Units / LAW1111
LAW1111 · Foundations of law
2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 1Faculty of Law
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
The unit examines the foundation and structure of the institutions and processes of the Australian legal system, including legal practice as a distinctive element within the Australian legal process. It introduces the sources of authoritative law - statutes, delegated legislation and judicial precedents. A case series is used to demonstrate the evolution of the common law within the constraints of the doctrine and practice of precedent. The unit provides foundational knowledge and skills in the interpretation of judicial precedents and legislation and their application in legal problem-solving. You will develop fundamental skills in legal research and legal writing.
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Clayton | Second semester | Teaching activities are on-campus and in a block period (ON-BLK) |
| Clayton | First semester | Teaching activities are on-campus and in a block period (ON-BLK) |
Assessment
The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Library research online quiz | Quiz / Test | 5% | — |
| 2 | Multiple choice questionnaire | Quiz / Test | 20% | — |
| 3 | Collaborative assessment | Written | 30% | — |
| 4 | Written assessment | Written | 45% | — |
| 5 | Reflective assignment | Written | 5% | — |
| 6 | In class test | Quiz / Test | 15% | — |
| 7 | Final exam | Examination | 45% | — |
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.
Learning outcomes
- Explain how the institutions of the Australian legal system shape the content and administration of the law.
- Reflect on the role and responsibilities of lawyers in the administration of justice.
- Locate efficiently the current law on a legal issue using library resources and critically evaluate the relevance, quality, authority and currency of the located materials.
- Find the statutes and related extrinsic materials relevant to answering a legal question.
- Extract and formulate legal propositions from judicial decisions and assess their scope, legal validity and weight.
- Interpret, analyse, synthesise and apply the law when located, to solve a legal problem.
- Make a legal argument or provide an opinion and do so clearly, accurately and concisely.
- Design and implement an efficient research strategy to answer a legal research question using the most appropriate online and paper-based research tools.
- Identify the hallmarks of good legal writing and use them to edit and improve their own writing.
- Collaborate and communicate effectively to a range of audiences.
Workload
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Workshops | 36 hours |
| Tutorials | 6 hours |
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