Overview
This unit introduces you to the Australian legal system, its institutions, processes and sources of law. It explores foundational principles and concepts, such as the Westminster system of governance, rule of law, doctrine of precedent and principles of statutory interpretation to provide you with insight into how the Australian legal system functions. The unit explores thinking, researching and communicating like a lawyer through the development of legal, ethical and technological literacy and a range of legal skills, which provides a foundation for your future law studies.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student feedback
Target unit updating and revision towards changes to legal research platforms
A number of legal research platforms have revised their websites in 2025; unit content should guide students through these changes.
Feedback from Student feedback, self-reflection
Continue ALC integration
ALC integration was well-received by students and effective in supporting good outcomes; it should be retained and developed.
Feedback from Self-reflection
Combine good practice from across units and terms
As this unit is team taught and led by different Unit Coordinators each term, ensure experiences and good practice are shared between teaching staff and across terms. Continue also the process of harmonisation between First Year units.