Course overview
This course provides a foundation for other law postgraduate courses for students who do not have a law degree from a common law country. It examines the fundamentals of the Australian legal system, and offers an introduction to the law of contract as a case study.
The introduction to the Australian legal system gives a brief overview of the following topics:
- legal system taxonomy, including public and private law;
- the historical background and the development of the Australian legal system;
- indigenous issues within the law;
- the roles of the courts in Australia, court processes and hierarchies in Australia and the operation of the doctrine of precedent;
- the separation of powers in Australia; and
- the legislative system in Australia and law making processes.
The course then goes on to examine in more depth the key legal skills of case analysis and statutory interpretation, enabling students to engage effectively with primary legal sources.
Finally, the course focusses on the practical application of these introductory concepts and foundational skills through an examination of contract law. Students will be introduced to:
- creation and content of a contract (formation, privity, and terms);
- how a contract is performed and/or ended (performance, variation, termination, and rescission); and
- breach of contract and remedies (enforcement and compensation).
Course learning outcomes
- Analyse the foundational principles of Australian law, including the development and operation of common law, precedent and court hierarchy, and the roles of parliament and the courts, and the role of the law of contract in particular, within the Australian legal system, undertake legal research with primary and secondary materials, and evaluate legal information
- Apply Australian law and legal theories, and in particular the law of contract, to complex issues, and critique the operation of the law from a policy perspective, either individually or as part of a team
- Structure and sustain concise and cohesive written arguments about case analysis, statutory interpretation and contract law for a legal audience
- Develop case reading and analysis skills essential for legal research
- Conduct and analyse legal research, and write advice on the basis of that research
- Analyse the impact of Australian law generally, and contract law in particular, from both policy and practical perspectives, and in the context of social and cultural diversity
Availability
Class details
Adelaide City Campus East
Group 1
Class number 21220
Section SE01
Size 30
Available 28
Class details
Adelaide City Campus East
Group 1
Class number 51351
Section SE01
Size 30
Available 30
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