Legal Studies

In the Preliminary course students study three topics, these include The Legal System, The Individual and the State and the Law in Practice.

In the HSC course students study four topics: Mandatory Units are Crime and Human Rights.  Students will also complete two focus studies chosen from; consumers, family, global environment, Indigenous people, shelter, technological change, workplace and world order.

Legal Studies HSC assessment consists of a maximum of four assessment tasks based on students' knowledge and understanding, research and communication skills.

Topics, task weightings and specific requirements for each course are distributed to students at the commencement of study via their Assessment Handbook.

There is an external examination for students undertaking the course which consists of a three hour written examination made up of multiple choice questions, short answer questions and extended responses.

In the Preliminary course students learn about basic legal concepts, learn to define law, distinguish between customs, rules, laws, values and ethics, describe the characteristics of just laws and the nature of justice, define and investigate procedural fairness and the rule of law and define anarchy and tyranny.  Students will also study common, statue, customary law, international law and the classifications of law and law reform in action. Through the individual and the Law module, students study their rights and responsibilities, resolving disputes and discuss the contemporary issue of technology.  Students also investigate contemporary issues that illustrate how the law operates in practice.

HSC course students will investigate criminal law, processes and institutions and the tension between community interests and individual rights and freedoms, investigate the notion of human rights and assess the extent to which legal systems embody such human rights and promote them in practice.