Studying online (if an online offering is shown below)
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
This unit will examine and analyse selected topics in private law through the lens of an overarching private law theme. Core areas of the private law from which topics will be drawn include contract, equity and trusts, torts and equitable wrongs, legal
theory, property, remedies, unjust enrichment and cognate statutory principles and regimes.
Topics drawn from these areas will be examined by reference to overarching themes, which aim to give conceptual coherence and rigour to the unit and learning experience. The emphasis will be on providing a research-led learning
experience which integrates theoretical, doctrinal, historical and practical perspectives to enable students to develop and interrogate a holistic understanding of the private law.
The chosen themes will vary from year to year to allow teachers to explore fully and to curate investigation of contemporary
issues and developments. They are likely to include themes such as:
a) the limits and importance of autonomy in private law;
b) the attribution of responsibility and liability in private law;
c) the need for coherence in the law;
d) the boundaries of private and public law; and
e) justifying private law and the related difficulties of transitioning high-level moral principles into specific legal rules.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
Availability Location Mode Not available in 2025 UWA (Perth) Face to face - Outcomes
Students are able to (1) describe accurately and evaluate the nature, role and operation of identified private law topics by reference to the nominated overarching theme
; (2) critically evaluate the relationship between the identified private law topics by reference to the nominated
overarching theme; (3) integrate their knowledge of the identified common law, equitable and statutory concepts and principles
engaged by the private law topics, to identify inconsistencies and gaps in the private law's treatment of or response to the overarching theme; (4) critically identify opportunities for judicial and legislative reform of aspects of the private law, where relevant, in light of those comparisons; (5) engage in self-directed legal research to create an autonomous piece of original legal writing on a relevant topic for the unit
; and (6) communicate clearly in written form suitable for legal audiences an integrated understanding of the
complex legal principles, theories and frameworks concerning the identified private law topics and their
relationship to the overarching themes.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) research essay and (2) take home examination. 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)
- Nicholas Tiverios and Elise Bant
- Unit rules
- Contact hours
- Seminars: 3 hours per week for 12 weeks
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.