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 2026 in Summer A, Semester 1 and Winter at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Summer A, Semester 1, Winter
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 7 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
No reviews yetNo reviews yet. Be the first to review LAW4177.
Requisites
Before LAW4177
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After LAW4177
No unit lists LAW4177 as a prerequisite in the 2026 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 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Summer semester A | Clayton | On campus, block |
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
| Winter semester | Clayton | On campus, block |
Assessment
- Video presentation oral componentPresentation20%
- Video presentation written componentWritten30%
- Research essayWritten50%
- Multiple choice quizQuiz / Test5%
- Reflective pieceWritten15%
- Video presentationPresentation20%
- Problem questionWritten60%
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
S1-01 and SSA-02: Demonstrate understanding of the fundamental concepts and policies underlying the Australian family law system, as well as the current challenges and debates surrounding Australian family law.
WS-01: Comprehend and explain the essential concepts and policies underlying the Australian family law system including the broader context in which the system operates.
- 2
S1-01 and SSA-02: Critically analyse and persuasively evaluate key issues in family law, contextualised within a broad range of practice, policy and theoretical perspectives.
WS-01: Critically evaluate the challenges and debates surrounding family law including the ethical debates and professional responsibilities facing family lawyers.
- 3
S1-01 and SSA-02: Undertake research, in order to develop a detailed investigation, analysis, and comprehensive evaluation of complex information related to key issues in family law.
WS-01: 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
S1-01 and SSA-02: Demonstrate highly engaging, detailed and persuasive communication in a range of formats and for diverse audiences.
WS-01: Demonstrate reasoning skills and professional judgement which generate appropriate responses to complex statutory problems.
- 5
WS-01: Communicate effectively, appropriately and persuasively on issues pertaining to family law.
- 6
WS-01: Learn and work autonomously and collaboratively and use feedback to improve capabilities and performance.
Workload and teaching
- Seminars36 hours
- Workshops36 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
- Professor Claire Fenton-Glynn
- Ms Jennifer Lindstrom
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for LAW4177?
LAW4177 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is LAW4177 offered?
In 2026, LAW4177 runs in Summer A, Semester 1 and Winter 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?
No. LAW4177 has 7 assessment tasks and no exam.