Legal Studies

LEGAL STUDIES STAGE 6 COURSE DESCRIPTION

CATEGORY A

Course number(s):

• 11220 Legal Studies (2 units – Year 11)

• 15220 Legal Studies (2 units – HSC)

Prerequisites: Nil

Corequisites: Nil

Course description

The Year 11 course develops students' knowledge and understanding of the nature and functions of law and law-making, the development of Australian and international legal systems, the Australian constitution and law reform. It examines an individual's rights and responsibilities, how disputes are resolved and examines a contemporary issue concerning the individual and technology. Students have the opportunity to investigate issues that illustrate how the law operates in practice. This is achieved by investigating, analysing and synthesising legal information and investigating legal issues from a variety of perspectives.

The Year 12 course investigates the key areas of law, justice and human rights through a variety of focus studies, which consider how changes in societies influence law reform.

What students learn

Year 11 Course

• Part I – The Legal System

• Part II – The Individual and the Law

• Part III – The Law in Practice

The Law in Practice unit is designed to provide opportunities for students to deepen their understanding of the principles of law covered in the first sections of the course. This section may be integrated with Part I and Part II.

Year 12 Course

• Core Part I: Crime

• Core Part II: Human Rights

• Part III: Two options

Two options are chosen from:

• Consumers

• Global environment and protection

• Family

• Indigenous peoples

• Shelter

• Workplace

• World order.

Each topic's themes and challenges should be integrated into the study of the topic.