LAW4225 Non-adversarial justice
Faculty of Law
LAW4225 Non-adversarial justice is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Law, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 2 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before LAW4225
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After LAW4225
No unit lists LAW4225 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
You must have completed at least 60 credit points of law study.
Overview
This unit focuses on forms of problem-solving, dispute prevention and dispute resolution outside the adversarial system. It examines ways of lawyering that employ non-adversarial, psychologically beneficial and humanistic methods of solving legal problems, resolving legal disputes and preventing legal difficulties. Students will learn about a range of non-adversarial processes in both the civil and criminal justice systems and the theories behind them. A focus of student learning will be upon understanding when the use of such processes may be appropriate or inappropriate. The aim of teaching students this is to help them to understand the role that lawyers can play in preventing conflict and in providing non-adversarial means of conflict management or resolution. Students will be asked to reflect upon the role that lawyers can and do play in non-adversarial processes and upon the ethics of legal practice in such circumstances.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Research AssignmentWritten50%
- Written assessmentWritten50%
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
Compare, contrast and evaluate the adversarial and non-adversarial systems, including the rationales and needs for each system and their various functions.
- 2
Demonstrate understanding of the theoretical underpinnings and the nature of a range of non-adversarial processes in civil, criminal and family law processes.
- 3
Identify and critically analyse how lawyers can work ethically and effectively with non-adversarial processes.
- 4
Identify and discuss features of non-adversarial mechanisms, and evaluate their impact on lawyers, courts and the community.
- 5
Communicate effectively and persuasively both orally and in writing on issues relating to non-adversarial processes.
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
- Associate Professor Becky Batagol
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for LAW4225?
LAW4225 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is LAW4225 offered?
In 2026, LAW4225 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is LAW4225?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does LAW4225 have an exam?
No. LAW4225 has 2 assessment tasks and no exam.