Understanding Australian Law

Australian law is not as complicated as you may think. We examine fundamental principles including the role of law in a democracy, the history of our Common Law system, and the sources of our laws. Building on a better understanding of these we can see how specific areas of law operate to create a coherent whole. Law is essential for society to function. Unfortunately, how and why the law works the way it does is largely misunderstood. Here are some straight answers.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

COURSE OUTLINE

• Law and democracy, the Australian Constitution, separation of powers, judicial independence, the Rule of Law and the sources of our laws
• The Common Law adversarial system and the Civil Law inquisitorial system
• Judges, juries, barristers and solicitors, how trials are run, and principles of the law of evidence
• Punishment and compensation
• Crime, negligence, defamation and contracts
• Principles of natural justice, the limits of government power, do we need a Bill of Rights?
• International law and human rights

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. See Australian law as a coherent system
2. Appreciate how law reflects social norms and values
3. Understand principles of selected areas of law
4. Demystify the legal stories reported every day in the media
5. Become better informed citizens