SUGGESTED TIMELINES
2011 Suggested timeline Legal Studies Unit 1 and 2
Weeks
Learning outcome
Activities
Tasks

Investigate the difference between legal and nonlegal rules and the need for law
Case study relating to legal
and non-legal rules

Study the characteristics of an effective law

Discuss the distinction between criminal law and
civil law
Case study on criminal case
and a civil case from the
newspaper or the internet

Investigate an overview of the role and
characteristics of parliament and subordinate
authorities in law-making.

Study the principles of criminal liability, including
elements of a crime, the presumption of
innocence

Investigate the burden and standard of proof, age
of criminal responsibility and participants in crime

Investigate the crimes against the person and
related defences
Unit 1 Criminal law in action
Term 1: 4 February to 8 April
3 weeks
Outcome 1
On completion of this unit
the student should be able
to explain the need for
effective laws and describe
the main sources and types
of law in society.
6 weeks
Outcome 2
On completion of this unit
the student should be able
to explain the key principles
and types of criminal law,
apply the key principles to
relevant cases, and discuss
the impact of criminal
activity on the individual
and society.
Holidays
Term 2: 27 April to 1 July
2 weeks
Outcome 2 continued
6 weeks
Outcome 3
Case study or structured
assignment on a proposed
law and a law made by a
subordinate authority
Folio and report on articles
relating to criminal law
Structured assignment on
crimes and defences
Case study of criminal case

Investigate crimes against property and related
defences

Study the criminal investigation process, including
police powers and individual rights and
responsibilities in dealing with police

Investigate sanctions under criminal law and their
effectiveness

Investigate trends in crime, sentencing and
recidivism

Discuss a comparison of one aspect of sentencing
in Victoria with that of an international
jurisdiction

Discuss the impact of criminal acts on individuals
and society

Investigate alternative avenues for seeking
compensation for victims of crime.

Discuss the distinction between summary
Report on visit from police
officer discussing police
powers
Essay on police powers versus
individual’s rights
Structured assignment on
criminal sanctions and trends
in crime, sentencing and
recidivism
Report on alternative avenues
for seeking compensation for
victims of crime
Report on the features of a
On completion of this unit
the student should be able
to describe the processes for
the resolution of criminal
cases, and discuss the
capacity of these processes
to achieve justice.
offences and indictable offences
fair trial and rights in criminal
proceedings guaranteed by
the Victorian Charter of Rights
and Responsibilities

Prepare a poster showing the Victorian court
hierarchy and the reasons for a court hierarchy

Investigate bail, remand and committal hearings

Discuss the features of a fair trial and rights in
criminal proceedings guaranteed by the Victorian
Charter of Rights and Responsibilities

Investigate of the adversarial nature of a criminal
trial

Investigate the role of court personnel

Discuss the advice and assistance available
through legal aid

Investigate the role and operation of a criminal
jury.

Investigate the need for civil law and the key
principles of civil law

Explore the distinction and relationship between
civil law and criminal law

Investigate an overview of law-making through
the courts
Case study on a case that
creates a precedent

Discuss torts, including negligence, defamation,
and related defences.
Case study or mock court on
civil case

Examine the role of the court hierarchy in civil
disputes
Visual report on the hierarchy
and jurisdiction of courts

Investigate the civil jurisdiction of courts in the
Victorian court hierarchy
Interview and report or roleplay on avenues and methods
of ADR

Discuss the methods of civil dispute resolution,
including mediation, conciliation, arbitration and
judicial determination
Folio and report or case study
or action plan and report

Explore the purpose and operation of civil pre-trial
procedures
Essay on the adversary
system

Discuss an overview of the adversarial nature of a
civil trial

Discuss civil remedies and their purpose

Investigate difficulties faced by parties when
attempting to resolve civil disputes.

Examine the specifics of an Australian case that
Essay on the adversary
system or the jury system
Unit 2 Issues in civil law
1 week
Outcome 1
Explain the principles of civil
law, law-making by courts
and elements of torts, and
apply these to relevant
cases.
Holidays
Term 3 18 July to 23 September:
2 weeks
Outcome 1 continued
5 weeks
3 weeks
Outcome 2
Explain and evaluate the
processes for the resolution
of civil disputes.
Outcome 4
Folio and report of 2 civil
cases found in the media
Investigation and report on
Describe an Australian case
illustrating rights issues and
discuss the impact of the
case on the legal system and
the rights of individuals
Holidays
Term 4: 10 October to 22 December
5 weeks
Outcome 3
Explain one or more area/s
of civil law and discuss the
legal system’s capacity to
respond to issues and
disputes related to the
selected area/s of law.
2 weeks
Revision
illustrates rights issues and the empowerment of
the people, and its impact on the legal system
o
the role of an individual or a group in
launching a test case
o
the facts and issues central to the case,
including the right/s in question
o
the laws that applied to the case
o
the outcome of the case and its impact on
the legal system and the rights of individuals
o
conflicting attitudes in relation to the issues
raised in the case.

Explore the legal principles relevant to the
selected area/s of law

Investigate a contemporary issue for the selected
area/s of law

Examine the capacity of the legal system to
respond to demands for change

Discuss methods and institutions for resolving
disputes arising under the selected area/s of law.
one Australian case
Essay or structured
assignment on the selected
area/s of law
2012 Suggested timeline Legal Studies Unit 1 and 2
Weeks
Learning outcome
Activities
Tasks

Investigate the difference between legal and nonlegal rules and the need for law
Case study relating to legal
and non-legal rules

Study the characteristics of an effective law

Discuss the distinction between criminal law and
civil law

Investigate an overview of the role and
characteristics of parliament and subordinate
authorities in law-making.
Case study or structured
assignment on a proposed
law and a law made by a
subordinate authority

Study the principles of criminal liability, including
elements of a crime, the presumption of
innocence
Folio and report on articles
relating to criminal law

Investigate the burden and standard of proof, age
of criminal responsibility and participants in crime

Investigate the crimes against the person and
related defences
Unit 1 Criminal law in action
Term 1: 1 February to 30 March
3 weeks
Outcome 1
On completion of this unit
the student should be able
to explain the need for
effective laws and describe
the main sources and types
of law in society.
Case study on criminal case
and a civil case from the
newspaper or the internet

5 weeks
Outcome 2
On completion of this unit
the student should be able
to explain the key principles
and types of criminal law,
apply the key principles to
relevant cases, and discuss
the impact of criminal
activity on the individual
and society.
Holidays
Term 2: 16 April to 29 June
3 weeks
Outcome 2 continued
7 weeks
Outcome 3
On completion of this unit
the student should be able
to describe the processes for
the resolution of criminal
Structured assignment on
crimes and defences
Case study of criminal case

Investigate crimes against property and related
defences

Study the criminal investigation process, including
police powers and individual rights and
responsibilities in dealing with police

Investigate sanctions under criminal law and their
effectiveness

Investigate trends in crime, sentencing and
recidivism

Discuss a comparison of one aspect of sentencing
in Victoria with that of an international
jurisdiction

Discuss the impact of criminal acts on individuals
and society

Investigate alternative avenues for seeking
compensation for victims of crime.

Discuss the distinction between summary
offences and indictable offences

Prepare a poster showing the Victorian court
Report on visit from police
officer discussing police
powers
Essay on police powers versus
individual’s rights
Structured assignment on
criminal sanctions and trends
in crime, sentencing and
recidivism
Report on alternative avenues
for seeking compensation for
victims of crime
Report on the features of a
fair trial and rights in criminal
proceedings guaranteed by
the Victorian Charter of Rights
and Responsibilities
cases, and discuss the
capacity of these processes
to achieve justice.
1 week
Outcome 1
Explain the principles of civil
law, law-making by courts
and elements of torts and
apply these to relevant cases
hierarchy and the reasons for a court hierarchy
Essay on the adversary
system or the jury system

Investigate bail, remand and committal hearings

Discuss the features of a fair trial and rights in
criminal proceedings guaranteed by the Victorian
Charter of Rights and Responsibilities

Investigate of the adversarial nature of a criminal
trial

Investigate the role of court personnel

Discuss the advice and assistance available
through legal aid

Investigate the role and operation of a criminal
jury.

Investigate the need for civil law and the key
principles of civil law

Explore the distinction and relationship between
civil law and criminal law

Investigate an overview of law-making through
the courts
Case study on a case that
creates a precedent

Discuss torts, including negligence, defamation,
and related defences.
Case study or mock court on
civil case

Examine the role of the court hierarchy in civil
disputes
Visual report on the hierarchy
and jurisdiction of courts

Investigate the civil jurisdiction of courts in the
Victorian court hierarchy
Interview and report or roleplay on avenues and methods
of ADR

Discuss the methods of civil dispute resolution,
including mediation, conciliation, arbitration and
judicial determination
Folio and report or case study
or action plan and report

Explore the purpose and operation of civil pre-trial
procedures
Essay on the adversary
system

Discuss an overview of the adversarial nature of a
civil trial

Discuss civil remedies and their purpose

Investigate difficulties faced by parties when
attempting to resolve civil disputes.

Examine the specifics of an Australian case that
illustrates rights issues and the empowerment of
the people, and its impact on the legal system
Folio and report of 2 civil
cases found in the media
Unit 2 Issues in civil law
Holidays
Term 3 16 July to 21 September:
2 weeks
Outcome 1 continued
5 weeks
3 weeks
Outcome 2
Explain and evaluate the
processes for the resolution
of civil disputes
Outcome 4
Describe an Australian case
illustrating rights issues and
discuss the impact of the
case on the legal system and
o
the role of an individual or a group
Investigation and report on
one Australian case
the rights of individuals
Holidays
Term 4: 8 October to 21 December
5 weeks
Outcome 3
Explain one or more area/s
of civil law and discuss the
legal system’s capacity to
respond to issues and
disputes related to the
selected area/s of law.
2 weeks
Revision
in launching a test case
o
the facts and issues central to the
case, including the right/s in
question
o
the laws that applied to the case
o
the outcome of the case and its
impact on the legal system and
the rights of individuals
o
conflicting attitudes in relation to
the issues raised in the case.

Explore the legal principles relevant to the
selected area/s of law

Investigate a contemporary issue for the selected
area/s of law

Examine the capacity of the legal system to
respond to demands for change

Discuss methods and institutions for resolving
disputes arising under the selected area/s of law.
Essay or structured
assignment on the selected
area/s of law