1999 Law Handbook - LLB course objectives

LLB course objectives

Objectives for compulsory core of degree
The elective program

The objectives of the LLB program at Monash are to:
1 enable students to gain an understanding of basic legal concepts and institutions and of the historical, social, political and economic factors influencing the development of legal concepts and legal institutions;
2 enable students to identify, use and evaluate the concepts, principles and rules used in legal argument and the methods by which they are derived and modified;
3 enable students to acquire some familiarity with theories about the nature of law, the systemisation of legal rules and the relationship between law and other social institutions;
4 enable students to develop skills or oral and written presentations, especially of legal argument, and of legal research and analysis;
5 encourage students to analyse the law critically and to take an interest in the development of legal and social policy;
6 develop in students an understanding of concepts of justice, a concern to promote justice and an appreciation of their professional responsibilities;
7 enable students to acquire the basic knowledge and skills necessary for employment in the legal profession, law reform agencies, government service or other relevant areas of employment;
8 enhance students' thinking, reasoning and expressive abilities within legal and related contexts and
9 develop Monash graduates' attributes of independence and life-long learning skills of written and oral communication; inquiry and research; critical thought and analysis; problem solving; teamwork; numeracy; information literacy; and the effective use of technology.

Objectives for compulsory core of degree

The purpose of the core undergraduate curriculum (the seven compulsory subjects and those elective subjects fulfilling the requirements of the Council of Legal Education for admission to practice) is to:
(a) enable students to acquire an understanding of

the fundamental concepts and institutions of public law
the fundamental concepts of criminal law
legal rights and obligations (including proprietary, contractual, tortious and equitable obligations) and their interrelationship
the nature of legal personality, fundamental legal institutions and the relationship between different types of legal institutions
the trial process and litigation
the obligations of practitioners;

(b) introduce students to a variety of theoretical and other perspectives on the nature of law;
(c) enable students to acquire competence in the skills of legal research, analysis and oral and written communication, and introduce them to a range of other legal skills including interviewing, drafting, advocacy, negotiation and other forms of dispute resolution.

The elective program

The purpose of the elective program is to:

enable students to broaden and deepen the legal knowledge and skills they have acquired in the course of studying compulsory subjects;
enable students to explore new and significant developments in the law, legal theory and the legal system and to acquire knowledge and skills in areas of law which particularly interest them;
introduce students to areas of legal knowledge that are not included in the compulsory curriculum;
enable students to further develop the skills relevant to legal practice;
enable students to acquire interdisciplinary perspectives that will extend and enhance their understanding of legal principles, theory or skill.