MBA Business Law–Research Information Assessment Legal Research Report

MBA Business Law–Research Information Assessment 

Assessment Number: 2

Title of Assessment Task : Legal Research Report

Task Type : Individual Assessment

Due date: Week8, on Sunday 2 November

Weighting: 30%

Word limit: 1,800–2,000 words maximum (including foot notes and bibliography). Any content beyond the word limit will not be assessed.

Assessment and Grading: Refer to the Unit outline for more details on assessment and grading.

Resources for research: Primary and secondary sources eg leg is lation, cases, and use of AI.

Introduction

This paper provides guidance for MBA Business Law students on how to conduct research and use Artificial Intelligence (AI) responsibly in assessments. Students are encouraged to engage with digital tools to enhance their learning but must also demonstrate critical thinking and academic integrity.

AI should be used to assist with understanding concepts, structuring arguments, and locating relevant materials, but students must provide the basis on which AI has been used. This requires clear referencing of AI-generated support and indicate how it contributed to the final submission.

Using AI in Business Law Research

Students may use AI platforms (such as Chat GPT or legal research AI tools) to:

• Clarify legal concepts and principles.
• Generate summaries of case law or legislation.
• Explore perspectives on legal doctrines.
• Assist in structuring essays, case studies, or reports.

However, AI must not replace original thought. Students must verify AI-generated content against authoritative legal sources, including legislation, case law, and academic commentary.

Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) and Research Parameters

Briefly Explain the formation of the legal system and how laws are developed in Australia.

• Research focus: Structure of the Australian legal system (federal vs. state), separation of powers, and the role of parliament and courts.
• AI usage: Summarize key features of the Constitution; clarify distinctions between common law and statute law.
• Student responsibility: Reference authoritative sources such as the Australian Constitution and High Court decisions.

Explain the key features and purpose of contract law including how to create a contract.

• Research focus: Elements of a valid contract –offer, acceptance, consideration, Intention to create legal relations.
• AI usage: Generate case study 2 examples of contract formation.
• Student responsibility: Support arguments with Australian cases such as Carl ill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co and Masters v Cameron.

Explain how a contract can become invalid or legally unenforceable.

• Research focus: Void, voidable, and un enforceable contracts; issues of misrepresentation, duress, illegality, lack of capacity. Refer to one case for each principle.
• AI usage: Compare example so fin valid contracts in 2 different industries.
• Student responsibility: Verify AI content against contract law textbooks and Australian cases (e.g., Commercial Bank of Australia v Amadio).

Describe the express and implied term sofa contract.

• Research focus: Distinguish express terms from implied terms (by statute, custom, or courts).
• AI usage: Draft comparative tables of express vs. implied terms.
• Student responsibility: Ensure examples are consistent with statutory law (e.g., Australian Consumer Law) and cases (e.g., BP Refinery v Shire of Hastings).

Critically examine the different possible remedies if a contract has been breached.

• Research focus: Damages, specific performance, injunctions, rescission.
• AI usage: Explore different scenario so fb reach and remedies.
• Student responsibility: Apply Australian case precedents (e.g., Hadley v B ax en dale) and critically evaluate effectiveness of remedies.

Explain the key features of Tort law and purpose of the law of negligence including remedies and defences.

• Research focus: Duty of care, breach, causation, remoteness, remedies, and defences.
• AI usage: Summarize leading cases in negligence. Also refer to the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW)
• Student responsibility: Use primary legal sources such as Don o g hue v Steven son and W yon g Shire Council v Shirt.

Academic Integrity and Referencing

• All work must comply with the University’s Academic Integrity Policy.
• AI-generated content must be acknowledged.
• All legal references must be cited using the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (AGLC4).
• Students remain responsible for the accuracy and credibility of  all content submitted.

Conclusion

AI is a valuable support tool for MBA Business Law students, but it must be used critically and transparently. Students are expected to apply legal reasoning, demonstrate independent analysis, and ground their arguments in authoritative sources.

Refer to the Template for AI Usage Statement that MBA Business Law students can include at the end of their assessment.

AI Usage Statement

In preparing this assessment, I used [insert AI tool, e.g., Chat GPT, Lexis +AI] for the following purposes:

• To clarify concepts related to [e.g., contract formation, remedies for breach, negligence].
• To assist in structuring the outline of my response.
• To generate examples which I then cross-checked against Australian case law and legislation.

All AI-generated information was verified through authoritative sources, including legislation, case law, and academic texts. The final submission reflects my own critical analysis, application of legal reasoning, and independent research.