1
UNIT 3 LEGAL STUDIES TIMELINE
Week
Area of study/key knowledge
Week 1
Introduction to course
30 Jan – 3 Feb.

Overview of course requirements

Presentation of holiday homework

Distinction between civil and criminal law/parliament and judge-made law
Week 2
AREA OF STUDY 1: ‘PARLIAMENT AND THE CITIZEN’
6–10 Feb.
The Australian parliamentary system

Principles of the Australian parliamentary system: representative government,
responsible government, and the separation of powers (2 periods)

The structure of the Victorian Parliament and the Commonwealth Parliament and
the roles played by the Crown and the Houses of Parliament in law-making (3
periods)
Week 3
The Australian parliamentary system (continued)
13–17 Feb.

The structure of the Victorian Parliament and the Commonwealth Parliament and
the roles played by the Crown and the Houses of Parliament in law-making (cont.)
(1 period)

Revision (1 period)

SAC (1 period)

The reasons why laws may need to change (2 periods)
School-assessed
coursework
Wednesday 15
February
SAC 1A: Folio
exercise
CASE STUDY: HOON LAWS and GAY MARRIAGE
Week 4
Changing the law
20–24 Feb.

The means by which individuals and groups influence legislative change, including
petitions, demonstrations and use of the media (2 periods)

The role of the Victorian Law Reform Commission: Law Reform in Action booklet
(3 periods)
CASE STUDY: Sex Offenders Registration
Week 5
Changing the law (continued)
27 Feb. – 2 Mar.

The legislative process for the progress of a Bill through parliament (3 periods)
CASE STUDY: Domestic Animals Amendment (Restricted Breeds) Bill 2011
*
Strengths and weaknesses of parliament as a law-making body (2 periods)
Week 6
*
Revision of AOS 1 (1 period)
5–9 Mar.
*
SAC AOS 1 (1 period)
COMMENCE AREA OF STUDY 2: ‘THE CONSTITUTION AND THE PROTECTION
OF RIGHTS’
* The division of law-making power between state and Commonwealth parliaments
under the Commonwealth Constitution, including specific (concurrent and exclusive)
and residual powers, and the impact of Section 109 (3 periods)
Week 7
12–16 Mar.

The division of law-making power between state and Commonwealth parliaments
under the Commonwealth Constitution, including specific (concurrent and
exclusive) and residual powers, and the impact of Section 109 (continued) (1
period)
Tuesday March 6
SAC 1B: Folio
exercise
2
Week 8

Restrictions imposed by the Commonwealth Constitution on the law-making
powers of the state and Commonwealth parliaments (1 period)

The process of change by referendum under Section 128 of the Commonwealth
Constitution and factors affecting its likely success (3 periods)

The way in which one successful referendum changed the division of law-making
powers (3 periods)
19–23 Mar.
CASE STUDY: The 1967 Referendum
Week 9

The role of the High Court in interpreting the Commonwealth Constitution (2
periods)

The significance of two High Court cases involving the interpretation of the
Commonwealth Constitution in terms of their impact on the law-making power of
the state and Commonwealth parliaments (3 periods)
26 Mar. –
30 Mar.
CASE STUDY: The Tasmanian Dam Case

The significance of two High Court cases involving the interpretation of the
Commonwealth Constitution in terms of their impact on the law-making power of
the state and Commonwealth parliaments (continued) (2 periods)
CASE STUDY: Brislan case
31 Mar – 15 Apr.
Mid-semester break
Week 10
16–20 Apr.
Week 11

The capacity of the states to refer law-making power to the Commonwealth
Parliament (1 period)

Revision (1 period)

SAC (1 period)

The means by which the Commonwealth Constitution protects rights, including
structural protection, express rights, and implied rights (2 periods)

The means by which the Commonwealth Constitution protects rights, including
structural protection, express rights, and implied rights (2 periods)

The significance of one High Court case relating to the constitutional protection of
rights in Australia (3 periods)
23–27 Apr.
Wednesday18 April
SAC 2A: Structured
questions
CASE STUDY: The Roach Case
Week 12

30 Apr –
4 May
CASE STUDY: The Roach Case
Week 13
The significance of one High Court case relating to the constitutional protection of
rights in Australia (2 periods)

Australia’s constitutional approach to the protection of rights and the approach
adopted in one of the following countries: Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, or
the United States of America (3 periods)

Australia’s constitutional approach to the protection of rights and the approach
adopted in one of the following countries: Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, or
the United States of America (continued) (2 periods)

Revision (1 period)

SAC (1 period)
7–11 May
Thursday 10 May
SAC 2B: Structured
questions
3
Week 14
AREA OF STUDY 3: ‘ROLE OF THE COURTS IN LAW-MAKING’
14–18 May

The ability of judges and courts to make law (2 periods)

The operation of the doctrine of precedent (3 periods)
CASE STUDY: When Playtime Causes Injury
Week 15

Reasons for interpretation of statutes by judges (2 periods)
21–25 May

Effects of statutory interpretation by judges (2 periods)
CASE STUDY: The Chroming Case
*
Strengths and weaknesses of law-making through the courts (1 period)
Week 16

Strengths and weaknesses of law-making through the courts (1 period)
28 May –
1 June

The relationship between courts and parliament in law-making (2 periods)
Thursday 31 May
SAC 3: Test
CASE STUDY: Trigwell’s Case and Native Title


Revision (1 period)
SAC (1 period)
Week 17
BEGIN UNIT 4
UNIT 4
4–8 June
Area of Study 1: ‘Dispute resolution methods’
Outcome 1

Dispute resolution methods used by courts and VCAT, including mediation,
conciliation, arbitration and adjudication

The reasons for a court hierarchy

Original and appellate jurisdictions of the Victorian Magistrates’ Court, County
Court, and Supreme Court (Trial Division and Court of Appeal)
Describe and
evaluate the
effectiveness of
institutions and
methods for the
determination of
criminal cases and
the resolution of
civil disputes
HOMEWORK DUE DATES
Tuesday
Glossary test
Thursday
Media folio
Revision book checked
Every lesson
Read, annotate and three point page
summary of chapter that we are about to
study.
Exam type question (4 square round
robin).