VCE Legal Studies examines the institutions and principles that are essential to the Australian legal system. Students develop an understanding of the rule of law, law-makers, legal institutions, the relationship between the people and the Australian Constitution, the protection of rights in Australia, and the Victorian justice system.

Through applying knowledge of legal concepts and principles to a range of actual and / or hypothetical scenarios, students develop an ability to use legal reasoning to argue a case for or against a party in a civil or criminal matter. They develop an appreciation of the ability of people to actively seek to influence changes in the law and analyse both the extent to which our legal institutions are effective, and whether the Victorian justice system achieves the principles of justice. For the purposes of this study, the principles of justice are fairness, equality and access:

• fairness: all people can participate in the justice system and its processes should be impartial and open

• equality: all people engaging with the justice system and its processes should be treated in the same way; if the same treatment creates disparity or disadvantage, adequate measures should be implemented to allow all to engage with the justice system without disparity or disadvantage

• access: all people should be able to engage with the justice system and its processes on an informed basis.

Units 

• Unit 1: The presumption of innocence

• Unit 2: Wrongs and rights

• Unit 3: Rights and justice

• Unit 4: The people, the law and reform