Law in Context
Undergraduate
UNE-LAW101 2024Course information for 2024 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Develop an understanding of the jurisprudential concepts of law, ethics and values. Interrogate the history of and ongoing influences on the development of Australian law. Learn to construct and communicate a persuasive legal argument.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 16 weeks
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Law in Context
About this subject
Upon completion of this subject, students will be able to:
- identify and explain the history of and ongoing influences on the development of Australian law in a range of contexts, including derivation of Australian law and English common law, and Indigenous and International legal issues;
- demonstrate a basic understanding of the jurisprudential concepts of law, ethics and values upon which the Western idea of law is founded and apply them to a range of legal issues; and
- demonstrate autonomy and responsibility in locating quality legal resources, and analyse abstract legal issues to communicate and construct a persuasive legal argument.
- Topics are only available to enrolled students in the unit Moodle site.
This subject will orientate you into the discipline of law with a comprehensive overview of the historical, jurisprudential, commercial, cultural and global contexts in which Australian law operates today. To develop your foundational knowledge, you will explore the major trends and influences shaping the future of Australian law and practice. You will also develop your basic research skills relating to secondary materials, as well as your ability to discuss abstract legal questions through writing an academic essay. Throughout, this subject further deepens your knowledge of the discipline and provides a solid foundation for more specialised and advanced legal studies.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: CHANGES TO TEACHING DELIVERY DURATION FOR UNIT LAW101
As of the commencement of Trimester 3, this unit will be involved in a University trial. Teaching activities for this unit will take place over a six-week or eight-week period compared to the twelve-week period of a standard trimester. Unit co-ordinators will still be available for the full Trimester to offer students support. There will be no change to the trimester start date, census, results, learning outcomes, credit point value, unit design principles or fee status of the unit.
Research Essay: 1750 words; Relates to Learning Outcomes: 1-3;
Quizzes. Relates to Learning Outcomes: 1,2;
Examination: Open Book Exam. 2 hours 15 mins. There is a supervised exam at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled. The exam will be offered online with supervision via webcam and screen sharing technology. Relates to Learning Outcomes: 1‐3.- Research Essay (35%)
- Quizzes (15%)
- Final Invigilated Examination (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Prior study
You must either have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject, or enrol in the following subject(s) to study at the same time or prior to this subject:
You must either have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject, or currently be enrolled in the following subject(s) in a prior study period; or enrol in the following subject(s) to study prior to this subject:
Please note that your enrolment in this subject is conditional on successful completion of these prerequisite subject(s). If you study the prerequisite subject(s) in the study period immediately prior to studying this subject, your result for the prerequisite subject(s) will not be finalised prior to the close of enrolment. In this situation, should you not complete your prerequisite subject(s) successfully you should not continue with your enrolment in this subject. If you are currently enrolled in the prerequisite subject(s) and believe you may not complete these all successfully, it is your responsibility to reschedule your study of this subject to give you time to re-attempt the prerequisite subject(s).
Others
To enrol in this subject you will need to pass subject UNE-LSU100. Please note as UNE results are released after the close of enrolment date, your enrolment into this subject will be withdrawn if you do not receive a satisfactory result for UNE-LSU100.
Additional requirements
- Equipment requirements - Headphones or speakers (required to listen to lectures and other media). Headset, including microphone (highly recommended). Webcam (may be required for participation in virtual classrooms and/or media presentations).
- Software requirements - It is essential for students to have reliable internet access in order to participate in and complete your units, regardless of whether they contain an on campus attendance or intensive school component. For additional information please visit UNE Hardware Requirements: https://www.une.edu.au/current-students/support/it-services/hardware
- Other requirements -
Study Load
- Most law units will require students to spend at least 15 hours of study per unit per week. That includes time spent online in the LMS, doing private study and working on assignments. The amount of time needed will vary depending on your existing study skills.
- Law units are particularly time-heavy because of the amount of reading that’s required and the type of reading. Reading cases and other types of legal texts will be unfamiliar at first.
- Learning law involves learning new skills, and UNE’s law teachers will help with that, but it does take a commitment of time on your part.
- You need to consider carefully your existing time commitments before enrolling in multiple units.
Progression into the Degree.
To be admitted to the Bachelor of Laws (4 Years) students need to complete the following four units of study and achieve a minimum GPA of 4.2.
- LSU100 Introduction to Legal Studies
- LAW100 Introduction to Legal Systems and Methods
- LAW101 Law in Context
- LAW162 Criminal Law or LAW172 Contract Law
LSU100 is a prerequisite of LAW100; LAW100 is a prerequisite of LAW101, LAW162 and LAW172.
GPA Requirements- The 4.2 GPA requirement equates to three Passes and one Credit.
- Be aware that if you fail a unit it is included in your GPA calculation and means you will need to achieve higher grades to obtain admission to the degree.
- For this reason, we recommend students consider their study load and academic skills before attempting a subject.
- For more information on GPA requirements, please refer to the UNE website.
- For students who have not studied before or have not studied recently
- If you’ve not studied previously, or have been out of study for a while, in your first year we recommend you don’t attempt more than one UNE Law unit per trimester and consider completing an introductory study subject like COM10 and APC100.
- If you are successful in gaining admission to the Bachelor of Laws (4 years) either of these units could count towards the Elective component of the degree.
- Passes and one Credit.
- Be aware that if you fail a unit it is included in your GPA calculation and means you will need to achieve higher grades to obtain admission to the degree.
- For this reason, we recommend students consider their study load and academic skills before attempting a subject.
- For more information on GPA requirements, please refer to the UNE website.
- For students who have not studied before or have not studied recently
- If you’ve not studied previously, or have been out of study for a while, in your first year we recommend you don’t attempt more than one UNE Law unit per trimester and consider completing an introductory study subject like COM10 and APC100.
- If you are successful in gaining admission to the Bachelor of Laws (4 years) either of these units could count towards the Elective component of the degree.
Textbook requirements:
Textbook information is not available until approximately 8 weeks prior to the commencement of the Teaching period.
Students are expected to purchase prescribed material.
Textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Undergraduate
UNE-LLB-DEGUndergraduate
UNE-LGS-DEGUndergraduate
UNE-LAW-DEGUndergraduate
UNE-PLS-DIPUndergraduate
UNE-CRM-DEGSingle subject FAQs
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