LEGAL STUDIES UNIT 1
Suggested course outline and timeline
for Legal Studies Unit 1 for 2013
The following suggested week-by-week VCE Legal Studies Unit 1 course
outline/timeline for 2013 provides recommended time allocations for the
areas of study in Unit 1. This timeline is intended as a guide for developing a
course based on the VCE Legal Studies Study Design (2011–2015).
Week
Area of study/key
knowledge
Suggested topics, activities and assessment tasks
Week 1
Area of Study 1: ‘Law in
society’
Legal and non-legal rules—students brainstorm the differences and give
examples

The difference between
legal and non-legal rules
Students complete a chart to identify the differences between legal and nonlegal rules

The need for laws
They discuss the need for laws

The distinction between
criminal law and civil law
The differences between criminal and civil law—students read a description in
their textbook and complete a chart identifying the differences (this is an
introduction and will be revisited at the start of Unit 2)

Law-making by
parliaments
PPT presentation on the structure of the Commonwealth Parliament and state
parliaments. Introduce students to the Parliament of Australia website:
http://www.aph.gov.au to view diagrams of each house. Students complete
questions using these web pages:
30 Jan. –
1 Feb.
Week 2
4–8 Feb.
http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate
http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives
Law-making process—posters describing the legislative process and a case
study of a recent change. Using the Domestic Animals Amendment
(Restricted Breeds) Bill 2011, students trace the legislative process
Week 3

11–15
Feb.
Week 4
18–22
Feb.
Week 5
25 Feb.
Law-making by
parliaments and delegated
legislation
Delegated legislation and delegated bodies and a case study of local laws
Role of courts in interpreting legislation
Assessment task: Test
Area of Study 2: ‘Criminal
law’
Discuss the need for criminal law

Discuss the principles of criminal liability and key terms
The need for criminal laws
and the characteristics of
an effective law

The general principles of
criminal liability

Types of crimes

Types of crimes and
related defences (murder)
Review the features of crimes
Use a case study to identify the elements of a crime
Students look at crime statistics from http://www.police.vic.gov.au and identify
the different types of crimes. Students analyse the statistics to identify any
trends
Show students the Crimes Act. Look at how the Crimes Act defines homicide.
Look at the section on murder—ask students to find the definition. Examine
the common law definition of murder
LEGAL STUDIES UNIT 1
– 1 Mar.
Students are to consider the different aspects of the definition of murder
using case studies
Students consider statistics on homicide and suggest factors that may
contribute to the commission of homicide
Week 6

4–8 Mar.
Types of crimes and
related defences
(manslaughter)
Distinguish between murder and manslaughter—case studies of the different
types of situations that may be considered manslaughter
Students define the offences of culpable driving and infanticide
Review possible defences to murder. Students prepare a summary chart
Assessment task: Case studies on possible defences to homicide
Week 7
11–15
Mar.

Types of crimes and
related defences (other
crimes against the person
and crimes against
property)
Law relating to assault
Case study on the incidence of knife crime—students refer to the fact sheet
Reducing Knife Carrying and Knife Violence, by the Federation of Community
Legal Centres:
http://www.smartjustice.org.au/cb_pages/fs_reducing_knife_carrying_and.php
Sexual assault laws
Crimes against property
Students complete a glossary on crime
Week 8

18–22
Mar.
Week 9

25–28
Mar.
The criminal investigation
process, including police
powers and individual
rights and responsibilities
in dealing with police
Assessment task: Test on types of crimes and possible defences
The criminal investigation
process, including police
powers and individual
rights and responsibilities
in dealing with police
(continued)
Murder investigation activity: working in groups, students undertake research
into different aspects of forensic investigation and report back to the class
29 Mar –
14 Apr.
Mid-semester break
Week 10

15–19
Apr.
Sanctions under criminal
law and their effectiveness
PPT presentation on police powers. Working in groups students brainstorm
the rights of individuals when dealing with the police
Students prepare posters on police powers
Introduce students to the principles of sanctioning and the Sentencing Act.
Using the You be the Judge case study from the Sentencing Advisory
Council’s website, students apply the principles to cases.
Students to consider a snapshot of the prison system in Victoria and identify
the differences between male and female offenders
Students to look at a sentencing decision—working in groups they examine
different Supreme Court sentencing decisions (downloaded from
http://www.austlii.edu.au) and report back to the class on the facts of the case
and the reasons for the sanction imposed
Students to prepare a summary of the different types of sanctions
Week 11

Sanctions under criminal
law and their effectiveness
(cont.)
Assessment task: Sanctions assignment
Week 12

29 Apr. –
3 May
Trends in crime,
sentencing and recidivism

A comparison of one
aspect of sentencing in
Students examine the issue of recidivism using the Sentencing Advisory
Council’s information on Recidivism at
http://www.sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/landing/aboutsentencing/sentencing-statistics/adult-prisoners/recidivism
22–26
Apr.
LEGAL STUDIES UNIT 1
Week 13
Victoria with that of
another country
Students conduct research into the way another country sentences its
criminals, such as the use of the death penalty in the United States or
Indonesia

The impact of criminal
acts on individuals and
society
Brainstorm the possible impacts of a crime on the individuals affected, the
legal system and the community

Alternative avenues for
seeking compensation for
victims of crime
Use of victim impact statements—look at a sample victim impact statement
and discuss the ways in which this influences the sentencing decision
6–10
May
Week 14
13–17
May
Area of Study 3: ‘The
criminal courtroom’


The distinction between
summary offences and
indictable offences
Reasons for a court
hierarchy and an overview
of criminal jurisdiction of
courts in the Victorian
court hierarchy
Look at the cost of crime and the impact on victims—refer to VoCAT
Assessment task: Prepare a poster on the cost of crime
Present students with an overview of the court hierarchy; in a discussion with
students, identify the difference between an indictable offence and a
summary offence and the process of bail/remand and committals in the
Magistrates’ Court
Students prepare a court hierarchy chart and suggest reasons for a court
hierarchy
Arrange for a visit to the courts where students complete an observation task
and identify the roles of court personnel. Alternatively, conduct a mock trial

Bail, remand and
committal hearings

Role of court personnel
Week 15

20–24
May
Overview of the adversary
nature of a criminal trial
PPT—the key features of the adversary trial are outlined and students
complete a summary chart

Features of a fair trial and
rights in criminal
proceedings guaranteed
by the Victorian Charter of
Human Rights and
Responsibilities
Discussion of aspects of the VCHRR Act and how it relates to criminal
proceedings—consider the possible impact on bail applications
Students prepare a flow chart outlining the criminal trial process
Week 16

Role and operation of a
criminal jury
Students prepare a flow chart of the process for selecting a jury
27–31
May

Advice and assistance
available through legal aid
Students brainstorm the difficulties that an individual could experience if
going to court for a criminal matter
Students identify the key aspects of the role of the jury in a criminal trial
Students prepare a poster or pamphlet of the possible problems and the
sources of legal assistance and legal aid
Week 17
3–7 June
Assessment task: Structured questions on the criminal trial or mid-year
exam