Introduction to Law
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 36 hours
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning. For Online unit delivery, learning is conducted exclusively online.
2021 teaching periods
Hawthorn
Higher Ed. Semester 1 | Higher Ed. Semester 2 | |
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Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Swinburne Online
Teaching Period 1 | Teaching Period 3 | |
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Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Aims and objectives
1. Describe and evaluate the Australian legal system including the respective roles of parliament, the executive and the courts
2. Explain the doctrine of precedent and use it to evaluate the relative importance of judicial decisions
3. Explain the law making and development functions of the courts
4. Locate, interpret, evaluate and apply legislation to legal issues
5. Conduct legal research and use the results of that research to recommend solutions to legal problems
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment, general skills outcomes and content.
Teaching methods
Student workload:
For all teaching and learning structures (both face to face and online), students are expected to spend an average of 150 hours per unit in total over the duration of the study period
This includes all:
• Scheduled teaching and learning events and activities (contact hours timetabled in a face-to-face teaching space) and scheduled online learning events (contact hours scheduled in an online teaching space), and
• Read all prescribed materials and/or view videos in preparation for each class
• Attend and engage in all scheduled classes (face to face or online)
• Start assessment tasks well ahead of the due date, and submit assessments promptly
• Read / listen to all feedback carefully, and consider it for future assessment
• Engage with fellow students and teaching staff (don’t hesitate to ask questions)
Assessment
General skills outcomes
• Problem solving skills
• Analysis skills
• Communication skills
• Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
• Ability to work independently
Content
• The reception of English law
• The hierarchy of courts
• The doctrine of precedent
• The legislative process
• Statutory interpretation
• Legal writing and communication Legal research
Study resources
- Recommended reading.