Units / LAW5001
LAW5001 · Principles of criminal law and procedure
2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 5Faculty of Law
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
The unit examines the principles and aims of the criminal law and criminal procedure. You will study the definition and elements of crimes in the context of fatal and non-fatal offences against the person, the major sexual offences, property offences, and relevant defences; criminal responsibility and strict liability; the roles of principal agencies in the criminal justice system, and central elements of the criminal process and sentencing.
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Monash Law Chambers | Trimester 3 | Teaching activities are on-campus and in a block period (ON-BLK) |
| 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) |
Assessment
The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Class Participation | Demonstration | 10% | — |
| 2 | Oral presentation | Presentation | 10% | — |
| 3 | Legal problem solving assignment | Written | 30% | — |
| 4 | Final exam | Examination | 50% | — |
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
corequisite
- LAW5000 — Australian legal reasoning and methods
Learning outcomes
- Critically evaluate the purpose and scope of criminal laws with reference to theories of criminal justice, inter-disciplinary and policy perspectives;
- Recognise and reflect upon ethical issues arising in criminal law practice and the professional responsibilities of lawyers in promoting justice and service to the community;
- Demonstrate legal research and reasoning skills and professional judgment to generate appropriate responses to complex legal problems
- Identify and articulate complex legal issues, engage in critical analysis of professional conclusions and make reasoned choices among alternatives;
- Demonstrate cognitive and creative skills to generate appropriate responses to legal issues;
- Demonstrate skills of oral and or/written communication to address legal problems in a collaborative project; and
- Critically reflect on your own strengths, weaknesses and development needs as a legal professional.
Workload
Students enrolled in this unit will be provided with 30 contact hours of workshops, plus 6 hours of 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 | 30 hours |
| Tutorials | 6 hours |
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