Course overview
This course equips students with a comprehensive understanding of criminal law and procedure, emphasising core concepts and their application to the rapidly evolving legal landscape. Students will explore principles of criminal responsibility and develop skills in classifying and analysing the elements of criminal offences, with a focus on how these concepts are adapting to the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging societal changes. They will examine specific criminal offences against the person and property, various defences, and aspects of criminal procedure that will prepare them for legal practice in this field of law. Students will also be required to demonstrate key legal skills, including legal drafting, advocacy and ethical decision-making, that are essential for thriving in criminal law practice. In addition to meeting law professional accreditation requirements, this compulsory course will challenge students to think critically about the future of criminal law and procedure. Students will question the traditional legal ethics that underpin criminal law and consider reframing legal ethics to meet contemporary standards. By the end of the course, students will have gained not only a solid foundation in criminal law principles but also the adaptability, technological competence, and ethical reasoning skills necessary to thrive as legal professionals in a dynamic and evolving criminal justice system.
Course learning outcomes
- Identify and apply the elements of a statutory criminal offence and any associated statutory defence to a problem-based scenario to determine criminal liability
- Identify criminal law procedure rules and explain how they are integral to a fair and efficient criminal justice system
- Apply advocacy skills in a criminal law matter to present a court application that meet professional legal standards
- Draft legal documents in a criminal law matter, including research memoranda and letters of advice, that meet professional legal standards