Contemporary Issues Concerning Family Law Research Assignment

Task Overview

Drawing on contemporary examples, students will argue the extent to which legal and non-legal responses provide just outcomes for family members.

Part A

Students will complete a Media File based on contemporary issues concerning family law. Issues include:

• domestic violence 
• the changing nature of parental responsibility 
• recognition of same-sex relationships 
• surrogacy and birth technologies 
• care and protection of children.

Part A is a formative task and is not a part of the marking rubric. However, the media file is a requirement to build knowledge, understanding and collection of evidence to complete the summative task.

Part B

Students will write an essay in relation to the contemporary issues concerning family law.

Question

To what extent do both legal and non-legal responses achieve just outcomes for family members. In your response, refer to domestic violence, the changing nature of parental responsibility, and ONE other contemporary issue.

Ensure all sources you refer to are appropriately cited in footnotes and compiled in a bibliography formatted using the APA 7 referencing style. The bibliography should include all books, articles, websites, and other sources, including any AI, used and referred to in your work. Please use a font size of 12 and maintain at least 1.5 spacing throughout your document.

Summary of Assessment Requirements

The assessment requires students to explore contemporary issues in family law and evaluate how effectively legal and non-legal responses deliver just outcomes for family members. The task is divided into two components:

Part A – Media File (Formative Task)

Although not formally assessed, students must compile a Media File containing contemporary examples relating to:

• Domestic violence
• Changing nature of parental responsibility
• Recognition of same-sex relationships
• Surrogacy and birth technologies
• Care and protection of children

This Media File helps students gather evidence, understand current debates, and build foundational knowledge for the summative essay in Part B.

Part B – Essay (Summative Task)

Students must write an academic essay answering the question:

“To what extent do both legal and non-legal responses achieve just outcomes for family members? In your response, refer to domestic violence, the changing nature of parental responsibility, and ONE other contemporary issue.”

Key requirements include:

• Discussing both legal mechanisms (legislation, courts, statutory bodies) and non-legal responses (NGOs, media, advocacy groups, counselling services, community programs).
• Drawing on contemporary examples.
• Using APA 7 referencing for footnotes and bibliography.
• Including all sources used, including AI assistance.
• Using font size 12 and 1.5 line spacing.

How the Academic Mentor Guided the Student: Step-by-Step Approach

The academic mentor supported the student through a structured and systematic process to ensure each component of the assessment was completed accurately and effectively.

Step 1: Understanding the Task and Breaking Down Requirements

The mentor first clarified the scope of both Part A and Part B, helping the student understand:

• What a “Media File” should contain
• How contemporary examples support the essay’s argument
• The meaning of “just outcomes” in family law
• The difference between legal and non-legal responses
• How to structure an evaluative essay

This ensured that the student entered the research phase with a clear roadmap.

Step 2: Guiding the Student Through Part A (Media File Preparation)

The mentor explained how to identify high-quality media sources such as:

• News articles
• Government websites
• Advocacy organisation reports
• Legal commentary
• Recent case summaries

The student was guided to compile examples under each topic heading and analyse:

• What issue is being addressed
• What legal or non-legal response was applied
• Whether the outcome was fair or just

This evidence later served as a primary basis for the essay argument.

Step 3: Structuring the Essay (Part B)

The mentor helped the student develop a strong essay structure:

1. Introduction – outline issues and define “just outcomes”
2. Body Paragraphs
   • Domestic violence: laws, AVOs, courts, police responses, support services
   • Parental responsibility: Family Law Act changes, equal shared responsibility, court discretion, mediation
   • One additional issue (chosen by the student, e.g., same-sex relationships or care and protection)
3. Evaluation – strengths, weaknesses, and real-world examples
4. Conclusion – summarising the overall effectiveness

The mentor encouraged the student to balance descriptive content with critical analysis.

Step 4: Integrating Contemporary Examples and Evidence

Using the Media File, the mentor showed the student how to turn raw examples into academic discussion:

• How to relate current events to legal principles
• How to evaluate both legal and non-legal effectiveness
• How to compare outcomes in different cases
• How to highlight factors such as accessibility, fairness, timeliness, and enforcement

This helped the student build a strong argument supported by evidence.

Step 5: Ensuring Academic Integrity and Presentation

The mentor guided the student to:

• Use APA 7 referencing correctly
• Maintain appropriate spacing, font size, and academic tone
• Include all sources in a complete bibliography
• Avoid plagiarism through paraphrasing and proper citation
• Acknowledge any AI-assisted content transparently

This ensured the submission met formal academic standards.

Final Outcome and Learning Objectives Achieved

Through structured guidance, the student successfully completed:

• A detailed Media File demonstrating understanding of contemporary family law issues
• A well-argued analytical essay evaluating the effectiveness of legal and non-legal responses

Learning Outcomes Covered

The assessment helped the student achieve the following objectives:

• Critical thinking: By analysing how legal and non-legal systems handle complex family issues
• Research skills: By gathering and synthesizing contemporary material
• Evaluation of justice: Assessing fairness, accessibility, and effectiveness of responses
• Academic writing competency: Through structured essay development and APA referencing
• Application of legal knowledge to real-world contexts: Connecting theory with current events
• Ethical practice and integrity: By learning responsible source use and proper attribution

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