UnitLevel 4Undergraduate

LAW4158 Indigenous peoples and the law

Faculty of Law

LAW4158 Indigenous peoples and the law is a level 4, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Law, offered in 2024 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.

Credit points
6
Offered in 2024
Semester 1
Clayton
Assessment
Exam 40%
and 2 other tasks
Workload
144 hours
per semester

This is the 2024 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.

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Requisites

Before LAW4158

No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.

After LAW4158

No unit lists LAW4158 as a prerequisite in the 2024 handbook.

Enrolment rules

You must have completed at least 60 credit points of law study.

Overview

The legislative control, 'protection' and disempowerment experienced by indigenous Australians and the historical, comparative and contemporary contexts of their experiences in and with the Australian legal system. Laws and policies concerning identity, dispossession, protection and assimilation are examined. Over-representation of indigenous people within the criminal justice system, Deaths in Custody and stolen generations. Land rights, the Mabo and Wik cases, and the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth). Human rights and the role of international law, self determination, reconciliation and law reform.

Offerings in 2024

Teaching periodCampusMode
First semesterClaytonOn campus

Assessment

  • Research paperResearch assignment
    50%
  • Take home exam
    40%
  • Class ParticipationParticipation
    10%

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    Define, interpret and reflect upon the common law, constitutional and statutory framework that has applied to indigenous peoples of Australia, and particularly of Victoria;

  2. 2

    Identify, analyse and elucidate the relevant principles, laws and precedents and apply them to resolve issues relating to indigenous clients;

  3. 3

    Critically assess policies and principles relating to Indigenous people in order to promote a fair justice system recognising past and present injustices;

  4. 4

    Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the intellectual and practical skills needed to interpret legal conclusions and professional decisions, as well as to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues;

  5. 5

    Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the legal research and writing, and legal argument skills by undertaking systematic research into legal policy, rules, procedures and comparative perspectives relating to indigenous peoples and interests; and

  6. 6

    Demonstrate developed skills of oral presentation of legal policy, rules and argument in an interactive learning context

Workload and teaching

  • Seminars36 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
Dr Stephen Gray

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for LAW4158?

LAW4158 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.

When is LAW4158 offered?

In 2024, LAW4158 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.

How much work is LAW4158?

The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.

Does LAW4158 have an exam?

Yes. The exam is worth 40% of the final mark, alongside 2 other tasks.

More details

Credit points
6
Level
4
Study level
Undergraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Law
Type
Coursework
EFTSL
0.125
Student contribution
SCA Band 4
Study abroad
Available