LAW5334 Psychiatry, psychology and law
Faculty of Law
LAW5334 Psychiatry, psychology and law is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Law. It isn't offered in 2025. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2025
- Other periods
- Monash Law Chambers
- Assessment
- Exam 50%
- and 2 other tasks
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before LAW5334
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After LAW5334
No unit lists LAW5334 as a prerequisite in the 2025 handbook.
Enrolment rules
For Legal Studies students (L4004, L5004, L6013, M4037, M5031, M6040) you must have completed LAW5000 or LAW5081
and
For Juris Doctor students (L6005), you must have completed 72 credit points of study.
Overview
This unit focuses on issues relating to psychiatry, psychology and law. Topics covered will include mental health law in Victoria, mental health states in criminal law, expert evidence and the involvement of psychiatrists and psychologists in the legal system, such as: assessment of mental health conditions and decision-making capacity; assessments for the purposes of law relating to unfitness to stand trial, automatism, the defence of mental impairment, sentencing, or risk assessments for the purposes of serious offender legislation.
Offerings in 2025
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Term 3 | Monash Law Chambers | On campus, block |
Assessment
- Class participationDemonstration10%
- Written assignmentWritten40%
- Take-home examExamination50%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Gain advanced and integrated knowledge in current issues in psychiatry, psychology and law, including decision-making in health care and the use of coercion in mental health law, principles in criminal law and issues arising when people with mental disorder are involved in the criminal justice system and the involvement of psychologists, psychiatrists or other mental health experts in the law, including by giving evidence in courts or tribunals.
- 2
Enhance legal research skills to explore complex issues, developments and controversies in the interdisciplinary field of psychiatry, psychology and law which is typically influenced by public policy considerations.
- 3
Enhance analytical skills to critically evaluate complex legal issues under consideration of complex clinical and policy perspectives.
- 4
Demonstrate sophisticated written communication skills to identify and articulate complex legal issues and present clear, persuasively argued responses.
- 5
Reflect upon fundamental legal principles and the involvement psychologists, psychiatrists or other professionals in mental health settings to generate appropriate responses to complex interdisciplinary issues.
- 6
Apply knowledge to provide practical advice in response to simulated legal problems.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops24 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
24 contact hours per teaching period (either intensive, semi-intensive or semester long, depending on the Faculty resources, timetabling and requirements). Students 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.
Where it fits
LAW5334 is part of 3 areas of study in the 2025 handbook.
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for LAW5334?
LAW5334 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is LAW5334 offered?
LAW5334 has no offerings listed in the 2025 handbook.
Does LAW5334 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 50% of the final mark, alongside 2 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include LAW5334?
LAW5334 is part of Criminal law and forensics; Global society and human rights; and Health law and community.