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13249 (v.3) Information Studies 398 - Legal Reference


 

Area:

Department of Media and Information

Credits:

25.0

Contact Hours:

3.0

Seminar:

1 x 3 Hours Weekly

Syllabus:

The Australian legal system. The structure of government. The judiciary. Statute law and common law. Federal and state jurisdictions. The creation of legislation. Government publications related to the legal system. Law reports and the doctrine of precedence. Legal reference sources including digests, citators and legal encyclopedias. Secondary legal materials. The Internet and other forms of automated legal research. International legal research. The various types of law libraries.
 

Unit Outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit, students will have- An awareness of the major types of law operating in Australia, including statute law, delegated legislation and the common law. An understanding of the process by which legislation is created andbecomes law. An understanding of major principles of the Australian legal system, including the 'doctrine of precedence'. The ability to conduct legal research, using both primary and secondary Australian legal material, and in both manual and automated forms. An awareness of the different categories of law libraries and the function each plays in supporting the various arms of the legal community.

Texts and references listed below are for your information only and current as of September 30, 2003. Some units taught offshore are modified at selected locations. Please check with the unit coordinator for up-to-date information and approved offshore variations to unit information before finalising study and textbook purchases.

Unit References:

Campbell, E. et al. (1996), Legal research: materials and methods (fourth edition). Sydney, LBC Information Services. Dayal, S. and Davey, S. (1998), LDL online 1998: computer-assisted legal research. Sydney, Butterworths. Morris, Gwen. et al. (2001), Laying down the law (fifth edition). Sydney, Butterworths. Research Staff, School of Law Deakin University. (1997), Researching Australian law. North Ryde, LBC Information Services. Watt, Robert. (2001), Concise legal research (fourth edition). Sydney, Federation Press. Wood, Christopher. (1999), Effective legal research on the Internet. Sydney, Young Lawyers.

Unit Texts:

Nemes, I. and Coss, G. (2001), Effective legal research (second edition). Sydney, Butterworths.
 

Unit Assessment Breakdown:

Exam 40%, Practical assignment (6) 60%. This is by grade/mark assessment.

Field of Education:

 91301 Librarianship and Information Management

HECS Band (if applicable):

1  

Extent to which this unit or thesis utilises online information:

 Informational  

Result Type:

 Grade/Mark


Availability

Availability Information has not been provided by the respective School or Area. Prospective students should contact the School or Area listed above for further information.

 
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