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The current and official versions of the course specifications are available on the web at .
Please consult the web for updates that may occur during the year.

LAW2223 Property and Trusts B

Semester 2, 2020 Online
Short Description: Property and Trusts B
Units : 1
Faculty or Section : Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts
School or Department : School of Law and Justice
Student contribution band : Band 3
ASCED code : 090900 - Law
Grading basis : Graded

Staffing

Examiner:

Requisites

Pre-requisite: (LAW2212 and LAW2213) or (LAW3205 and LAW3203)

Other requisites

Students are required to have access to a personal computer, e-mail capabilities and Internet access to UConnect. Current details of computer requirements can be found at .

Rationale

This is a core course in the Bachelor of Laws programs. The content is required study under the guidelines of the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board. It is necessary for students wishing to seek admission to practice law to understand the fundamental aspects of trusts and the responsibilities and liabilities of all those involved in this structure.

Synopsis

This course continues the study of property law commenced in Property and Trusts A. It particularly looks at leasing, mortgages, easements and restrictive covenants. Following this, legal and equitable interests in property will be covered which leads into the second part of the course, which is devoted to the law of trusts. The focus is on the commercial use of trusts as a means of holding particular interests in property. The use of trusts as a business form and method of property management continues to be popular and it is necessary to appreciate the rights and responsibilities that arise in this context. Students will consider all potential legal risks and liabilities that come with this structure.

Objectives

On successful completion of this course students should be able to:

  1. demonstrate academic and professional literacy skills by identifying, describing and evaluating the general policies underlying the law of property in Australia;
  2. describe how law protects various property interests;
  3. demonstrate an understanding of how property is created, transferred and secured;
  4. outline the resolution of disputes involving competing proprietary interests;
  5. understand the fragmentation of property rights and the existence of differing proprietary interests;
  6. describe the features and elements of all forms of trust;
  7. identify the different types of trusts and how they may be created whether expressly or by operation of law;
  8. recognise the roles, duties and fiduciary obligations of all parties to a trust relationship and liabilities obligations to third parties;
  9. apply all relevant equitable principles to trust relationships in commercial and personal problems with a view to providing practical advice;
  10. display a fundamental knowledge of the essential concepts;
  11. demonstrate satisfactory skills in:
    1. legal problem-solving
    2. comprehension of legal and other materials
    3. analytical and critical thinking – including analysis of law and facts
    4. logical analysis and reasoning in the presentation of legal and other arguments, including the application of law to factual scenarios in the presentation of solutions to legal issues and problems
    5. written and oral communication
    6. legal writing and research
    7. apply drafting skills to the creation of trusts
    8. statutory interpretation;
  12. within the range of outcomes above, students should also be able to demonstrate the following graduate attributes:
    1. knowledge which includes the fundamental principles of property law as taught in this course, and underlying principles and concepts, including indigenous perspectives; the broader contexts within which legal issues arise, including the ability to critically evaluate and examine the broader context within which legal issues arise, including, for example, the political, social, historical, philosophical and economic context
    2. thinking skills which include the ability to identify and articulate legal issues; comprehend legal and other materials; apply legal reasoning and research to generate appropriate responses to legal issues; engage in critical analysis and make a reasoned choice amongst alternatives; think creatively in approaching legal issues and generating appropriate responses; and to apply principles of statutory interpretation to interpret statutory instruments
    3. research skills, being the intellectual and practical skills needed to identify, research in an ethical manner, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues
    4. communication skills; the ability to communicate effectively, appropriately and persuasively for the relevant context.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. Leases 15.00
2. Proprietary interests in land owned by another (including mortgages, easements and restrictive covenants) 10.00
3. Legal and equitable interests (including unregistered interests) 15.00
4. Priorities 10.00
5. Fundamental features and elements of trusts (including trust types) 20.00
6. Trusts that arise by operation of law 10.00
7. The powers and fiduciary duties of trustees 10.00
8. The rights and remedies of parties dealing with the trust 10.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=02&subject1=LAW2223)

Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)

Students need not purchase texts and materials. Materials referred to in LAW2223 will comprise texts purchased for prerequisite subjects and e-texts and other materials available via the USQ library and Course Readings.

Reference materials

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.
Students need not purchase texts and materials. Materials referred to in LAW2223 will comprise texts purchased for prerequisite subjects and e-texts and other materials available via the USQ library and Course Readings.

Student workload expectations

Activity Hours
Assessments 40.00
Directed ¾«¶«´«Ã½app 50.00
Private ¾«¶«´«Ã½app 75.00

Assessment details

Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due Date Notes
ONLINE TEST 1 15 15 03 Aug 2020 (see note 1)
ONLINE TEST 2 35 35 24 Aug 2020 (see note 2)
FINAL ASSIGNMENT 50 50 26 Oct 2020 (see note 3)

Notes
  1. The first online test will include (10%) assessment of Statutory Interpretation, 'Explain the legislative process and identify applicable legislation and delegated legislation, general principles of statutory interpretation, understand and make appropriate use of authorised aids to statutory interpretation, and deploy appropriate techniques in the course of solving interpretive problems'. It will include (5%) assessment of Self-management and, in particular, 'Reflect on and assess their own capabilities and performance, and make use of feedback as appropriate, to support personal and professional development'.
  2. The second online test will be comprised of problem-solving and short-answer essay questions, with a focus on land law, requiring application of statutory provisions, common law and equitable principles to practical situations where property interests may be in dispute.
  3. Students will be provided further instruction regarding the assignment by their examiner via ¾«¶«´«Ã½appDesk.

Important assessment information

  1. Attendance requirements:
    Online: There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.

    On-campus: It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.

  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S2 2020 are: To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item.

    Requirements after S2, 2020:
    To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks. (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.)

  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4)

  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S2 2020 are: To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.

    Requirements after S2, 2020:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must obtain at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course (i.e. the Primary Hurdle), and have satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), i.e. the end of semester examination by achieving at least 40% of the weighted marks available for that assessment item.

    Supplementary assessment may be offered where a student has undertaken all of the required summative assessment items and has passed the Primary Hurdle but failed to satisfy the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), or has satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised) but failed to achieve a passing Final Grade by 5% or less of the total weighted Marks.

    To be awarded a passing grade for a supplementary assessment item (if applicable), a student must achieve at least 50% of the available marks for the supplementary assessment item as per the Assessment Procedure (point 4.4.2).

  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.

  6. Examination information:

    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S2 2020 are:
    There is no examination in this course.

    Requirements after S2, 2020:
    This will be an open examination. Candidates may have access to any printed or written material during the examination.

  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S2 2020 are:
    There is no examination in this course, there will be no deferred or supplementary examinations.

    Requirements after S2, 2020:
    Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period.

  8. ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Student Policies:
    Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene ¾«¶«´«Ã½app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .

Assessment notes

  1. Referencing in assignments:
    Students studying this course as part of a Bachelor of Laws must use the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (AGLC) style. For AGLC style guide enquiries, consult the AGLC manual from the USQ Library's referencing guide at or contact the Law librarian.
    Assignment submission:
    1. Students may be required to submit assignments electronically.
    2. Students may be required to use Turnitin.


Date printed 6 November 2020