COMMON LAW AND THE AUSTRALIAN LEGAL SYSTEM

LAW5CLM

2017

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

In this subject students who are not graduates in Australian law are introduced to Australia's fundamental legal institutions, the basic methods of Australian lawyers, and the central substantive principles of Australian law. Students will examine Australia's legislative, executive and judicial branches of government, federalism, the Australian legal profession, and selected principles of Australian public, private and procedural law. Students will also practise basic legal skills in reading case law, interpreting statutes, answering legal problems, and researching and citing the law.

School: La Trobe Law School

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: Sara Smyth

Available to Study Abroad Students: No

Subject year level: Year Level 5 - Masters

Exchange Students: No

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: Must be enrolled in LMLC or LMGB or LMLGBL or LMLI or LMCL or LMIBL or LML or LMGBL or have permission of Law School.

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: LAW1LIM, LAW5IAL

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Special conditions: Not available to students who have studied common law.

Learning resources

Readings

Resource Type	Title	Resource Requirement	Author and Year	Publisher
Readings	Concise Australian Legal Dictionary	Prescribed	Butt, P (Ed)	LEXIS NEXIS BUTTERWORTHS
Readings	Laying Down the Law, 7th Edition	Prescribed	Cook, C.	LEXIS NEXIS BUTTERWORTHS
Readings	Supplementary Unit Materials	Prescribed	TBA	TBA

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

01. Be able to describe the central substantive principles of Australian Law.

Activities:: Lectures and discussion.

02. Be able to identify the basic methods of Australian lawyers.

Activities:: Lectures and problem solving activities.

03. Employ the basic legal skills in reading case law, interpreting statutes and answering legal problems.

Activities:: Team presentation/scenarios on Common Law and the Australian Legal System problem solving activities.

Melbourne, 2017, Week 10-11, Blended

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Enrolment information:

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Sara Smyth

Class requirements

Lecture/SeminarWeek: 10 - 11
Five 6.0 hours lecture/seminar per study period on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 11 and delivered via blended.
"9-11 14-15 March 2016 Only"

Assessments

Assessment element	Comments	%	ILO*
Class participation	Students will be advised in the start of the semester how this will be assessed.	10	01, 02, 03
One 4,000 word take-home examination		60	01, 02, 03
One 2,000 word essay		30	01, 02, 03

Melbourne, 2017, Week 37-38, Blended