LAWS 1009 Legal Analysis and Critique

Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 200978

Coordinator Jacinta Sassine Opens in new window

Description The subject exposes students to the contexts that affect how law is made, some of the institutional limitations on law and justice and the impact of globalisation on law. It introduces theories about the nature and function of law in historical, political, social, economic, cultural, ethical and international contexts. The connection between race, gender, culture and law is examined within the context of the Australian legal tradition, legal history, and the impact of the Australian legal system on Australian First Peoples. The subject introduces students to the processes of critical evaluation of arguments, legal communication and logical and critical problem solving.

School Law

Discipline Law, Not Elsewhere Classified.

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

Check your fees via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 1 subject

Co-requisite(s) LAWS 1003 OR
LAWS 1006

Equivalent Subjects LAWS 1008 - Law Foundation

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

Describe the development of Australian law, considering English legal history, reception of English law, independence and the impact of these developments on Australian First Peoples.
Apply theories about the nature and function of law in local and global contemporary contexts from different perspectives, including society, politics, economics, culture, gender and race.
Develop basic logic and critical skills to analyse legal texts.
Apply legal research skills in relation to primary and secondary sources to support legal analysis and critique, focusing on case analysis.
Articulate legal thought effectively for diverse audiences.

Subject Content

The Australian legal tradition
English legal history
Doctrine of reception and repugnancy
Australian constitutional independence
The impact of the Australian legal system on Australian First Peoples
Critical evaluation of arguments
The nature of function of law
Legal formalism and the rule of law
Gender, race, culture and the law
Law in an economic context
Legal communication
Case analysis, statutory interpretation and legal research.

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.

Type	Length	Percent	Threshold	Individual/Group Task	Mandatory
Essay	1,300 words	30	N	Individual	Y
Professional Task	20 minutes	25	N	Individual	Y
Essay	2,000 words	45	N	Individual	Y

Prescribed Texts

eReader resources: Compiled materials for Legal Analysis and Critique, which will be available via vUWS (Western Sydney University, Spring 2023)
Michelle Sanson and Thalia Anthony, Connecting with Law (Oxford University Press, 5th ed, 2022).
The Australian Guide to Legal Citation (Melbourne University Law Review Association Inc, 4th ed, 2018).

Teaching Periods