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Legal History - LAWS3251
Students on quad lawn

 
Faculty: Faculty of Law
 
 
School:  Faculty of Law
 
 
Course Outline: http://www.law.unsw.edu.au/
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 6
 
 
EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)
 
 
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 3
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Pre-requisite: LAWS1011, LAWS1072, LAWS1061 and LAWS1052 Pre-requisite: JURD7111, JURD7172, JURD7161 and JURD7152
 
 
Excluded: JURD7451
 
 
Fee Band: 3 (more info)
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description

This course introduces students to the historical development of law in the Western legal tradition over three thousand years. In doing so, it charts the role played by law and legal institutions in the division of political power, including the emergence of legal science and the concept of the rule of law. Case studies will be undertaken, looking at the development of particular areas of law: feudal law, royal law, urban law, and reception of Roman law, criminal law codifications of the 17th century and the great codifications of civil law in the 18th century. Learning will be by reading from prescribed textbooks and a rich variety of other sources.

The main focus will be on legal history of public law in Western Europe but with comparison with developments in the history of law in England.

Recommended Prior Knowledge

An interest in history and desire to gain a deeper understanding not only of what the law now is, but of how and why it has become so. There are no prerequisite for this course.

Lecturer

Dr Adam Czarnota Ass. Professor of Law

Office 222, Phone: (02) 9385 2255

Course Objectives

  • To gain an understanding of the historical development of the main ideas and institutions of the Western legal tradition
  • Gain an appreciation to the nature of basic values and norms connected with the idea of the rule of law

Assessment

Class participation - 20%

Class Presentation - 30%

Research essay - 50%

Resources

Refer to the course outline which will be provided by the lecturer at the beginning of the relevant semester.

URL for this page:

© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.