Commitment
The School's commitment
The School takes teaching
very seriously and has entrenched a commitment to innovative and rigorous
teaching in its Guidelines for Academic Performance.
As part of this commitment, all members of staff are expected to:
- Ensure that their classes are presented in the best possible manner. This
requires classes to be intellectually rigorous and stimulating, thoroughly
prepared, current, relevant and conducted in accordance with the time-table.
- Ensure that their students are provided, where possible, with
first class teaching materials. This involves the development
and preparation of study guides and readers and use of Deakin Studies Online (DSO),
the University's computer mediated communication facility.
- Be available for consultation. This requires members of staff
to ensure that they are available to discuss all aspects of the
units they teach at times suitable to the students taking those units
(both
on and off-campus) and the other teachers involved. Staff are
required to make themselves available for consultation with on campus
students
for at least three hours per unit per week, and to display their
consultation hours on their office door. Staff should normally respond
to student
enquiries within 2 working days.
- Show courtesy and consideration towards students. Whilst being
free to conduct their classes in the manner they consider provides
the best education, members of staff are expected to behave in
a courteous and non-discriminatory manner and show consideration towards
the students
in those classes.
Your commitment
A reciprocal commitment is expected
from you. In particular, you will be expected to:
- Prepare for class by completing assigned reading. Most classes
will require you to have read and be able to discuss prescribed material.
This form of teaching is designed to assist you to develop analytical,
reasoning and communication skills. It is interactive and requires
contributions from members of the class as well as the teacher. If
you do not prepare for class your education will be prejudiced.
- Participate in joint exercises. The Practical Legal Skills
program requires you to work on joint 'practical' tasks with
the other members of the firm to which you are assigned. It is incumbent
upon
you to contribute properly and equally to these joint exercises.
- Show courtesy and consideration towards staff and other students.
- Be on time for classes. Classes commence on the hour and finish
at ten minutes to the hour. Punctuality will be expected from all students.
Time commitment
Variations between individuals make
it impossible to prescribe the exact amount of time you should expect
to devote to LLB studies each week.
However, as a guide, you should bear in mind the following:
- Although in most cases attendance at LLB classes and tutorials is
optional, you are likely to maximise your performance by attending
them (total for a student taking two units, between six and ten
hours per week).
- In addition to attending classes, for each LLB unit you should
spend approximately twelve to fifteen hours per week in private
study throughout the whole semester (total for a student taking two
units:
approximately twenty-four to thirty hours per week)
- There are compulsory Practical Legal Skills (PLS) units , Professional
Experience and Practical Legal Skills requirements.
