LLAW2215 Case Study #1
• Covers material in Modules 1, 2 and 3
• Read Topic Guide carefully for requirements re:
o Formatting – see Topic Guide page 18 o Referencing – see Topic guide page 15 o Word Limit – see Topic Guide page 15
If using AGLC: 1350 words, no reference list
If using APA 7th: 1350+135 = 1485 words (in text citations) plus reference list at end
If using Harvard AGPS 6th: 1350+135 = 1485 words (in text citations) plus reference list at end
Context
• The Social Workers Registration Act 2021 (SA) has been passed by Parliament but has not yet come into operation.
• Skim read the whole Act.
• Re-read Parts 3,4,5,6 carefully.
Choose ONE ONLY of Option 1 or Option 2 or Option 3
• Submit ONLY ONE report
• You choose whether you wish to prepare a report addressing ONE ONLY of Option 1 or Option 2 or Option 3.
• You do NOT need to prepare a report for each option
Word Limits and Length Penalties
Word limits are often critical in legal writing, especially for reports that are submitted to or requested by courts or senior management.
Penalties will be imposed if Case Study #1 or #2 exceeds the word limit stated for the assignment.
5% of the total mark possible for a piece of work will be deducted for every 10% of the total word limit or part thereof by which the Case Study exceeds that limit.
This means the penalty is imposed as soon as the number of words passes the limit by one word. Case Study #1 has a word limit of 1350 words, so a penalty of 5% will be imposed if it contains 1351 words, and a penalty of 10% will be imposed if it contains 1486 words.
Headings are included in your word count and we encourage you to use them, as they usually increase clarity and support good structure.
For students using AGLC4, references contained in footnotes are not part of the word count, but any discussion in your footnotes is included.
Misstating the number of words used in your Case Study will be treated as an academic integrity issue.
OPTION 1
Search online to identify a human service organisation in South Australia that may employ social workers
Your role: Assume you work for that organisation as either a legal or human service worker.
Your task: Prepare a report to the Board of that organisation outlining the implications of the new Act for that organisation.
Your report should:
• Clearly identify the organisation you are reporting to (and include a link to its website)
• Be addressed to the Board
• Start with an executive summary (approximately 200 words) of what the Act will mean for o The organisation
o The organisation’s employees who are social workers
• Address in more detail the most important implications of the Act for your organisation. These could include (but are not limited to) o How your organisation can know is its employees are meeting appropriate standards
o What sorts of work your organisation does currently that might be likely to be restricted to be carried out only by registered social workers once the Act comes into force.
o How your organisation can ensure any existing workers meeting the ‘fit and proper person’ requirement to be registered
o How your organisation can ensure that it is not in breach of sections 36,37 or 38
OPTION 2
Your role: Assume you have been appointed Registrar of the Social Workers Registration Board of South Australia [SWRBSA] pursuant to s 13 of the Act.
Your task: Prepare a report to the SWRBSA to Help them to carry out their duties under s 19 and s 20 of the Act and specify the meaning of the term social work services pursuant to s 19 of the Act.
Your report should:
• Be addressed to the Members of the Social Workers Registration Board of South Australia
• Start with an executive summary (approximately 200 words) of what the SWRBSA is required to do pursuant to Part 3 of the Act
• Set out recommendations to the Board for their decision at the next meeting.
• Explain your recommendations in more detail including o why you suggest including some services and not others in the definition of social work services pursuant to s 19
o one suggested draft definition as an example
o why you suggest developing various scopes of practice pursuant to s 20
o how you have had regard to the materials referred to in s 19(3)
20(3) o how your recommendations are guided by the principles in s21(2)
OPTION 3
Search online to identify a human service organisation in South Australia that may employ social workers
Your role: Assume you work for that organisation as either a legal or human service worker.
Your task: Prepare a report for your organisation that explains how the new
Act might interact with or impact
• your organisation’s policies and procedures
• any relevant external codes of conduct
• other public and private law duties
Your report should:
• Clearly identify the organisation you are reporting to (and include a link to its website)
• Be addressed to your organisation’s Chief Executive
• Start with an executive summary (approximately 200 words) of the major implications of the new Act for o the organisation
o the organisation’s employees who are social workers o other employees of the organisation
• Address in more detail o whether the Act specifically changes any existing duties of your organisation or its employee social workers
o how the new Act interacts with any relevant external codes of conduct
o how the new Act interacts with any other relevant public and private law duties o how the new Act impacts on giving evidence in court
LLAW2215 Human Service Law & Practice
LLAW2215 Assessment Rubric: Case Study #1
Student Name OPTION 1 2 3 Marker
Word count
[Limit 1350 words] Length Penalty Days
Late Late
Penalty Total Penalty Total Marks for Criteria 1-5 Less total penalty Final Mark out of 30
Final Mark as percentage of 100 Final Grade
Criterion 1 0-6 marks: Legal & ethical issues arising
0-1 marks
Does not identify major or minor issues; does not identify relevant sections/codes/etc 2 marks
Identifies minor issues only; identification unclear; minimal connection with relevant sections/codes/etc 3 marks
Identifies some major but no minor issues; addresses relevant
sections/codes/etc generally
4 marks
Identifies some major and some minor issues; limited specific connection with relevant sections/codes/etc 5 marks
Identifies most major and most minor issues; makes specific connection with relevant sections/codes/etc 6 marks
Thorough and expansive identification of major and minor issues; makes specific and
effective connection with relevant sections/codes/etc
Criterion 2 0-7 marks: Legal rules & ethical obligations
0-1 marks
Does not state relevant legal rules or ethical obligations; all rules & obligations stated incorrectly 2-3 marks
No major rules or obligations stated, some minor rules & obligations stated, serious inaccuracies 4 marks
Some major rules and obligations stated, no minor or obligations rules stated, some inaccuracies 5 marks
Most major rules and obligations stated, some minor rules and obligations stated, some inaccuracies
6 marks
Most relevant legal rules and ethical obligations stated clearly, accurately, and appropriately
7 marks
All relevant legal rules and ethical obligations stated clearly, accurately and appropriately
Criterion 3 0-12 marks: Addressing task instructions
0-2 marks
No/ineffective executive summary; report does not address implications as requested in task instructions, or addresses them in ineffective way 3-4 marks
Executive summary ineffective/too long/too short; report addresses implications as requested in task instructions in minimal way only 5-6 marks
Executive summary minimally effective and meets suggested word limit; report addresses some implications as requested in task instructions in general way only 7-8 marks
Executive summary generally effective and meets suggested word limit; report addresses most implications as requested in task instructions; includes specific analysis 9-10 marks
Executive summary effective and meets suggested word limit; report addresses most implications as requested in task instructions; includes specific analysis; anticipates issues and proposes solutions 11-12 marks
Executive summary is highly effective and meets suggested word limit; report addresses all implications as requested in task instructions; includes concise & precise specific analysis; anticipates issues and proposes solutions; provides clear recommendations for future action
Criterion 4 0-3 marks: Writing and Structure
0-0.5 marks
Words consistently used inappropriately or inaccurately; spelling and grammar consistently inaccurate; lacks coherent organisation or structure; meaning significantly compromised when reading; no effective use of headings or subheadings; paragraph breaks inappropriate; formatting requirements from Topic Guide not followed
1 mark
Limited use of Plain English; some words used inappropriately or inaccurately; spelling and grammar contains inaccuracies; limited organisation around issues and sub-issues; contains many unnecessary words; imprecise; difficult to read; minimal effective use of headings or subheadings; paragraph breaks mostly
inappropriate; formatting requirements from Topic
Guide followed minimally only
1.5 marks
Some use of Plain English; most spelling and grammar correct; some organisation around issues and sub-issues; contains some excess words; some lack of precision; some word choice, issue, location in paragraph and transition between ideas mean reading lacks efficiency and fluidity in places; mostly clear and appropriate use of headings to enhance and signpost arguments; some paragraph breaks inappropriate; formatting requirements from Topic Guide followed sometimes
2-2.5 marks
Mostly uses professional Plain English; most spelling and grammar correct; generally organises around issues and sub-issues; persuasive; mostly concise and precise; word choice, issue, location in paragraph and transition between ideas mean reading is mostly efficient and fluid; mostly clear and appropriate use of headings to enhance and signpost arguments; most paragraph breaks appear in appropriate place; formatting requirements from Topic Guide followed mostly 3 marks:
Uses professional Plain English throughout; all spelling and grammar correct; organises around issues and sub-issues; highly persuasive; concise and precise; word choice, issue, location in paragraph and transition between ideas all mean that reading is efficient and fluid- writing is a pleasure to read; clear and appropriate use of headings to enhance and signpost arguments; paragraph breaks appear in appropriate places; formatting requirements from Topic Guide followed effectively throughout
Criterion 5 0-2 marks: Academic Integrity
0-0.5 marks
Sources not acknowledged; quotation marks not used when required; contains direct quotes not clearly identified or footnoted; evidence of collusion, fabrication, misrepresentation, or false declaration; citations and footnotes do not comply with citation style adopted.
1-1.5 marks
Some sources are clearly acknowledged; quotation marks sometimes not used when required; contains close paraphrasing not clearly identified or footnoted; uses lengthy quotes; some authors of other sources named incorrectly; some citations and footnotes do not comply with citation style adopted.
2 marks:
All sources are clearly acknowledged; quotation marks always used appropriately; all paraphrasing clearly identified and footnoted; minimal and appropriate use of lengthy quotes; all authors of other sources named correctly; all citations and footnotes comply with citation style adopted.
