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Legal History - JURD7451
Students on quad lawn

 
Faculty: Faculty of Law
 
 
School:  Faculty of Law
 
 
Course Outline: http://www.law.unsw.edu.au/
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Postgraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 6
 
 
EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)
 
 
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 3
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Prerequisite: Academic Program must be 9150.
 
 
Excluded: LAWS3251
 
 
CSS Contribution Charge:Band 3 (more info)
 
 
Tuition Fee:See Tuition Fee Schedule
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description

This course introduces students to the historical development of law in England and Australia over the one thousand years to 1842. In doing so, it mainly proceeds chronologically, charting the role played by law and legal institutions in the division of political power and in social development, paying particular attention to the emergence of the concept of the rule of law. Having focused on the law’s role in political, social and penal developments in England over the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it then looks closely at its role in the rapid development of New South Wales from the rudimentary penal colony of 1788 into a free society in just 55 years. Case studies will also be undertaken, looking at the development over time of a tort, the law of contract, and the legal profession. Learning will be by reading from prescribed textbooks and a rich variety of other sources, mostly included in the extensive Course Materials available through the UNSW Bookshop.

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

John Randall QC (Eng.), Visiting Fellow

Contact: jr@st-philips.com

Course Objectives

  • To gain an understanding of the historical development of the main ideas and institutions of the Anglo-Australian 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 Presentations 30 %
Research essay 50%

Resources

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

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© 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.