LAW5000 Australian legal reasoning and methods
Faculty of Law
LAW5000 Australian legal reasoning and methods is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Law. It isn't offered in 2026. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 4 units, leading on to 13 units in all.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Other periods
- Monash Law Chambers
- Assessment
- Exam 40%
- and 4 other tasks
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before LAW5000
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After LAW5000
4 units list LAW5000 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Overview
The unit provides students who are new to the study of Australian law with advanced knowledge and understanding of the Australian legal system, its underlying principles and concepts (including international and comparative contexts), principles of justice and approaches to ethical legal practice; and advanced practical and professional skills to undertake legal research, interpret legislation and judicial decision, analyse factual and policy issues, demonstrate professional judgment and scholarship to formulate and evaluate solutions to legal problems, collaborate and communicate effectively.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Trimester 1 | Monash Law Chambers | On campus, block |
| Trimester 2 | Monash Law Chambers | On campus, block |
| Trimester 3 | Monash Law Chambers | On campus, block |
Assessment
- Class participationDemonstration10%
- In-class assessmentExercise20%
- Written assignmentWritten30%
- Take home examExamination40%
- Written AssessmentWritten40%
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
Design and implement an efficient research strategy which requires you to synthesise relevant legal, factual and policy issues;
- 2
Apply professional judgment and critical thinking skills to interpret legal conclusions and legislation, evaluate alternative constructions and justify a considered opinion;
- 3
Generate appropriate responses to legal problems and communicate them in a form appropriate for legal practice or scholarship; and
- 4
Exercise professional judgment in responding to ethical issues that arise in legal practice or the administration of justice.
- 5
Demonstrate knowledge of the foundations of the Australian Legal System and the principles and norms that underpin the system.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops24 hours
- Tutorials12 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
Students enrolled in this unit will be provided with 24 contact hours of workshops, plus 6 hours of library tutorials and 6 hours of general tutorials per teaching period. You will be expected to do reading set for class, and to undertake additional research and reading applicable to a 6 credit point unit.
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 Tamara Wilkinson
- Professor Jean Allain
- Ms Lisa Di Marco
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for LAW5000?
LAW5000 has no prerequisites.
What can I take after LAW5000?
LAW5000 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 4 units, including LAW5001, LAW5002, LAW5003 and LAW5004. Those lead on to 13 units in all.
When is LAW5000 offered?
LAW5000 has no offerings listed in the 2026 handbook.
Does LAW5000 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 40% of the final mark, alongside 4 other tasks.