Australian Legal Process and Legal Institutions
About the subject
This two-day preliminary subject is open to both Melbourne Law School and external applicants.
Australian Legal Process and Legal Institutions is compulsory for all Melbourne Law School Graduate Diploma students with no previous training in law (excluding the Tax and International Tax specialisations), and all Australia Awards students admitted to Melbourne Law School. It is also highly recommended for international students who do not have a law degree from a common law jurisdiction.
Students are advised to undertake Australian Legal Process and Legal Institutions prior to undertaking any other subject.
This subject is not available for academic credit in the Melbourne Law Masters program.
Syllabus
Principal topics include:
- Key conceptual features of common law thought in the Australian legal system
- Institutional arrangements of the common law system in Australia
- The sources of law in the Australian legal system
- The key techniques of interpretation and argumentation used in common law jurisprudence
- Common law legal doctrine in problem-solving.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will:
- Understand there are different laws in Australia, including common law inherited from England and a wide variety of First Nation laws
- Be familiar with the institutional arrangements of the common law system in Australia
- Understand the sources of law in the Australian legal system
- Have an understanding of the key techniques of interpretation and argumentation used in common law jurisprudence
- Be able to apply common law doctrine in problem-solving.
Teachers
- Associate Professor Olivia Barr (Coordinator)
- Associate Professor Matthew Bell (Coordinator)
Teaching period(s)
| Teaching period | Dates | Delivery mode | Teachers |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | Sat and Sun, 24-25 February 2024 | On campus | Matthew Bell (Subject Coordinator) Judy Bourke |
| July | Sat and Sun, 27-28 July 2024 | On campus | Judy Bourke (Subject Coordinator) |
Assessment
- Take-home examination (2,000 words) (100%)
- 100% attendance is a hurdle requirement.
| Teaching period | Examination release date | Examination due date |
|---|---|---|
| February | Friday 5 April 2024 | Monday 8 April 2024 |
| July | Friday 6 September 2024 | Monday 9 September 2024 |
Tuition Fee
$700 (including GST)
Australia Awards students are not required to make payment.
How to apply
External applicants must provide a copy of their academic transcripts and curriculum vitae upon application. Applicants must have completed prior tertiary studies, and work experience will also be taken into account.
Note: Applicants, excluding Australia Awards students, who have already completed Fundamentals of the Common Law (LAWS70217), do not need to enrol in Australian Legal Process and Legal Institutions.
Strict quotas apply to all availabilities of Australian Legal Process and Legal Institutions, and waitlists are not maintained.
Applications will be assessed on a first-in basis with priority given to students admitted to a Melbourne Law School Graduate Diploma or Masters course.