Overview

This unit enables students, through the study of cases, statutes and other materials, to acquire a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of, and competence in, the fundamentals of the Australian legal system and the principles of statutory interpretation. This unit introduces students to the study of law. It examines the Australian legal system, the doctrine of precedent, the interpretation of legislation, legal research methods and writing skills.

Requisites

Prerequisites

Enrolled in Bachelor of Laws (including Graduate Entry) or associated double degrees

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
04-November-2024
09-February-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-November-2024
Census date
29-November-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
27-December-2024
Results released date
04-March-2025
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025
Teaching Period 1
Location
Online
Start and end dates
10-March-2025
08-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
23-March-2025
Census date
04-April-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-May-2025
Results released date
01-July-2025
Teaching Period 2
Location
Online
Start and end dates
07-July-2025
05-October-2025
Last self-enrolment date
20-July-2025
Census date
01-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
22-August-2025
Results released date
28-October-2025
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
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
03-November-2025
08-February-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-November-2025
Census date
28-November-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-January-2026
Results released date
03-March-2026

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Describe and evaluate the fundamental aspects of the Australian legal system
  • Explain the fundamental principles of common law and use them to evaluate the relative importance of judicial decisions
  • Describe and apply the law relating to statutory interpretation to solve a legal issue
  • Locate, interpret and select appropriate legal sources

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class		3.00 12 weeks 36
Online
Lecture		1.00 12 weeks 12
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning		8.50 12 weeks 102
TOTAL150

Swinburne Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning		11.50 12 weeks 138
Live Online
Class		1.00 12 weeks 12
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Case StudiesIndividual 25 - 35% 3,4 
ExaminationIndividual 50 - 70% 1,2,3,4 
Online TestsIndividual 5 - 15% 1,2,3,4 

Content

  • Overview of the Australian legal system
  • The reception of English law
  • The hierarchy of courts
  • The doctrine of precedent
  • The legislative process
  • Approaches to interpreting statutes
  • Internal aids to interpretation
  • Retrospective operation
  • Extrinsic aids to interpretation
  • Interpretation in context
  • Presumptions
  • The use of international materials
  • Statutory obligations and discretions
  • The use of Acts Interpretation Acts
  • Legal writing and communication
  • Legal research

Study resources

Reading materials

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