Outline

Overview

This core unit explores theoretical approaches to studying socio-legal dynamics in a globalised society. It examines key theoretical debates drawing on classical theorists (Weber, Durkheim, Marx), more recent social theorists (Habermas, Foucault, Bourdieu) and critical notes from gender, queer, race, postcolonial, and science studies.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	SLSS2606
Academic unit
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	SCLG2615
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points at 1000 level in Socio-Legal Studies
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Natalia Maystorovich, natalie.maystorovich@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Tristan Bradshaw, tristan.bradshaw@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Presentation	Presentation Oral presentation	10%	-	500 words, 10 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Participation n/a	10%	Ongoing	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research Essay Essay	35%	Week 06	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Case Study Essay Case study	35%	Week 12	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Discussion Board Weekly Discussion Board	10%	Weekly	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Participation: A mark out of 10 is awarded for your semester-long contribution to the class discussion and activities, including your ability to demonstrate that your participation is informed by required readings and other preparation. This mark recognises your contribution in small group work as well as large group discussions. The mark recognises different learning and communication styles. Sharing your thoughts, insights (and confusion) and working through ideas with others is what is most valuable for learning, and therefore most valued when it comes to marks.
Presentation: In groups of about 4 you will make a presentation. These are intended to more closely resemble tutorial facilitations than presentations, with the aim to stimulate thinking about the week’s topic.
Case Study: You will be required to link one of the theorists covered in the unit (Durkheim, Selznick, Marx, Weber, Habermas) and to link it to a contemporary case of your choice. The case study should use at least two scholarly readings (one from the required list and the other from the recommended list or from the library). You are also free to use external media resources (newspaper, film, art).
Research essay: The research essay should use at least five scholarly readings (three from the required list and two from either the recommended list or from the library). You are also free to use external media resources (newspaper, film, art). Your essay must utilise one of the accepted systems for citation (footnotes, or author/date).

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (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
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

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.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction – why socio-legal theory?	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 02	Moral community and law	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	Ideology and rationalisation	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	The Frankfurt School	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	The power of language	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	The "legal field"	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 07	Power and identity	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	Feminist and queer legal theory	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 09	Race and postcolonial theories of law	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	Topical excursus: law in science and technology	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	Topical excursus: law in globalisation	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 12	Concluding lecture	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

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.

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. demonstrate an advanced understanding of sociological theories in the study of law and society
LO2. demonstrate the critical capacity to relate socio-legal theory to appropriate methods and techniques
LO3. assimilate, organise and criticise a corpus of academic materials
LO4. organise, critically analyse and relate to substantive and theoretical concerns within a body of empirical material and data
LO5. display strong personal and intellectual autonomy, and interpersonal and communicative skills.

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.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

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

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

SLSS2606: Socio-Legal Theory

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect