Units / LAW5000
LAW5000 · Australian legal reasoning and methods
2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 5Faculty of Law
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
The unit provides students who are new to the study of Australian law with advanced knowledge and understanding of the Australian legal system, its underlying principles and concepts (including international and comparative contexts), principles of justice and approaches to ethical legal practice; and advanced practical and professional skills to undertake legal research, interpret legislation and judicial decision, analyse factual and policy issues, demonstrate professional judgment and scholarship to formulate and evaluate solutions to legal problems, collaborate and communicate effectively.
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Monash Law Chambers | Trimester 1 | Teaching activities are on-campus and in a block period (ON-BLK) |
| Monash Law Chambers | Trimester 2 | Teaching activities are on-campus and in a block period (ON-BLK) |
| Monash Law Chambers | Trimester 3 | 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 | Class participation | Demonstration | 10% | — |
| 2 | In-class assessment | Exercise | 20% | — |
| 3 | Written assignment | Written | 30% | — |
| 4 | Take home exam | Examination | 40% | — |
| 5 | Written Assessment | Written | 40% | — |
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
prohibitions
- LAW5081 — Australian legal process and research
Learning outcomes
- Design and implement an efficient research strategy which requires you to synthesise relevant legal, factual and policy issues;
- Apply professional judgment and critical thinking skills to interpret legal conclusions and legislation, evaluate alternative constructions and justify a considered opinion;
- Generate appropriate responses to legal problems and communicate them in a form appropriate for legal practice or scholarship; and
- Exercise professional judgment in responding to ethical issues that arise in legal practice or the administration of justice.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the foundations of the Australian Legal System and the principles and norms that underpin the system.
Workload
Students enrolled in this unit will be provided with 24 contact hours of workshops, plus 6 hours of library tutorials and 6 hours of general tutorials per teaching period. You will be expected to do reading set for class, and to undertake additional research and reading applicable to a 6 credit point unit.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Workshops | 24 hours |
| Tutorials | 12 hours |
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