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Unit of study_

LAWS1006: Foundations of Law

This unit of study provides a foundational core for the study of law. The aim is to provide a practical overview of the Australian legal system, an introduction to the skills of legal reasoning and analysis which are necessary to complete your law degree, and an opportunity for critical engagement in debate about the role of law in our lives. The course will introduce students to issues such as: (i) the development of judge made and statute law, with a particular focus on English and Australian legal history; (ii) the relationship between courts and parliament; (iii) the role and function of courts, tribunals and other forms of dispute resolution; (iv) understanding and interrogating principles of judicial reasoning and statutory interpretation; (v) the relationship between law, government and politics; (vi) what are rights in Australian law, where do they come from and where are they going; (vii) the development and relevance of international law. The course focus may be subject to change.

Code LAWS1006
Academic unit Law
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
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None
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
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LAWS5000

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand the basic elements of the Australian legal system
  • LO2. identify sources of law and how they relate to each other
  • LO3. actively engage with legal materials (cases, statutes and commentary)
  • LO4. demonstrate legal reasoning, critical analysis and critical reflection when thinking and writing about legal material
  • LO5. appreciate the complexity of balancing power between parliament, courts and the executive
  • LO6. investigate the ongoing tension between rules and discretion in law
  • LO7. develop and improve oral communication skills

Unit outlines

Unit outlines will be available 2 weeks before the first day of teaching for the relevant session.