Legal Studies
Subject Guide
VCE Legal Studies examines the institutions and principles that are essential to the Australian legal system. Students develop an understanding of the rule of law, law-makers, the relationship between the people and the Australian Constitution, the protection of rights in Australia, and the Victorian justice system.
Students apply knowledge of legal concepts and principles to a range of real or hypothetical scenarios and develop an ability to use legal reasoning to argue a case for or against a party. Students develop an appreciation of the people’s ability to actively influence change in the law, analyse the extent to which our legal institutions are effective, and assess whether the justice system achieves the principles of justice.
All studies provide a foundation for further study and entry into the workplace. You should choose your studies according to what you enjoy, what you are interested in and your career aspirations. All studies are continually revised and updated to maintain a high degree of relevance and usefulness.
Unit focus areas
Unit 1
This unit explores how criminal law aims to ensure social cohesion and protect society. Students explore what constitutes a criminal offence, the process of determining a criminal case, and the imposition of a sanction for those found guilty. This unit teaches students about legal foundations, types of criminal laws, and the criminal court hierarchy in Victoria. They explore key concepts of the criminal justice system and apply them to real or hypothetical cases to assess guilt, fostering an understanding of legal principles in making informed judgments about the culpability of an accused.
Unit 3
This unit explores how the Victorian justice system aims to protect individual rights and uphold the principles of justice such as fairness, equality, and access. Students examine the methods and institutions within the criminal and civil justice systems to assess their effectiveness in determining criminal cases and resolving civil disputes. They explore the rights of the accused and victims, the roles of judges and juries, the need for legal practitioners, and how sanctions and remedies achieve their purposes. The unit teaches students to apply legal reasoning and key concepts from both the criminal and civil justice systems to real or hypothetical cases.
Unit 2
This unit explores how civil law aims to protect individual rights and provide opportunities to seek redress through remedies. Students explore civil rights and what constitutes a breach of these rights. This unit teaches students about possible ways of resolving civil disputes through a variety of institutions and methods. They explore the key concepts of the civil justice system and apply them to real or hypothetical cases to assess liability. Additionally, they learn about rights protection in Australia and another country, consider potential reforms, and examine a significant case related to rights protection in Australia.
Unit 4
The unit explores how the Australian Constitution establishes the lawmaking powers of the Commonwealth and state parliaments, and how it protects the Australian people through structures that act as a check on parliament in law-making. Students develop an understanding of the significance of the High Court in protecting and interpreting the Constitution, the relationship between parliament and courts, and the roles of individuals, media, and law reform bodies to influence changes to the law. The unit teaches students the process for changing the Australian Constitution and explores the 1967 and 2023 referendums, where students learn to analyse the factors that affected their success.
Pre-requisites
There are no pre-requisites for Legal Studies Units 1 - 4
Students are advised to complete Legal Studies Units 1 and 2 prior to attempting Units 3 and 4.
Assessment
For Units 1 and 2, students complete a range of outcomes and classwork throughout each semester. There will also be an examination at the end of the academic year.
For Units 3 and 4, students complete School-Assessed Coursework (50%) subject to external moderation and a written examination (50%).
