STAGE 1 LEGAL STUDIES (SEMESTER 2) 2008

Martyn Anderson (manderson@immanuel.sa.edu.au)

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the program in Stage 1 Legal Studies, students should be able to:
1. understand the rights and responsibilities of individuals and groups in society necessary to achieve social order
and harmony;
2. communicate the nature and operation of aspects of the legal system in Australia;
3. compare different sources of law in Australian society;
4. display participation skills in accessing and using aspects of the legal system;
5. recognise how the legal system responds to cultural diversity;
6. reflect critically on values inherent in the Australian legal system.

Topics
This semester we will be looking at 4 topics: These include:

Law and Society

This will be an overview on Australia’s legal and political system.

Young People and the Law

The rights and interests of young people are protected through state, territory, national, and international laws.
Students investigate and debate a range of issues such as young people’s views on drugs, vandalism, child abuse,
parental responsibility, shoplifting, under-age drinking, health, and work.

Human Rights and the Law

You will consider the following questions:
• What are the particular laws that govern the areas of human rights?
• Why do we have rights and equal opportunity laws and racial tolerance laws?
• What are the opposing attitudes towards human rights laws?
• Which individual and groups are pressuring for changing human rights laws?
• What changes have occurred in Australia’s human rights laws?

Victims and the Law

In recent years, public focus has shifted to victims of crime. This is reflected in a number of initiatives by both
parliament and the courts. Students investigate a range of issues such as double jeopardy, the right to silence,
victims of crime, white-collar crimes, international crimes, victimless crimes, and access to the justice system.
We will consider questions such as the following:
• Who are the victims?
• Is there such a thing as a victimless crime?
• Do legislation and case law adequately consider victims of crime?
• Is there an imbalance between the rights of the victim and the rights of the accused?
• Should there be any role by victims in sentencing, family conferencing, and victim–offender mediation?
• Is there ever adequate compensation for victims through a victims of crime levy, criminal injuries compensation,
or civil remedies?

Assessment

There are three assessment components: Course work, Issues Analysis and the Individual Presentation. The
summative tasks are outlined on the sheet.

Please note that as with all Stage One subjects, SSABSA guidelines for handing in assessment tasks will be strictly
adhered to. Failure to submit assessment pieces on the due date will result in a zero being recorded for that task.
Emailing assessment tasks is NOT recommended. If illness prevents any other form of submission, a phone call to
me or an email is acceptable. A follow up email or phone call will confirm the arrival of the assessment task.

List of Summative Assessment Tasks

Each task must be completed by the due date or a mark of zero will be awarded.
 TOPIC SECTION OF ASSESSMENT MODE WEIGHTING TIMING
THE COURSE
Functions of the Law Stimulus response and 15% Week 4, Term 3
research task

Young People and Test 15% Week 7, Term 3

the Law

All topics Issues Analysis – Letter to an 25% Week 10, Term 3

MP or Media Article

Victims and the Law Extended Response 20% Week 2, Term 4

Questions

Relationships and the Mock Parliament Debate 25% Week 5, Term 4

Law

NB. Some changes may be necessary in relation to the timing and nature of the summative tasks. In order to
achieve a Satisfactory Achievement (SA) in Legal Studies, you need to have an overall standard in the above tasks
of at least 50%.