LAW4177 - Introduction to family law 406
6 points, SCA Band 3, 0.125 EFTSL
Offered
Clayton Summer semester A 2007 (Day)
Synopsis
This unit gives students an understanding of the fundamental principles and concepts in Family Law. Topics include:
- the family - history and the concept of 'the family';
- practising family law - professional and ethical challenges and courts jurisdiction;
- marriage and divorce - obligations created by marriage;
- dividing property under the Family Law Act - principles relating to property division;
- property rights on the breakdown of a domestic relationship - statutes relating to the division of property;
- children's rights and parental responsibilities - the Family Law Act relating to parental responsibility; and
- family support - spousal support and child maintenance.
Objectives
On completion of the unit students will have:
- acquired an understanding of the fundamental concepts of family law;
- a general grasp of the historical evolution of family law and of what is meant by the family;
- some familiarity with the challanges facing the family lawyer in practice;
- the ability to analyse a basic property dispute between parties to a marriage or parties in a domestic relationship including issues of maintenance and support;
- developed an understanding of the statutory principles arising in the context of children and the way in which these laws operate in practice;
- further developed skills in case law analysis, research and statutory interpretation.
Assessment
Examination (2 hours writing time plus 10 minutes reading time): 100% OR Examination (1 hour writing time plus 10 minutes reading time): 50% plus participation in a placement program (25%) with a written research assignment (25%) (2000 words): 50%
Contact hours
Taught intensively over 2 weeks of lectures for 3.5 hours a day, with examination in the following week.
Prerequisites
LAW1100 or LAW1101 and LAW1102 or LAW1104; LAW3300 or LAW3301 and LAW3302
Prohibitions
LAW4162; LAW4163