LAW4177 Introduction to family law
Faculty of Law
LAW4177 Introduction to family law is a level 4, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Law, offered in 2023 in Summer A at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2023
- Summer A
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 50%
- and 1 other task
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2023 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before LAW4177
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After LAW4177
No unit lists LAW4177 as a prerequisite in the 2023 handbook.
Enrolment rules
You must have completed at least 60 credit points of law study
Overview
This unit gives you an understanding of the fundamental principles and concepts in Family Law. Topics include:
- the family - history and the concept of 'the family'
- practising family law - professional and ethical challenges and courts jurisdiction;
- marriage and divorce - obligations created by marriage
- dividing property under the Family Law Act - principles relating to property division between married couples and those living in a de facto relationship
- children's rights and parental responsibilities - the Family Law Act relating to parental responsibility and parenting orders
- family support spousal maintenance and child support.
Offerings in 2023
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Summer semester A | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Research Assignment50%
- Take home exam50%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
comprehend and explain the essential concepts and policies underlying the Australian family law system including the broader context in which the system operates.
- 2
critically evaluate the challenges and debates surrounding family law including the ethical debates and professional responsibilities facing family lawyers.
- 3
identify, analyse and critically comment on disputes between parties to a marriage or parties in a de facto relationship involving issues of property, children and maintenance.
- 4
demonstrate reasoning skills and professional judgement which generate appropriate responses to complex statutory problems.
- 5
communicate effectively appropriately and persuasively on issues pertaining to family law.
- 6
learn and work autonomously and collaboratively and use feedback to improve their own capabilities and performance.
Workload and teaching
- Seminars36 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcome for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. 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 Jessica Mant
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for LAW4177?
LAW4177 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is LAW4177 offered?
In 2023, LAW4177 runs in Summer A at Clayton.
How much work is LAW4177?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does LAW4177 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 50% of the final mark, alongside 1 other task.