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Unit of study_
LAWS5000: Foundations of Law
2024 unit information
This unit of study is designed to introduce students to the foundational knowledge and skills for the study of law. Students learn the central features of the Australian legal system: its historical origins, sources of law, key institutions in the federal system, and fundamental concepts of law. The unit also introduces students to First Laws, the legal orders of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. There is a practical focus on building skills of legal reasoning and analysis with a particular focus on case analysis and statutory interpretation, as well as an introduction to legal problem solving. These practical skills are necessary to complete a law degree. In doing so, it provides opportunities for critical engagement in debates about the role of law in Australia and internationally. Active class participation and discussion based on pre-reading is an essential aspect of the seminars.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Sydney Law School
| Study level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Law |
| Credit points | 6 |
|
Prerequisites:
?
|
None |
|---|---|
|
Corequisites:
?
|
None |
| Prohibitions:
?
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LAWS1000 or LAWS1006 |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. identify and describe to an advanced level, the key elements of the Australian legal system
- LO2. differentiate between various sources of law and articulate their interrelationship
- LO3. engage critically with legal materials including cases, statutes and commentary
- LO4. apply critical analysis and legal reasoning to write about legal material effectively
- LO5. evaluate the complexity involved in balancing power among parliament, courts, and the executive
- LO6. research and critique the persisting tension between rules and discretion in law
- LO7. refine and advance oral communication skills within a legal context
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 1 2024
|
Normal evening | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney | |
|
Intensive February - March 2024
|
Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
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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.
