Introduction
This unit introduces students to the history of ideas, political events and personalities that have shaped legal institutions, laws and lawyers and prompted critical examinations of their role within society. Students are encouraged to consider Tasmania's unique position and history and to draw comparisons with experiences in other States and countries. They are expected to scrutinise the way that law has been depicted in literature, art and other mediums, drawing on local resources, artists and attractions. A range of historical literature, including life histories, forms the intellectual core of the unit and students receive instruction on how to evaluate and engage with this literature to advance cogent arguments.
By situating law within its broader context this unit aims to assist students to better understand the relevance of their studies to their future lives and careers. The unit also seeks to embed essential personal skills in time management, reflection and the capacity to work independently. A further purpose of this unit is to build students confidence and profile as research scholars and public commentators. Part of the assessment of this unit involves students organising, presenting and critiquing a scholarly forum (either on-line or face-to-face) designed to disseminate student work. The assessment and activities within this unit will also provide students with the opportunity to develop leadership skills.
Summary 2024
| Unit name | Law - History and Context |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAW621 |
| Credit points | 12.5 |
| Faculty/School | College of Arts, Law and Education Faculty of Law |
| Discipline | Law |
| Coordinator | Dr. Susan Bartie |
| Teaching staff | Dr. Susan Bartie |
| Available as student elective? | No |
| Breadth Unit? | No |
Availability
Note
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TNE Program units special approval requirements.
* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (see withdrawal dates explained for more information).
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate knowledge of some of the major ideas, political events and personalities that have, both in the past and present, shaped legal institutions, laws and lawyers.
- Respond critically to the way that legal history has been reported in a range of secondary literature.
- Construct and communicate persuasive oral and written arguments about the relevance of context and history to thinking about law and legal institutions by identifying, appraising and synthesising evidence and presenting argument in a public forum.
- Lead debate and discussion on legal issues and speak to their relevance to society.
Fees
Requisites
Prerequisites
LAW204 - Administrative Law AND LAW250 - Constitutional Law AND LAW251 - Contract Law AND LAW252 - Foundations of Private Law AND LAW253 - Foundations of Public Law AND LAW254 - International Law AND LAW255 - Legal Reasoning AND LAW256 - Torts
Teaching
| Teaching Pattern | Weeks 1 to 6 All of the material and instruction for this unit will be available for students to view on-line, read or download in weeks 1 to 6 of the semester.
|
|---|---|
| Assessment | Task 1: Essay (50%) Task 2: Forum (40%) Task 3: Abstracts (10%) |
| Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
| Required | TBA |
|---|---|
| Recommended | TBA |
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