LAW1115 · Private law and legal reasoning

Overview

In this unit you will explore how private law shapes the world around us. Moving beyond abstract theory, you will navigate ten critical themes that bridge the gap between legal doctrine and everyday reality. From the mechanics of buying, working, and owning to the complexities of the gig economy and climate change, the legalities of inheritance and start-ups, you will analyse how law responds to modern disruptions and societal shifts. You will build foundational knowledge in core areas, including contract, tort, property, and corporations law, alongside specialised topics like intellectual property and consumer protection. Beyond content, you will examine essential legal reasoning methods from issue spotting and precedent reasoning to law reform and policy analysis, as well as the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate a complex legal landscape. Importantly you will closely examine indigenous perspectives on private law.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Demonstrate understanding of private law topics, reasoning approaches and their context(s) in the broader Australian legal system, including the impact of these laws on indigenous Australians.
2. Reflect honestly upon and respond to ethical issues of professional responsibility likely to arise in professional private law contexts.
3. Identify and articulate complex private law issues and apply legal reasoning and research to generate appropriate responses.
4. Research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues relating to private law from a broad range of sources to interpret legal conclusions and professional decisions.
5. Collaborate effectively in order to communicate on private law issues 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.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.