LAWS77-101: Common Law and Legal Skills

Description

Common Law and Legal Skills is an elective subject in the Master of Laws program offered by the Faculty of Law. This subject is suitable only for students legally educated in a civil law jurisdiction; it is not available to students with a common law degree. Students will learn about the differences between common law legal systems and civil law legal systems, with an emphasis upon the Australian legal system. Students will also develop and acquire the practical legal skills required for success in common law jurisdictions, including legal research, legal reasoning and problem solving, written and oral communication, dispute resolution, and advocacy skills.

Subject details

Type: Postgraduate Subject
Code: LAWS77-101
EFTSL: 0.125
Faculty: Faculty of Law
Semesters offered:
  • September 2025 [Non-Standard Offering]
  • January 2026 [Non-Standard Offering]
Credit: 10
Study areas:
  • Law
Subject fees:
  • Commencing in 2025: $5,680.00
  • Commencing in 2026: $5,800.00
  • Commencing in 2025: $6,500.00
  • Commencing in 2026: $6,800.00

Learning outcomes

  1. Evaluate the structural doctrinal and institutional foundations of the common law system, including the respective roles of courts, legislatures and executive government, in comparison with civil law traditions.
  2. Synthesise common law principles, precedent, and statutory sources to resolve complex legal problems in unfamiliar factual contexts.
  3. Produce professionally appropriate written legal communications, including advice and internal memoranda, that reflect common law reasoning, conventions, and ethical standards.
  4. Exercise informed professional judgement in negotiation and dispute resolution processes within a common law framework.
  5. Demonstrate autonomous accountable and ethically informed participation in simulated common law learning and professional contexts.

Enrolment requirements

Requisites:

Nil
Assumed knowledge:

Assumed knowledge is the minimum level of knowledge of a subject area that students are assumed to have acquired through previous study. It is the responsibility of students to ensure they meet the assumed knowledge expectations of the subject. Students who do not possess this prior knowledge are strongly recommended against enrolling and do so at their own risk. No concessions will be made for students’ lack of prior knowledge.

Restrictions: This subject is not available to
  • This subject is not available to students on US Financial Aid.
  • Students on a Student Visa may be restricted from enrolment due to the mode of delivery in the chosen semester. Check the subject outline for further details.

Approved Law Study Abroad OR Law Exchange Students with a civil law legal education. This subject is not available to students enrolled in LA-43064 Master of Laws in Australian Law and Practice or students with a common law degree. Students with a common law degree will be required to withdraw and select an alternative elective.

This subject is not available as a general elective. To be eligible for enrolment, the subject must be specified in the students’ program structure.

Anti-requisites:

Subject outlines

Subject dates

  • Non-Standard Offering
    Enrolment opens: 20/07/2025
    Semester start: 15/09/2025
    Subject start: 15/09/2025
    Last enrolment: 26/09/2025
    Teaching census: 09/10/2025
    Withdraw - Financial: 10/10/2025
    Withdraw - Academic: 26/10/2025
  • Non-Standard Offering
    Enrolment opens: 16/11/2025
    Semester start: 19/01/2026
    Subject start: 19/01/2026
    Last enrolment: 30/01/2026
    Teaching census: 12/02/2026
    Withdraw - Financial: 13/02/2026
    Withdraw - Academic: 01/03/2026
Non-Standard Offering
Enrolment opens: 20/07/2025
Semester start: 15/09/2025
Subject start: 15/09/2025
Last enrolment: 26/09/2025
Teaching census: 09/10/2025
Withdraw - Financial: 10/10/2025
Withdraw - Academic: 26/10/2025