Outline

Overview

This unit is the first of two that introduce students to criminal law, criminal procedure, and legal research. Students will learn about the fundamental elements of the criminal legal system, including its adversarial nature, and selected criminal and procedural laws and practices. Topics include police powers, bail, elements of a criminal offence, and various offences. Students will assess broader theoretical, social, and justice issues related to the development and operation of criminal law and procedure, including the ongoing effects of colonisation and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' perspectives on criminal justice systems. Students will learn to analyse problems, construct persuasive legal arguments using legal reasoning, and develop legal research skills for study and practice, including how to locate and cite case law and legislation. Students will also participate in simulations and work collaboratively in teams.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Law
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	LAWS5019
Prohibitions ?	LAWS5003 and LAWS5004
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Ross Abbs, ross.abbs@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Louise Boon-Kuo, louise.boon-kuo@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Salim Farrar, salim.farrar@sydney.edu.au
	Carolyn McKay, carolyn.mckay@sydney.edu.au
	Louise Cauchi, louise.cauchi@sydney.edu.au
	Ross Abbs, ross.abbs@sydney.edu.au
	Vered Lalrinpuii, vered.lalrinpuii@sydney.edu.au
	Oliver Oxley, coliver.oxley@sydney.edu.au
	Matthew Blundell, matthew.blundell@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written exam	Final exam (50%) Problem and essay questions (2 hrs+30mins reading)	50%	Formal exam period	2 hours	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Contribution	Class participation (20%) Leading class discussion, answering questions on assigned topics, participation, and collaboration.	20%	Multiple weeks	1 x 2-hour tutorial	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Out-of-class quiz	Early Feedback Task (0%) Online written test	0%	Week 03 Due date: 15 Mar 2026 at 23:59	30 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Out-of-class quiz	Pre-Court Preparation Task (pass/fail) Interactive module with questions.	0%	Week 05 Due date: 23 Mar 2026 at 23:59	20 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Court Observation Reflection Essay (30%) Court observation reflection essay	30%	Week 06 Due date: 30 Mar 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 13 Apr 2026	1800 words / 5 weeks	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = early feedback task ?

Assessment summary

Early feedback task (0%):

As part of our commitment to student success, this unit includes an Early Feedback Task (EFT). This task is designed to give you valuable feedback on your understanding of key concepts before the census date for this unit. In this unit, the EFT is an online written test covering material from Weeks 1-3, including topics such as criminal process and skills such as legal problem analysis. The questions in the test will be similar in format to those you’ll encounter in your in-person written assessments, and the EFT may include short answer questions and problem scenarios. We encourage you to view this task as a valuable opportunity to check your understanding and identify areas where you might need further support.

Details on how to access the online EFT are provided in the Canvas site. The EFT will be available from Monday 9 March 2026, until 11:59 pm Sunday 15 March 2026 (Sydney Australia time). While the test is designed to be completed within approximately 30 minutes, you are not required to adhere strictly to this timeframe.

Your attempt will be graded as ‘Attempted’ or ‘Not attempted’. Students who successfully complete the task will receive access to an answer guide and accompanying explanations after the submission deadline. This answer guide provides feedback on the correct answers and offers insights into the reasoning behind them. Please note that this EFT is a formative assessment designed for learning and does not contribute to your final grade. As such, Special Consideration is not available for this task. Students who do not attempt the task by the due date and time will receive a result of ‘Not attempted'.

Pre-Court Preparation Task (pass/fail):
The Pre-Court Preparation Task is a Hurdle Task designed to prepare you for attending court and successfully completing the subsequent Court Observation Reflection Essay. This online interactive module includes short videos explaining court processes, relevant legislation, and scenarios related to appropriate courtroom conduct. The task assesses your understanding of the legal principles governing behaviour in court and essential etiquette for a court observation. You must complete this task before attending court for the Court Observation Reflection Essay.

Details on how to access the Pre-Court Preparation Task are available on the Canvas site. To pass this Hurdle Task, you need to achieve a score of 90% or better on the multiple-choice questions. You have unlimited attempts to complete the task. These attempts are designed to allow you to learn from your mistakes and improve your understanding – please review any incorrect answers carefully. The Pre-Court Preparation Task will be available via Canvas from Monday 23 February 2026, until 11:59 pm on Monday 23 March 2026 (Sydney Australia time). After completing each attempt, you’ll receive immediate feedback indicating whether your answer was correct or incorrect, along with a brief explanation of the correct answer.

Class Participation (20%):
Active participation, communication, and collaboration in tutorials are essential to success in this unit. You will be assigned to a tutorial team in your first tutorial. This assessment comprises two parts:

General class participation (worth 10 marks): Each week, you will be assessed contributions to discussion during tutorial sessions. This includes demonstrated preparation and engaging constructively with the material presented.
Tutorial team leader participation (worth 10 marks). You will be assigned as a Tutorial Team Leader for one tutorial session during the semester. As Tutorial Team Leader, your role is to facilitate discussion within your team and to represent the team's responses during the whole-of-class discussion. To succeed in this role, you are expected to prepare both the required and extension materials for that week and will be responsible for sharing with the class your analysis of the extension materials in particular.

This assessment actively develops your critical thinking and communication skills, vital for success in the legal profession. Further instructions and the marking rubrics for both general class participation and the Tutorial team leader role are available via Canvas.

Court Observation Reflection Essay (30%):
This assessment requires you to submit a 1800-word Court Observation Reflection Essay (including footnote references). This assessment requires you to first observe court and then submit an essay where you draw on selected texts to discuss your reflections and insights about the court matter/s you have observed. This assessment also requires you to demonstrate your legal referencing skills by correctly utilising the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th edition, 2018) for footnote references.. This assessment requires you to first observe court and then submit an essay where you draw on selected texts to discuss your reflections and insights about the court matter/s you have observed. This assessment also requires you to demonstrate your legal referencing skills by correctly utilising the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th edition, 2018) for footnote references.

Further instructions and the marking rubric will be released on Canvas by 23 February 2026 Sydney, Australia time. The due date for submissions is 30 March 2026 at 11.59pm Sydney, Australia time, and assignments must be submitted via Canvas. You are required to follow AGLC4 style for footnote references. A bibliography is not required and should not be included.

Final exam (50%):
There will be a supervised final exam held on-campus during the formal examination period. This exam will be open book which means you are permitted to take in hard copy or printed materials. The exam may cover all topics in the unit. It will consist of problem questions, and short essay questions. You will have 2 hours to write your responses plus 30 minutes of reading time. The total duration of the exam is 2 hours and 30 minutes. The exam timetable will be released by the Exams Office in due course. For further information, please refer to Exam Timetables.

Word limit penalty:
Word limits for written assessments must be strictly adhered to. Markers will stop reading once the assessment reaches the maximum word limit, and any words past that limit will not be read nor assessed. The total word count for the essay and other written assessments will include all footnotes. The total word count will exclude acknowledgements of permissible assistance from editors, automated writing tools or generative AI (where use is permitted).

Referencing: The Sydney Law School expects you to use the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th edition, 2018) for your footnoting style. See Canvas for more guidance.

Special consideration: Successful grants of Special Consideration may involve alternative tasks, as appropriate.

Assessment requirements to pass a unit of study: A student must make a genuine attempt at all assessment tasks set out in this Unit of Study in order to obtain a Pass mark and grade (or above); otherwise an Absent Fail grade will be recorded as the student’s result for this Unit of Study. As the EFT is an early diagnostic tool, this task is not included in the final grade for the unit.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2021 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	• Completely answers the question. • Contains striking originality of approach or analysis. • Demonstrates exhaustive or innovative research (where independent research required). • Exceptionally well written, structured and expressed. • Is otherwise exceptional in some way.
Distinction	75 - 84	• Completely answers the question. • Achieves a critical and evaluative approach to the issues. • Content and structure is well organised in support of the argument. • Demonstrates extensive research and analysis to support a well-documented argument. • Generally well expressed and free from errors. • Has a clear structure and is well articulated.
Credit	65 - 74	• Covers main issues fairly well in answering the question. • Contains no significant errors • Demonstrates an attempted critical approach to the issues. • Demonstrates reasonably sound research and analysis in addressing the key issues. • Has a clear structure and reasonably clear expression.
Pass	50 - 64	• Identifies the key issues, but does not follow through with a reasoned argument. • Contains some significant errors. • Displays satisfactory engagement with the key issues. • Offers descriptive summary of material relevant to the question. • Superficial use of material, and may display a tendency to paraphrase. • Demonstrates little evidence of in-depth research or analysis. • Adequate expression. • Overall, demonstrates the minimum level of competence in the assessment and satisfies the requirements to proceed to higher-level studies in the degree or subject area.
Fail	0 - 49	• Does not answer the question. • Contains significant or numerous errors. • Few or no identifiable arguments. • Content that is inappropriate or irrelevant. • Lack of research or analysis. • Difficult or impossible to understand through poor grammar, expression or structure. • Overall, does not demonstrate the minimum level of competence in the assessment.

For more information see Guide to Grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

The late submission of a piece of assessment, without an approved extension, will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment per 24 hours or part thereof, after the due time on the due date. Penalties for late submission will be applied strictly, subject to a 5 minute grace period. Late penalties do not apply to exams and any late submission will not be accepted.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Pre-semester	Topic 1 Lecture (online) – Orientation to Learning and Assessment in Criminal Law, Process, and Research I. This lecture will be available as a series of online recordings on the unit Canvas site.	Self-directed learning (2 hr)
Week 01	Topic 1 Tutorial – Preparation for Court Observation	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 01	Topic 2 Lecture – Criminal Law and Process–Concepts and Theory	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Topic 2 Tutorial – Discussion and Legal Research	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 02	Topic 3 Lecture – The Criminal Legal System	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Topic 3 Tutorial – Introduction to Problem Analysis	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	Topic 4 Lecture – Police Powers	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Topic 4 Tutorial – Police Powers Problem	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	Topic 5 Lecture – Police Custody and Bail	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Topic 5 Tutorial – Bail Advocacy and Strengths-Based Approaches	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	Topic 6 Lecture – Pre-Trial Process	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Topic 6 Tutorial – Pre-trial Process, Offences, and Legal Research	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 07	Topic 7 Lecture – Components of Criminal Offences	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Topic 7 Tutorial – Criminal Law Problems and Debate	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 08	Topic 8 Lecture – Public Order Offences (Part 1)	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Topic 8 Tutorial – Public Order Offence Problems and Discussion (Part 1)	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 10	Topic 9 Lecture – Public Order Offences (Part 2)	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Topic 9 Tutorial – Public Order Offence Problems and Discussion (Part 2)	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 11	Topic 10 Lecture – Diversion, Law Reform, and Alternatives, and Consolidating Criminal Law, Process, and Research I	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Topic 10 – Practice Exam and Discussion	Tutorial (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Your attendance at tutorials or seminars will be recorded by your tutor each week. All students are required to attend 70% of tutorials or seminars to satisfy the pass requirements for this unit. Failure to meet this requirement will result in an Absent Fail grade being recorded as the student’s result for this unit (see The University of Sydney Law School Resolutions: Coursework Awards cl 11).

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

David Brown, Luke McNamara, Alex Steel, Julia Quilter, Melanie Schwartz, Thalia Anthony, Arlie Loughnan, Helen Gibbon, Vicki Sentas, Elyse Methven, Leah Williams, Criminal Laws: Materials and Commentary on Criminal Law and Process in NSW (Federation Press, 8th edn., 2025).

Please consult the learning guide on Canvas for a detailed list of required and extension learning material.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. Critically analyse and appraise the impact of selected procedural and substantive criminal laws within their historical, social, political, and institutional contexts.
LO2. Construct and justify persuasive legal arguments to address factual problems and theoretical issues concerning the development and operation of procedural and substantive criminal law.
LO3. Lead independently and contribute to collaborative teams, upholding respectful and ethical standards, to effectively communicate complex legal concepts and arguments to diverse audiences.
LO4. Critically reflect on key procedural and substantive criminal laws, Indigenous-led initiatives, and the ongoing effects of colonisation, on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ equality before the law.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

As a result of student and staff feedback on the Unit in 2025, the following changes have been made to this Unit: (i) There are online lectures available on Canvas for Topic 1 that students must watch/listen to prior to attending their Week 1 tutorial or seminar. (ii) The length of the Court Observation Reflection Essay has been increased to 1800 words to allow for greater depth of analysis.

Additional information

This unit of study contains reference to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students should be advised that this unit of study will include content which contains images and names of deceased persons. Please consult the unit Learning Guide and Schedule on canvas for detailed guidance.

Some unit learning materials quote terms, language, or descriptors that reflect the attitudes and context of the period in which the material was originally created, and which may not be appropriate or acceptable today. This material has not been altered because it is part of developing an accurate understanding of the historical and contemporary context of criminal law and process and evaluating concepts of equal justice.

Unit content also contains sensitive material that some may find distressing.

For information about support services for students at the University, see the Student Life website https://www.sydney.edu.au/study/student-life/student-support.html and

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students may also access support services including the Gadigal Centre https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/support-and-safe-spaces.html

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

LAWS5022: Criminal Law, Process, and Research I

Semester 1, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links