Legal Studies Subject Overview

Focus of Legal Studies

• Interaction between society and the law
• Balancing rights of individuals with obligations and responsibilities
• Understanding competing rights and interests
• Encourages informed and active citizenship
• Dynamic and evolving nature of law

Course Structure

• Divided into four units

Unit 1: Beyond Reasonable Doubt

• Focus on criminal law
• Key aspects of Australia's legal system
• Topics covered:
  • Criminal investigation process
  • Criminal trial process
  • Punishment and sentencing
• Includes a court visit to see processes in action

Unit 2: Balance of Probabilities

• Focus on civil law
• Differences between civil and criminal law
• Topics covered:
  • Contract law
  • Consumer law
  • Negligence
• Understanding the impact of law on daily life

Unit 3: Government and Law

• Processes and roles of government in shaping law
• Focus on legal change
• Topics for investigation:
  • Whistleblower protection laws
  • Privacy laws
  • Drug laws

Unit 4: Human Rights

• Overview of human rights
• International and domestic legal foundations
• Effectiveness of international law and institutions
• Focus on current human rights issues in Australia

Skills Developed

• Comprehension of legal concepts and processes
• Application of concepts to examine legal issues
• Exploration of different viewpoints
• Evaluation of legal alternatives and justification using legal criteria
• Research skills for selecting information from diverse sources
• Creation of inquiry reports and argumentative essays

Assessment Tasks

• Units 1 and 2 assessments mirror Units 3 and 4
• Types of assessments:
  • Five to six short response questions
  • Extended response to stimulus material
  • Inquiry reports and argumentative essays

External Exam

• Covers material from Unit 4:
  • Topic 1: Human rights and legal sources
  • Topic 3: Human rights in Australian context
• Practice provided in Units 1 to 3

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