LAW5334 · Psychiatry, psychology and law

Overview

This unit focuses on issues relating to psychiatry, psychology and law. Topics covered will include mental health law in Victoria, mental health states in criminal law, expert evidence and the involvement of psychiatrists and psychologists in the legal system, such as: assessment of mental health conditions and decision-making capacity; assessments for the purposes of law relating to unfitness to stand trial, automatism, the defence of mental impairment, sentencing, or risk assessments for the purposes of serious offender legislation.

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

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Gain advanced and integrated knowledge in current issues in psychiatry, psychology and law, including decision-making in health care and the use of coercion in mental health law, principles in criminal law and issues arising when people with mental disorder are involved in the criminal justice system and the involvement of psychologists, psychiatrists or other mental health experts in the law, including by giving evidence in courts or tribunals.
2. Enhance legal research skills to explore complex issues, developments and controversies in the interdisciplinary field of psychiatry, psychology and law which is typically influenced by public policy considerations.
3. Enhance analytical skills to critically evaluate complex legal issues under consideration of complex clinical and policy perspectives.
4. Demonstrate sophisticated written communication skills to identify and articulate complex legal issues and present clear, persuasively argued responses.
5. Reflect upon fundamental legal principles and the involvement psychologists, psychiatrists or other professionals in mental health settings to generate appropriate responses to complex interdisciplinary issues.
6. Apply knowledge to provide practical advice in response to simulated legal problems.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit typically comprises of a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study applicable to a 6 credit point unit. Learning 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.