VCE Legal Studies

In contemporary Australian society there are a range of complex laws that exist to protect the rights of individuals and to achieve social cohesion. These laws are made by bodies such as parliament and the courts and are upheld by a number of institutions and processes within the legal system. Members of society interact with the laws and the legal system in many aspects of their lives and can influence law-makers.  

The study of Unit 1 & 2 VCE Legal Studies enables students to become active and informed citizens by providing them with valuable insights into their relationship with the law and the legal system. They develop knowledge and skills that enhance their confidence and ability to access and participate in the legal system. Students come to appreciate how legal systems and processes aim to achieve social cohesion, and how they themselves can create positive changes to laws and the legal system. VCE Legal Studies equips students with the ability to research and analyse legal information and apply legal reasoning and decision-making skills, and fosters critical thinking to solve legal problems.  

This study enables students to:  

  • understand and apply legal terminology, principles and concepts  
  • apply legal principles to actual and/or hypothetical scenarios, explore solutions to legal problems, and form reasoned conclusions  
  • analyse the institutions that make laws and understand the way in which individuals can engage in and influence law reform  
  • understand legal rights and responsibilities, and the effectiveness of the protection of rights in Australia  
  • analyse the methods and institutions that determine criminal cases and resolve civil disputes  
  • propose and analyse reforms to the legal system to enable the principles of justice to be achieved.  

The study of Unit 3 & 4 VCE Legal Studies enables students to become active and informed citizens by providing them with valuable insights into their relationship with the law and the legal system. They develop knowledge and skills that enhance their confidence and ability to access and participate in the legal system. Students come to appreciate how legal systems and processes aim to achieve social cohesion, and how they themselves can create positive changes to laws and the legal system. VCE Legal Studies equips students with the ability to research and analyse legal information and apply legal reasoning and decision-making skills, and fosters critical thinking to solve legal problems. Further study in the legal field can lead to a broad range of career opportunities such as lawyer, paralegal, legal secretary, police officer and careers in the courtroom.  

This study enables students to:  

  • understand and apply legal terminology, principles and concepts  
  • apply legal principles to actual and/or hypothetical scenarios, explore solutions to legal problems, and form reasoned conclusions  
  • analyse the institutions that make laws and understand the way in which individuals can engage in and influence law reform  
  • understand legal rights and responsibilities, and the effectiveness of the protection of rights in Australia  
  • analyse the methods and institutions that determine criminal cases and resolve civil disputes  
  • propose and analyse reforms to the legal system to enable the principles of justice to be achieved.  
GUILT AND LIABILITY

In this unit students develop an understanding of legal foundations, such as the different types and sources of law and the existence of a court hierarchy in Victoria. Students investigate key concepts of criminal law and civil law and apply these to actual and/or hypothetical scenarios to determine whether an accused may be found guilty of a crime, or liable in a civil dispute. In doing so, students develop an appreciation of the way in which legal principles and information are used in making reasoned judgments and conclusions about the culpability of an accused, and the liability of a party in a civil dispute. 

SANCTIONS, REMEDIES AND RIGHTS

This unit focuses on the enforcement of criminal law and civil law, the methods and institutions that may be used to determine a criminal case or resolve a civil dispute, and the purposes and types of sanctions and remedies and their effectiveness. Students undertake a detailed investigation of two criminal cases and two civil cases from the past four years to form a judgment about the ability of sanctions and remedies to achieve the principles of justice. Students develop their understanding of the way rights are protected in Australia and in another country, and possible reforms to the protection of rights. They examine a significant case in relation to the protection of rights in Australia.  

 

Assessments: 

 

All assessments for Unit 1 & 2 are school based. Tasks will be selected from the following:  

  • folio of exercises  
  • structured questions  
  • essays  
  • classroom presentation  
  • a report or investigative inquiry  
  • debate  
  • case study analysis  
  • tests  
  • examinations  
RIGHTS AND JUSTICE

The Victorian justice system, which includes the criminal and civil justice systems, aims to protect the rights of individuals and uphold the principles of justice: fairness, equality and access. In this unit students examine the methods and institutions in the justice system and consider their appropriateness in determining criminal cases and resolving civil disputes. Students consider the Magistrates’ Court, County Court and Supreme Court within the Victorian court hierarchy, as well as other Victorian legal institutions available to assist with cases, such as complaints bodies and tribunals in relation to civil claims. Students explore matters such as the rights available to an accused and to victims in the criminal justice system, the roles of the judge, jury, legal practitioners and the parties, and the ability of sanctions and remedies to achieve their purposes. Students investigate the extent to which the principles of justice are upheld in the justice system. They discuss recent reforms from the past four years and recommended reforms to enhance the ability of the justice system to achieve fairness, equality and access. Throughout this unit, students apply legal reasoning and information to case studies and hypothetical scenarios. 

PEOPLE AND THE LAW

This unit involves the study of Australia’s laws and legal system, including an understanding of institutions that make and reform our laws, and the relationship between the Australian people, the Australian Constitution and law-making bodies. Students explore how the Australian Constitution establishes the law-making powers of the Commonwealth and state parliaments, and protects the Australian people through structures that act as a check on parliament in law-making. Students develop an understanding of the significance of the High Court in protecting and interpreting the Australian Constitution. They investigate parliament and the courts, and the relationship between the two in law-making, and consider the roles of the individual, the media and law reform bodies in influencing law reform. Throughout this unit, students apply legal reasoning and information to case studies and hypothetical scenarios.  

Assessment 

The level of achievement for Units 3 and 4 is assessed by School-assessed coursework and an end of year examination.  

School-assessed course work for Unit 3 will contribute 25% to the study score.  

School-assessed course work for Unit 4 will contribute 25% to the study score  

The external VCAA examination will contribute 50% to the study score.  

Student Point of View

 What kind of learner is best suited to study this subject? 

Critical thinker, problem-solver, independent learner, visual and linguistic learner, attention to detail. 

What Key Skills are required for success? 

Express ideas in writing, articulate, recall of legal concepts, cases and terminology, application of legal reasoning and synthesis/analytical skills. 

What are three most engaging topics studied? 

Principles of Criminal Law, Civil Law, and Court Decisions relating to contextual Victorian/Australian Case Studies. 

What are the learning activities in this subject like? 

Collaborative and intrapersonal application or advice of real-life and hypothetical legal cases. 

What advice would you give to a student about to embark on this subject? 

The knowledge of Legal Studies is not only a life-long skill, by way of understanding and enforcing your rights as a citizen and critical thinker of the world, but it is also a transferable skill to all VCE subjects – evaluative thinking, deriving implications from information and research, as well as succinct and comprehensive written communication skills. 

Studies in VCE LEGAL STUDIES can lead to study and career options in the following areas:

Legal Studies is a highly-regarded and broadly transferrable to a range of careers. 

Specific Stage: Barrister, Judge, Lawyer, Industrial Relations Consultant, Legal Secretary, Mediator, Ombudsman, Trade Practice Compliance Officer, Police Prosecutor, Political Scientist, Clerk of the Courts, Risk Assurance Consultant.  

General Stage: Banking and Finance, Border Management, Broadcasting, Consulting, Human Resource Professional, Politics, Trade Union Organising, Wealth Management, Police and Corrections, Business, Journalism