Legal Studies explores the law, and its institutions and processes, in a social, economic and political context, where students will explore the implications and consequences of decisions made by individuals, organisations and governments. Students will communicate their insights in a range of modes and mediums.
Students investigate how individuals and societies respond to social transgressions. They examine the making of legal and judicial procedures and structures, including both common law and statute law. Students investigate theories of justice and punishment. criminalisation and punishment of conduct in various jurisdictions over time. They investigate existing law.
Students investigate civil law. They examine the origin, purpose, and scope of regulation under civil law. Students apply civil law principles and doctrines that regulate the relationships and activities of individuals and groups to a range of case studies. They evaluate conflict resolution processes to determine their fairness and efficacy, and the possibilities for reform to achieve more just outcomes.
Students study the significance of legal rights and responsibilities in everyday life from different political, economic and social perspectives. Using a range of contemporary examples, students investigate how the law attempts to balance the rights and responsibilities of the individual with the best interests of the wider community.
Students investigate the origin, institutions, and processes of international law. They examine how it might be enforced in the context of global treaties and an anarchic international system. Students investigate the impact of international law at global, national, and local levels. They consider the relevance of international law to ordinary people and the challenges they face in accessing international law. Students evaluate case studies of contemporary international legal processes for their fairness and efficacy, including insecurity caused by corruption, autocracy, climate change and conflict.