Course Outline

LAW108 Law and Society

Course Coordinator:Alex Pelizzon (apelizzon@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society

2026Trimester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

Law is more than just legislation or the decisions of judges. Law, as a concept, is framed by differing ideas about what it is, what it ought to be, and when it should punish or be disobeyed. These questions of legal power and authority are central to understanding and critiquing how law functions in our world. This course introduces jurisprudence – the study of which will allow you to think critically about law, its role in society, and the inability to separate law from its context. 

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Seminar – On-Campus Mandatory Contact Point during O-Week (centrally timetabled) 2hrs Orientation week Once Only
Learning materials – Online Learning Materials 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On-Campus Tutorials 2hrs Week 2 10 times
Online
Seminar – On-Campus Mandatory Contact Point during O-Week (centrally timetabled) 2hrs Orientation week Once Only
Learning materials – Online Learning Materials 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Online Tutorials 2hrs Week 2 10 times

Course Topics

Law is not value neutral. Law is intertwined with values, ethics, and perspectives. This course introduces jurisprudential theories and debates which consider the nature of law - what it is, what it ought to be, and the impacts it has on our world. This includes a consideration of:

  • What is 'law'? From where does law gain its authority? (Legal Positivism, Natural Law, Law and Power).
  • What is the role of the judge? How do judges make decisions? (Legal Formalism, Legal Realism)
  • What dominant ideas and values underpin our legal system? (Liberalism, Capitalism, Anthropocentrism). 
  • How can alternative perspectives on law and society challenge or change how we think about law? (Legal Feminist Theory, Critical Race Theory, Queer Legal Theory)
  • What are the emergent challenges in law and society, and how might jurisprudence help us to understand and navigate them? (Themes will vary on every course offering, however this may include Ecological Jurisprudence, Disability Jurisprudence, and Law and Technology).

As the course content will differ year to year, some course topics may include references to adult themes, violence, or otherwise sensitive content.

Mature Content

Violence, Adult themes

What level is this course?

100 Level (Introductory)

Engaging with discipline knowledge and skills at foundational level, broad application of knowledge and skills in familiar contexts and with support. Limited or no prerequisites. Normally, associated with the first full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Link jurisprudential theories and themes to contemporary legal issues. Empowered
Engaged
2 Recognise legal challenges arising from changing social, technological, cultural and environmental norms. Ethical
Engaged
Sustainability-focussed
3 Understand and navigate key jurisprudence texts and traditions. Knowledgeable
Empowered
Ethical
Engaged
Communication
Information literacy
4 Apply theories of judgment and legal research skills to present articulate and well-reasoned arguments and opinions. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
5 Review and critique selected legal scholarship, with reference to jurisprudential theories and perspectives. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
6 Develop and demonstrate effective presentation skills, including proper referencing and citation techniques, to communicate legal information accurately and professionally. Empowered

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Enrolled in UB008 or AD001 or AR013 or AR390 or AR391 or AR392 or AR396 or AR397 or AB310 or AB311

Co-requisites

(LAW100 and LAW105) OR (LAW101)

Anti-requisites

LAW102

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Feedback will be provided throughout the course through the tutorial program. In LAW108, this is supplemented through the practice of peer discussion and feedback in addition to the support provided by teaching staff within the classroom. The tutorial program actively supports and engages with the assessment in this course, assisting in scaffolding students towards success.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 2 Examination - not Centrally Scheduled Individual 30%
1 hour
Week 6 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check and in class
All 3 Written Piece Individual 30%
1500 Words
Week 9 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 4 Written Piece Individual 40%
2000 Words maximum
Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 2:Mid-Semester Exam
Goal:
The goal of this task is to assess your knowledge, understanding and application of key jurisprudential theories and understandings.
Product: Examination - not Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format:
This exam will be completed during your scheduled tutorial class. This closed book exam will be completed using the Cadmus system.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Knowledge and understanding of jurisprudence and legal theory
3
2
Application and analysis of jurisprudential and legal theories
1 4
3
Expression and academic writing skills
6
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Research Note – Questioning Legal Realities
Goal:
The goal of the 'Questioning Legal Realities' task is to sharpen your skills in legal comprehension, analysis, and critique. This task tests your capacity to apply and unpick the underlying assumptions behind arguments, and to deploy jurisprudential lenses as a means of re-examining the world.

This is an Aligned Assessment Point.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
This task provides an opportunity to flex the skills developed throughout the tutorial program by critiquing select legal scholarship. This task challenges you to demonstrate your comprehension of the piece and to craft responses which identify the underlying assumptions and theoretical frameworks which influence its analysis.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Identification and understanding of legal arguments and the values which sustain them
1 3
2
Evaluation of arguments using jurisprudential theories and perspectives
2 5
3
Application of legal and jurisprudential knowledge to justify opinions and critique
4 5
4
Demonstration of academic writing and research skills
6
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 4:Essay – Critiquing Legal Realities
Goal:
The goal of the ‘Challenging Legal Realities’ is to craft a compelling, persuasive and scholarly sound response to a provocative question. This task tests your academic writing and legal research skills, and also builds upon the activities completed throughout the tutorial program.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
This task requires you to harness the knowledge and experience gained throughout this course to craft a legal research essay. You will be required to formulate a thesis in response to a provocation, and to undertake academic research to craft arguments which support your position. 
 
This is captured in the form of an essay. This essay should have a maximum length of 2,000 words, and footnote references in accordance with the Australian Guide to Legal Citation. A bibliography is required for this task.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Knowledge and understanding of the topic
1 2 3
2
Creation of a compelling thesis
2
3
Application of knowledge to justify opinions and critique
3 4 5
4
Demonstration of analytical and critical thinking skills through the curation of arguments
2 4
5
Demonstration of academic writing and research skills, including referencing
6
Generic Skills:
Communication, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Jonathan Crowe 2024 Legal Theory Fourth edition Thomson Reuters

Specific requirements

This course contains a Mandatory Contact Point, requiring in-person attendance for all cohorts (including Online cohorts). To successfully complete LAW108 Law and Society and meet the Bachelor of Laws accreditation requirements at UniSC, students must attend in-person and participate in the Mandatory Contact Point held in Orientation Week. Failure to attend the Mandatory Contact Point will mean that students are not able to pass the course. 

Online options will be offered for all in-trimester classes, in-person attendance is only required for Orientation Week.

This course contains an Aligned Assessment Point.

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: