units

LAW4804

Faculty of Law

18 September 2017 20 April 2024
Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2015 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 3, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Law
OfferedNot offered in 2015

Synopsis

Through Springvale Monash Legal Service, students will work with identified groups in the community who are experiencing injustice because of their common identity, particular legal problem or their poverty. Students will acquire a theoretical framework and first-hand perspective of the impact of the law and the legal system and focus on appropriate law reform campaigns and community development strategies. They will be divided into small teams and supervised on a day-to-day basis by a specialist member of the legal centre staff and assessed by a Monash Law academic located at the centre.

Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will:

  • understand the impact of the law and the legal system on members of the community as individuals and as groups (particularly those who are disadvantaged) within a social, economic and political context
  • understand and have developed the skills necessary to advocate for social justice in a socio-legal context
  • understand the legal needs of relevant communities and be aware of the processes for responding to these needs through collaboration with NGO and government service providers
  • be able to integrate their knowledge of particular areas of law with perceived community and client group disadvantage.
  • understand the links between inadequate law and administration of the legal system with actual injustice
  • be able to utilize affective advocacy directed at law reform.

Assessment

1 research activity of 5000 words, for example:
a submission to government on a specific aspects of law reform;
a set of community explanatory statements concerning projected changes to local laws and regulations;
a brief to media on the regional effects of government policy and regulation
OR
1 x joint research activity, involving two or more students - total of 5000 words. Can include electronic material, fact sheets etc. 65%
5 x journal entries outlining progress of project 10%
plus 1 public presentation of progress of project 25%

Workload requirements

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

Ms Helen Yandell

Prerequisites

Application form and more information available at http://www.law.monash.edu.au/cle.html