LAW4551 · Coronial law

Overview

This unit examines the doctrines, procedures and theories of coronial law in Australia. It introduces you to the coronial investigation process into sudden, unexpected, violent and accidental deaths, and the role of the coroner in determining the facts of death: the who, when, where, what and how a person died. The unit will discuss the benefits and limits of the coronial jurisdiction, the significance of the inquest as a public hearing, and the scope and powers of the coroner. It will also examine the history of the coronial jurisdiction, compare Australian laws with other common law jurisdictions, and assess the extent to which coroners can offer recommendations for preventing avoidable deaths in the future. You may explore topics, such as coronial inquests into deaths in custody, socio-legal implications of non-invasive autopsies, intersections between coronial investigations, death registration systems and organ donations, and the therapeutic potentials of the coronial jurisdiction.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

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 the doctrines, procedures and theories of coronial law in Australia;
2. Apply skills in legal reasoning and argumentation in evaluating legal and policy problems in the coronial jurisdiction;
3. Collaborate effectively and accurately within a group when responding to socio-legal questions relevant to the functioning of coronial law;
4. Critically analyse historical, legal, ethical, social and cultural implications of coronial law and relate them to proposals for law reform.

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.