LAW4572 Family violence law

This unit focuses on legal responses to the pervasive problem of family violence. It considers the nature and adequacy of our laws in preventing, identifying and responding to gendered family violence. The unit is structured around four themes: gender, violence and prevention; separation; children and; harm.

You will examine areas of law relevant to family violence issues and legal processes designed to prevent and respond to family violence issues including family law, criminal law, child protection, civil protection orders and human rights law. A focus of attention will be on the appropriateness and quality of various formal and informal processes in cases of family violence. You will also explore the role of legal professionals in the prevention, identification, mitigation, and punishment of family violence. An emphasis will be on collaboration with other legal professionals and other professions and upon trauma-informed lawyering. Drawing from knowledge gained in the unit, you will develop a law and/or policy reform research assignment.