This course provides a substantive introduction to the common law and the Australian legal system for law graduates from non-common law jurisdictions. The core topics are the Australian Constitution, the court system, contract and tort law, equity and trusts, property law, regulation of business.

Main Topics
• Introduction to the Australian Constitution and legal system. Presentations on participants' home jurisdictions
• The Common Law Legal System: court process, judicial reasoning, reading law reports. Visits to the NSW Court of Appeal, and the District Court of NSW to observe appeal proceedings and a criminal trial before a jury
• The Australian Constitution: the Executive, the Legislature and the Judicature. The role of the High Court of Australia in interpreting the Constitution
• Criminal law and procedure, focusing on comparative aspects of the criminal process. The jury system
• Contract law through the cases. Comparative aspects of contract law. Consideration. Interaction of common law and statute
• Civil wrongs - the law of torts, developed through the cases and legislation
• Overview of property law in Australia. Real and personal property

More information can be found on the Course Outline Website.