NZQA registered unit standard
Title
Explain concepts of law
Level
2
27842 version 1
Page 1 of 3
Credits
4
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to explain
concepts of law.
Classification
Social Science Studies > Legal Studies
Available grade
Achieved, Merit, and Excellence
Criteria for Merit
The explanation of one key element for each of the two
concepts of law is developed by including relevant supporting
detail such as:
 the importance of the key element to the legal scenarios;
 particular facts within the legal scenarios;
 particular legislation;
 case law, media reports.
Criteria for Excellence
The explanation of one key element for each concept of law is
fully developed by applying the concept of law to a legal
scenario.
Explanatory notes
1
Definitions
Concepts of law are the ideas and understandings that underpin the discipline of law.
Examples include: customary law; human rights; freedom of the press; national
sovereignty; natural justice; parliamentary sovereignty; personal relationships;
negligence, contract, crime, property, legal ethics, privacy, securities, and tax.
Key elements are the generally accepted components of a concept of law for
example the elements of the concept of crime would include actus reus, mens rea,
prohibition by statute.
Legal scenarios are specific examples based on a real or fictionalised cases or
events that illustrate concepts of law.
2
This unit standard can be awarded with an Achieved, Merit, or Excellence grade. For
the Achieved grade to be awarded, all outcomes must be achieved as specified in
the outcome statement(s). For Merit or Excellence grades to be awarded, the
candidate must meet the Merit or Excellence criteria specified above.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
3
27842 version 1
Page 2 of 3
Teaching and learning guidelines that inform legal studies as it is taught in New
Zealand can be found at http://seniorsecondary.tki.org.nz/Social-sciences/Legalstudies. Assessment support material for these standards can be found at
http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/legalstudies.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Explain concepts of law.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Concepts of law are explained in terms of the key elements for each in relation
to legal scenarios.
Range
key elements for two concepts of law.
Replacement information
This unit standard replaced unit standard 8543 and unit
standard 8554.
Planned review date
31 December 2017
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
14 December 2012
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0226
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27842 version 1
Page 3 of 3
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact NZQA National Qualifications Services nqs@nzqa.govt.nz if you wish to
suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016