¾«¶«´«Ã½app

This is a core course in the Juris Doctor program. It is approved by the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board (Qld) and the Chief Justice of Queensland as meeting the civil procedure area of knowledge under the Supreme Court (Admission) Rules 2004 (Qld) and therefore deals with elements of Civil Procedure, specifically: court adjudication under an adversary system; the cost of litigation and the use of costs to control litigation; service of originating process – as foundation of jurisdiction, including service out of the relevant State or Territory and choice of forum; joinder of claims and parties, including group proceedings and the defence of prior adjudication as instances of the public interest in avoiding a multiplicity of proceedings and inconsistent verdicts; defining the questions for trial – pleadings, notices to admit and other devices; obtaining evidence – discovering of documents, interrogatories, subpoena and other devices; disposition without trial, including the compromise of litigation; extra-judicial determination of issues arising in the course of litigation; judgement; appeal; and enforcement.

This course aims to familiarise students with the theoretical issues that underpin private civil litigation, as well as the processes that must be followed in commencing, conducting, and finalising civil disputes in the Queensland and Federal courts. Students will also be exposed to alternative dispute resolution ("ADR") methodologies, and will consider the circumstances in which ADR is more appropriate than a progression to trial. Following successful completion of this course, students will understand the various steps that are taken to progress civil litigation, and will be familiar with the applicable statutes and rules; in particular the key provisions of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999 (Qld) ('UCPR').