PCE1030

Legal and justice studies

Scott Beattie

6 points
* 3 hours per week
* First semester
* Caulfield and Clayton

Objectives On completion of this subject, the student will be expected to have gained the ability to develop an awareness of our legal system, its purposes and its organisation; appreciate various types of law, including its application, and the legal standards of decision-making as social control; assess and review the functions of legal systems and institutions in Australia, and to appreciate the operation of community alternatives to formal legal processes.

Synopsis The objective of this subject is to familiarise students with the structures and purposes of the Australian legal system - particularly in relation to the policing process. The subject will analyse the development and organisation of the law and legal systems including review of the legal profession, courts and tribunals; legal and social systems and law enforcement agencies; common law and statute law. analysis will also be made of prevailing legal themes in terms of current social policies and issues.

Assessment Essay (2000 words): 40%
* Examination (2 hours): 40%
* Class presentation (500 words), tutorial attendance and participation: 20%

Recommended texts

Maher, Waller and Derham Legal process: Commentary and materials 6th edn, by M D H Smith, K S Pose and T L Bryant, Law Book, 1991