LAW1112 Public law and statutory interpretation
Faculty of Law
LAW1112 Public law and statutory interpretation is a level 1, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Law, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Clayton. It needs LAW1111 and unlocks 2 units, leading on to 5 units in all.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1, Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 100%
- and 6 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before LAW1112
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
After LAW1112
2 units list LAW1112 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Overview
The unit will introduce the basic principles of public law, government and statutory interpretation in Australian law. The unit will investigate the range of legal devices whereby Australia is governed, and will introduce key ideas pertaining to public legal entities, including the Crown. Fundamental principles of public law will be considered, together with the broader contexts in which they arise and operate. So will fundamental, constitutional relationships between each of Parliament, the executive and the judiciary. The unit will also deal with statutory interpretation in depth, beginning with the fundamental constitutional principle of parliamentary supremacy, and exploring how the rules and principles of statutory interpretation flow from an understanding of the constitutional relationship between Parliament and the judiciary.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Legislative quizQuiz / Test10%
- General quizQuiz / Test20%
- Written assessmentWritten20%
- Final examExamination50%
- Legislative quizQuiz / Test10%
- General quizQuiz / Test20%
- Collaborative assignmentWritten20%
- Final examExamination50%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Second Semester: Explain and demonstrate an understanding of the public law principles and institutional arrangements that underpin the Australian system of government and shape the process of statutory interpretation, including representative democracy, the rule of law, separation of powers, constitutionalism, federalism and human rights.
First Semester: Explain and demonstrate an understanding of the public law principles and institutional arrangements that underpin the Australian system of government and shape the process of statutory interpretation, including representative democracy, the rule of law, separation of powers, constitutionalism, federalism and human rights.
- 2
Second Semester: Critically examine the framework of Australian government with reference to a range of broader perspectives.
First Semester: Critically examine the framework of Australian government with reference to a range of broader perspectives.
- 3
Second Semester: Demonstrate the capacity to critically examine, advise on and respond to specific legal problems by applying the legal principles and values that underpin Australia’s system of government, legal system, and process of statutory interpretation of legislation.
First Semester: Demonstrate the capacity to critically examine, advise on and respond to specific legal problems by applying the legal principles and values that underpin Australia’s system of government, legal system, and process of statutory interpretation of legislation.
- 4
Second Semester: Demonstrate the capacity to locate and research legislation and legislative materials.
First Semester: Demonstrate the capacity to locate and research legislation and legislative materials.
- 5
Second Semester: Demonstrate the capacity to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues.
First Semester: Demonstrate the capacity to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues.
- 6
Second Semester: Collaborate and communicate effectively to a range of audiences.
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials6 hours
- Workshops36 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
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.
Learning resources
Required resources
See the Moodle unit page for prescribed and recommended resources. Prescribed texts are usually available for purchase through the University Bookstore and are sometimes available for short-term loan or as eBooks through the library.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Melissa Castan
- Dr Paul Burgess
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for LAW1112?
You need LAW1111 before you enrol.
What can I take after LAW1112?
LAW1112 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 2 units, including LAW2111 and LAW4327. Those lead on to 5 units in all.
When is LAW1112 offered?
In 2026, LAW1112 runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is LAW1112?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does LAW1112 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 100% of the final mark, alongside 7 other tasks.