Key facts
UNE unit code: LAW490
*You are viewing the 2026 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.
- Year Long Honours - Period 1 - On Campus
- Year Long Honours - Period 1 - Online
- Year Long Honours - Period 2 - On Campus
- Year Long Honours - Period 2 - Online
- Armidale Campus
- Yes
- No
- No
- 12
Unit information
Successful completion of this unit is a pre-condition for consideration for the award of Honours in Law. As an Honours student, you are embarking upon a large scale, full year research project where you will develop and use your skills in self-discipline, organisation, independent learning, legal research, creative thinking and sophisticated analysis.
This is an advanced, independent research unit, offering the opportunity to stake out a claim to a level of expertise within your own field of interest and the chance to work closely one-to-one with an academic supervisor.
The process will culminate with your thesis — a paper in which you will set down a novel legal argument crafted from your deep engagement with your topic.
Offerings
For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.
| Teaching period | Mode/location |
|---|---|
| Year Long Honours - Period 1 | On Campus, Armidale Campus |
| Year Long Honours - Period 1 | Online |
| Year Long Honours - Period 2 | On Campus, Armidale Campus |
| Year Long Honours - Period 2 | Online |
*Offering is subject to availability
Intensive schools
There are no intensive schools required for this unit.
Enrolment rules
Notes
Ensure you have arranged for a supervisor for your thesis topic; include details of the topic and the supervisor when you apply for permission to enrol. While it is recommended you complete LLM500 before attempting this unit, you may also attempt it concurrently with LLM500. Please complete the LAW490 Application Form at this link:
Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.
Unit coordinator(s)
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- demonstrate a broad and coherent understanding of the law generally; and an advanced understanding of the legislation, case law, and policy arguments relating to a specific area of law;
- use well-developed cognitive and creative skills to identify a research topic and question; review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge;
- apply a range of methods and technologies to critically analyse and evaluate information;
- demonstrate an advanced ability to conceive, plan and implement a program of legal research using legal research techniques;
- demonstrate intellectual independence, autonomy and well-developed judgement, to communicate, both in oral and written form, skills, ideas and solutions to resolve problems; and
- demonstrate an ability to present a clear and coherent exposition of knowledge and ideas and formulate, through refinement and reflection, a defensible thesis which applies legal research and legal reasoning, together with evidence of novel or independent thought.
Assessment information
Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
| Title | Must Complete | Weight | Offerings | Assessment Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation | Yes | 25% | All offerings | Oral Presentation |
| Thesis - Assurance Task | Yes | 75% | All offerings | To pass this unit, you must achieve at least 50% in this task and meet all other passing requirements in the unit. No. Words: 10,000 |
Learning resources
Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.
Researching and Writing in Law
ISBN: 9780455237800
Hutchinson, T.C.M., Law Book Co of Australasia 4th ed. 2018
Text refers to: All offerings
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