UNSW Handbook Course - Indigenous People and the Law

Indigenous People and the Law - LAWS3211


	Faculty: Faculty of Law
	School: Faculty of Law
	Course Outline: See below
	Campus: Kensington Campus
	Career: Undergraduate
	Units of Credit: 6
	EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)
	Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 3
	Enrolment Requirements:
	Prerequisite: LAWS1001 and LAWS1011 and Corequisite: LAWS2311; Prerequisite: JURD7101 and JURD7111 and Corequisite: JURD7211
	Excluded: JURD7411
	CSS Contribution Charge:Band 3 (more info)
	Tuition Fee:See Tuition Fee Schedule
	Further Information: See Class Timetable

Description

The aim of the course is to equip students with an understanding of technical legal matters and broader issues that arise in the relationship between Indigenous peoples, their own legal systems and non-Indigenous law. This is a survey course, an opportunity to develop students' knowledge and understanding of a range of Indigenous legal issues, and it addresses both international and domestic law. The course looks at property rights, constitutional arrangements, criminal justice, the position of children and families, intellectual property and human rights, amongst other issues. In other words, it builds on students' general knowledge from a number of compulsory courses and may also complement other electives in a student's program.

Recommended Prior Knowledge

None

Course Objectives

The objectives of this course are to:

develop a general familiarity with a range of domestic and international legal issues relevant to Indigenous peoples, from an Australian perspective
build an awareness of the historical interaction of Indigenous and Western legal systems in Australia
gain a greater appreciation of the major currents in international law of relevance to Indigenous peoples in Australia
obtain more detailed knowledge of particular aspects of Australian law and society where Indigenous legal issues arise
better perceive the wider political and economic culture of law-making
improve oral and written skills through contribution to class discussion and the production of high quality written work in a research paper.

Main Topics

History, Law and Government Policies
Customary Law
International Law and Human Rights
Indigenous Governance
Territorial Issues, particularly Land Rights and Native Title
Criminal Justice
Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property
Child Welfare and Family Violence
Unfinished Business and Constitutional Change

Assessment

75% research essay
25% class participation

Course Texts

Prescribed
The prescribed text is Heather McRae et al, Indigenous Legal Issues: Commentary and Materials, (4th ed, 2009, Thomson Reuters).

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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.