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Unit of study_
LAWS5024: Torts
2026 unit information
This unit aims to provide students with a foundational understanding of Australian tort law, a subject fundamental to legal practice and crucial for later core and specialist subjects. Through a critical study of cases and statutes within their historical and social contexts, students will gain a deep understanding of the development of tort principles, the function and scope of modern tort law, and the rationale and utility of its governing principles. The unit will analyse the interactions between common law and significant legislation, enhancing students’ skills in statutory interpretation, problem-solving, and applying the law to hypothetical and real-life situations. The unit is designed to enable students to build their understanding of various aspects of tort law. It covers the contemporary relevance of the historical development of the actions of trespass and the action on the case. Students will explore trespass to the person, which includes battery, assault, and false imprisonment, as well as trespass to land and nuisance. The curriculum delves into the development and scope of the modern tort of negligence. This includes a detailed examination of the principles underpinning duties of care related to physical and psychiatric injury or damage, pure economic loss, the determination of breach of duty, and issues of causation and the scope of liability or remoteness of damage. Additionally, students will learn about various defenses, the assessment of damages, and actions involving multiple wrongdoers, including the vicarious liability of employers. The unit also covers claims arising after the death of the tort victim and explores some alternative systems of compensation.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Sydney Law School
| Study level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Law |
| Credit points | 6 |
|
Prerequisites:
?
|
LAWS5019 |
|---|---|
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Corequisites:
?
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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LAWS5001 and LAWS5006 |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Identify and describe theories and policies underpinning the operation of tort law and demonstrate a systematic understanding of the law of torts in its social context.
- LO2. Apply case analysis and statutory interpretation skills, drawing on the historical development of the law, to explain current legal principles.
- LO3. Apply problem-solving skills to develop solutions to hypothetical legal problems.
- LO4. Develop persuasive, logically structured legal arguments using plain, concise language.
- LO5. Communicate information and arguments about tort law to a range of audiences.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Semester 2 2026
|
Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
|
|
Semester 2 2026
|
Normal evening | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
|
There are no availabilities for previous years.
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.