Overview

This unit provides students with the background training in legal systems and processes that is necessary when working in forensic settings. The unit will equip students with fundamental knowledge about legal process to allow them to operate effectively as practitioners in the forensic field.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-August-2026
01-November-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-August-2026
Census date
01-September-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-September-2026
Results released date
08-December-2026

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Evaluate the role and function of different stakeholders in legal processes.
  • Critically appraise the law in relation to competence/capacity and jurisprudential theory, with specific reference to First Nations communities.
  • Argue the pros and cons of the principles of sentencing in adversarial legal systems.
  • Interpret local legislative provisions as they relate to mentally ill offenders

Teaching methods

Hawthorn Online

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning 150 12 weeks 12.5
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 12.5

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assessment Individual  35%  3
Essay Individual  40%  1
Research and Short Answer Questions Individual  25%  1,4

Content

  • Background to law
  • Implementing law
  • Principles of sentencing
  • Mental health and the law
  • Alternative approaches to traditional law, including examples

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.