Legal Studies

Legal Studies is designed to foster intellectual, social and moral development by empowering students to think critically on the role of law and legal institutions in society. This is achieved through a review of selected legal rules, institutions and processes at the domestic and international level, a demystification of terminology and a focus on change, effectiveness, dispute resolution and justice.

Legal Studies has a significant impact on students’ confidence in approaching and accessing the legal system and provides them with a better appreciation and understanding of the relationship between social and legal structures in society. The subject offers excellent preparation for life skills through an understanding of the legal system, its principles, structures, institutions and processes. Legal Studies further fosters a respect for cultural diversity and promotes tolerance. It allows students to question and evaluate the legal and democratic institutional structures within the domestic and international environment and to undertake a comparative analysis of other political and institutional structures.

Legal Studies provides a flexible learning structure. It allows students to acquire skills in analysis, independent research and the development of coherent arguments. All of these help to prepare students for further education, training and employment. It allows for full and active participation as citizens by encouraging diverse opinions, open rational debate, respect for persons, equality before the law and involvement in democratic processes and structures.


Visiting lawyers with a KHS student during lectures on crime
for Year 12 students during Law Week.

Course Structure

Themes
Justice, law and society  Culture, values and ethics Conflict and cooperation Continuity and change Legal processes and institutions Effectiveness of the legal system
Preliminary course (120 indicative hours) Part I – The Legal System (40% of course time) Topics: 1.     Basic legal notions 2.     Sources of law: 2.1   Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander customary law 2.2   Contemporary Australian law 2.3   International law 3.     The constitutional system in Australia 4.     The operation of the legal system Part II – The Individual and the State (20% of course time) Topics: 5.     Power and authority 6.     Legal controls on State power 7.     Duties 8.     Rights Part III – The Law in Focus (40% of course time) Application of Part III as the dynamic context for the study of Parts I and II in the following common areas: Status under the law Mechanisms for achieving justice Responsiveness of the legal system to TWO focus groups chosen from: 1.     Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 2.     People who have a mental illness or intellectual or physical disability 3.     Migrants 4.     People who are socio-economically disadvantaged 5.     Women 6.     Members of other groups covered by human rights legislation, including anti-discrimination legislation	HSC course (120 indicative hours) Part I – Law and Society (25% of course time) Topics: 1.   Law and justice 2.   Human rights   Parts II and III – Focus Studies Framework Study of the operation of the legal system through the application of the following common areas: Key legal concepts and features of the legal system Legal issues and remedies Morality, ethics and commitment to the law Effectiveness of the law Law reform   Part II – Focus Study: Crime (25% of course time) Application of the focus studies framework to Crime   Part III – Additional Focus Studies (50% of course time) Application of the focus studies framework to TWO focus studies chosen from: 1.     Consumers 2.     Family 3.     Global environment 4.     Indigenous peoples 5.     Shelter 6.     Technological change 7.     Workplace 8.     World order

Board of Studies Syllabus

Past HSC Examination Papers
http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/hsc_exams/index.html

back to top