Coordinator:  Associate Professor Peter Rush    Telephone:  83444759    Office:   Room 0814    Email:   Click here to email Peter Rush

 

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites

Prerequisites: Legal Method and Reasoning, Principles of Public Law or equivalent subjects

Generic Skills

Description

Legal Theory offers an overview of the historical, doctrinal and philosophical perspectives that have influenced the development of law, together with an introduction to key theoretical positions and interdisciplinary movements that provide critique and commentary on the role of law. The subject is formulated around central questions in jurisprudence with specific concepts and their analysis being developed by reference to the traditions of legal theory and by reference to contemporary issues. The emphasis is upon a situated understanding of law within Australia and contemporary society that articulates with the cross-cutting theoretical perspectives in other law subjects to enhance students’ perception of legal ‘theory’ as integral to the study of law.

Concepts, themes and case studies covered in any offering of the subject will be drawn from a range of topics which may include:

• Reading the Law
• Interpretation and Judgment
• Sovereignty /Jurisdiction /Community
• Rights and Obligations
• Individual, Identity and the ‘subject’ of law
• Power and Authority
• Post-colonialism/Globalisation
• Regulation and ‘practice’ of law
• Law, Images and Culture

Points: 12.5

Mode of delivery: See Announcements in the Materials section

Contact hours: 4 hours per week

Estimated Total Time Commitment: 144 Hours