Course overview
This course explores jurisprudence, which takes as its focus the philosophy and theory of law. It explores the answers that have been offered to two major questions: what is law, and what ought law to be. The major schools of thought in relation to the nature of law include natural law, analytic jurisprudence, legal positivism, historical jurisprudence, sociological jurisprudence, legal realism, critical legal studies, interpretivism, therapeutic jurisprudence, and general (global) jurisprudence. In relation to what law ought to be (normative jurisprudence), major schools of thought include virtue jurisprudence, deontology, utilitarianism, and the work of John Rawls.
Course learning outcomes
- Analyse the relationship between law and legal theory, undertake legal research with primary and secondary materials, and evaluate legal information
- Apply legal theory to contemporary issues, and critique the operation of law from the perspective of ethics and justice
- Structure and sustain concise and cohesive written and oral arguments for a legal audience
- Analyse law from a theoretical including issues related to justice, fairness and ethics
- Develop an original topic of research for sustained reflection
- Apply critical thinking skills to a range of legal and theoretical issues