Overview

This unit provides students with the background training in legal systems and processes that is necessary when working in forensic settings. The unit will equip students with fundamental knowledge about legal process to allow them to operate effectively as practitioners in the forensic field.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Discuss the role of different types of witness (fact compared with expert)
  • Discuss and critically appraise the law in relation to competence/capacity
  • Demonstrate advanced knowledge, and evaluate the pros and cons of, the principles of sentencing
  • Interpret local legislative provisions as they relate to mentally ill offenders

Teaching methods

Hawthorn Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Workshop		12.00 1 week 12
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning		11.50 12 weeks 138
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssessmentIndividual 35% 2 
EssayIndividual 40% 4 
Research and Short Answer QuestionsIndividual 25% 1,3 

Content

  • Background to law
  • Implementing law
  • Principles of sentencing
  • Mental health and the law
  • Alternative approaches to traditional law, including examples

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.