case rounds) where all students attend guest lectures and participate in themed discussions.