Criminal Law and Procedure G (11436.2)

This unit introduces students to the criminal law of the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales.

The unit deals with the common law and statutory basis of criminal law, including codification, classification, voluntariness and the physical and fault elements of offences, criminal law defences, agency, participation and attempts. It also provides an understanding of criminal procedure including the burden and standard of proof as well as the role of discretion. Specific offence types studied include homicide, sexual, property, drug and regulatory offences.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Identify, explain and critically analyse the principles of criminal law in NSW and the ACT in its cultural, social and historical context;
2. Synthesise issues in criminal law administration such as the mental and physical elements of offences, the standard of proof, the trial process, specific offences, defences and sentencing;
3. Identify, critically interpret and apply common law and statutory sources to solve criminal law problems; and
4. Use legal research, problem-solving, writing and advocacy skills to critically interpret and apply principles of criminal law to solve complex legal problems.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - use Indigenous histories and traditional ecological knowledge to develop and augment understanding of their discipline

Skills development

This is a Priestley 11 unit required for professional admission as a legal practitioner. The curriculum requirements for each Priestley unit are set out in the LACC Model Admission Rules 2015. 

Prerequisites

11751 Legal Methods and Skills G AND 11752 Legal Systems G

Corequisites

This unit is only available to students in the Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, Master of Legal Studies and Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies courses.

Incompatible units

11279 Criminal Law and Procedure

Equivalent units

7481 Criminal Law and Procedure G

Assumed knowledge

None.