Legal Studies
Learning Area Leader: Ms Burley
The study of VCE Legal Studies enables students to become active and informed citizens by providing them with valuable insights into their relationship with the law and the legal system. They develop knowledge and skills that enhance their confidence and ability to access and participate in the legal system. Students come to appreciate how legal systems and processes aim to achieve social cohesion, and how they themselves can create positive changes to laws and the legal system. VCE Legal Studies equips students with the ability to research and analyse legal information and apply legal reasoning and decision-making skills and fosters critical thinking to solve legal problems.
Career Paths / Future Directions
Law, Lawyer, Paralegal, Law enforcement, Legal Secretary, Correctional Services, Criminology, Public Service, Social Work, Education
Unit 1 – The presumption of innocence (Code: LEGA11)
Description
In this unit, students develop an understanding of legal foundations, such as the different types and sources of law, the characteristics of an effective law, and an overview of parliament and the courts. Students are introduced to and apply the principles of justice. They investigate key concepts of criminal law and apply these to actual and/or hypothetical scenarios to determine whether an accused may be found guilty of a crime. In doing this, students develop an appreciation of the way legal principles and information are used in making reasoned judgments and conclusions about the culpability of an accused. Students also develop an appreciation of how a criminal case is determined, and the types and purposes of sanctions. Students apply their understanding of how criminal cases are resolved and the effectiveness of sanctions through consideration of recent criminal cases from the past four years.
Outcomes
· Describe the main sources and types of law and evaluate the effectiveness of laws.
· Explain the purposes and key concepts of criminal law and use legal reasoning to argue the criminal culpability of an accused based on actual and/or hypothetical scenarios.
· Explain the key concepts in the determination of a criminal case, discuss the principles of justice in relation to experiences of the criminal justice system, and discuss the ability of sanctions to achieve their purposes.
Unit 2 – Wrongs and Rights (Code: LEGA22)
Description
In this unit, students investigate key concepts of civil law and apply these to actual and/or hypothetical scenarios to determine whether a party is liable in a civil dispute. Students explore different areas of civil law, and the methods and institutions that may be used to resolve a civil dispute and provide remedies. They apply knowledge through an investigation of civil cases from the past four years. Students also develop an understanding of how human rights are protected in Australia and possible reforms to the protection of rights, and investigate a contemporary human rights issue in Australia, with a specific focus on one case study.
Outcomes
To explain the purposes and key concepts of civil law and apply legal reasoning to argue the liability of a party in civil law based on actual and/or hypothetical scenarios.
To explain the key concepts in the resolution of a civil dispute, discuss the principles of justice in relation to experiences of the civil justice system, and discuss the ability of remedies to achieve their purposes.
To explain one contemporary human rights issue in Australia and evaluate the ways in which rights are protected in Australia.
Assessment
· Court case report (written, oral or multi-media)
· Case study and structured assignment
· Folio of work
· Semester Examination
Unit 3 – Rights and Justice (Code: LEGA33)
Description
In this unit, students examine the methods and institutions in the criminal and civil justice system and consider their appropriateness in determining criminal cases and resolving civil disputes. Students consider the Magistrates’ Court, County Court and Supreme Court within the Victorian court hierarchy, as well as other means and institutions used to determine and resolve cases.
Students explore topics such as the rights available to an accused and to victims in the criminal justice system, the roles of the judge, jury, legal practitioners and the parties, and the ability of sanctions and remedies to achieve their purposes. Students investigate the extent to which the principles of justice are upheld in the justice system. Throughout this unit, students apply legal reasoning and information to actual and/or hypothetical scenarios.
Outcomes
· To explain the key principles in the criminal justice system, discuss the ability of sanctions to achieve their purposes and evaluate the ability of the criminal justice system to achieve the principles of justice during a criminal case.
· To explain the key principles in the civil justice system, discuss the ability of remedies to achieve their purposes and evaluate the ability of the civil justice system to achieve the principles of justice during a civil dispute.
Unit 4 – The People and the Law (Code: LEGA44)
Description
In this unit, students explore how the Australian Constitution establishes the law-making powers of the Commonwealth and state parliaments, and how it protects the Australian people through structures that act as a check on parliament in law-making. Students develop an understanding of the significance of the High Court in protecting and interpreting the Australian Constitution. They investigate parliament and the courts, and the relationship between the two in law-making, and consider the roles of the individual, the media and law reform bodies in influencing changes to the law, and past and future constitutional reform. Throughout this unit, students apply legal reasoning and information to actual and/or hypothetical scenarios.
Outcomes
· To discuss the ability of parliament and courts to make law and evaluate the means by which the Australian Constitution acts as a check on parliament in law-making.
· To explain the reasons for law reform and constitutional reform, discuss the ability of individuals to change the Australian Constitution and influence a change in the law, and evaluate the ability of law reform bodies to influence a change in the law.
Assessment
· Case study Structured questions Test
· Essay
· Written report multi-media report
· Folio of exercises
Unit 3 & 4 Assessment
Unit 3 & 4 Coursework = 50%
Written Examination = 50%