Threshold Learning Outcomes

Academic Standards for the Bachelor of Laws degree

Developed in 2010 the Threshold Learning Outcomes cover the 6 areas of knowledge, ethics and professional responsibility, thinking skills, research skills, communication and collaboration, and self-management.

The TLOs represent what a law graduate is expected to know, understand and be able to do as a result of their studies and learning. Throughout The New Lawyer chapters make frequent connection to reinforce what students are expected to know and do as a result of their learning.

The Threshold Learning Outcomes are as follows and graduates are expected to demonstrate skills and attributes assigned to each:

TLO1 Knowledge:

1. The fundamentals areas of legal knowledge, the Australian legal systems, and underlying principles and concepts, international and comparative contexts
2. The broader contexts within which legal issues arise, and
3. The principles and values of justice and of ethical practice in lawyer's roles

TLO 2 Ethics and Professional Responsibility:

1. An understanding of approaches to ethical decision-making
2. An ability to recognise and reflect upon, and a developing ability to respond to, ethical issues likely to arise in professional contexts
3. An ability to recognise and reflect upon the professional responsibilities of lawyers in promoting justice and in service to the community, and
4. A developing ability to exercise professional judgement

TLO 3 Thinking skills:

1. Identify and articulate legal issues
2. Apply legal reasoning and research to generate appropriate responses to legal issues,
3. Engage in critical analysis and make a reasoned choice amongst alternatives, and
4. Think creatively in approaching legal issues and generating appropriate response

TLO 4 Research skills:

1. Demonstrate intellectual and practical skills needed to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues

TLO 5 Communication and collaboration:

1. Communicate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive for legal and non-legal audiences, and
2. Collaborate effectively

TLO 6 Self-management:

1. Learn and work independently
2. Reflect on and assess their own capabilities and performance, and make use of feedback as appropriate, to support personal and professional development.

Objectives

1. ENGAGE THE READERS

• Emphasises relevance of content to study and practice of law
• Dynamic writing style
• Frequent changes of format
• Frequent asides to contemporary issues
• Flowcharts, checklists, tables and timelines
• Each chapter begins with a problem or dilemma that is resolved throughout the chapter
• Sections on law and contemporary issues, e.g. animal rights, refugee rights

2. ENCOURAGE ACTIVE LEARNING

• Regular self-directed learning exercises throughout each chapter
• Periodically requires students to paraphrase key concepts

3. ENCOURAGE REFLECTIVE LEARNING

• Exercises requiring students to reflect upon what they have learned
• Students asked to reflect upon whether chapter objectives have been achieved

4. TEACH STUDENTS TO THINK LIKE LAWYERS

• Covers core legal concepts
• Comprehensive instruction in legal reasoning, logical reasoning, critical thinking and creative thinking
• Questions that challenge students to reflect upon issues of justice and ethics

5. CREATE OPPORTUNTIES FOR COLLABORATION

• Regular exercises requiring student collaboration

6. EMPHASISE THE TLOS

• Covers all 6 TLOs throughout book: knowledge, ethics, thinking skills, research skills, collaboration & communication, and self-management
• Expressly refers to and connects with the TLOs in appropriate Chapters

7. EASE THE TRANSITION INTO LAW SCHOOL

• Practical tips on studying law throughout book
• Tone of textbook positioned between typical high school textbook and traditional law textbook
• Practical guidance about adjusting to law school and university
• Opportunities for students to reflect upon why they are studying law

8. PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LATER LAW STUDIES

• Provides foundational knowledge for subsequent studies
• Overviews of various subject areas of law and how they relate to each other
• Development of legal skills required for later courses: research skills, thinking skills, communication skills, advocacy skills
• Emphasis upon online research

9. PREPARE STUDENTS FOR TRANSITION TO LEGAL PRACTICE

• Explanations of how the material relates to the practice of law
• Authentic legal materials included throughout the text
• Regular quotes from legal practitioners on the material being presented
• Information about what law firms look for, employability skills, preparing for an interview, etc.

10. ACKNOWLEDGE DIVERSITY IN STUDENT BACKGROUNDS AND DESTINATIONS

• Chapters on internationalisation of law and legal history including materials on Islamic law, Confucianism etc.
• Periodic acknowledgement of diverse student backgrounds
• Periodic acknowledgement of range of legal careers