The aim of this course is to provide an opportunity for students:

• to consolidate and build upon the skills and knowledge gained during their study of Criminal Law and Procedure
• to undertake in-depth study of specific areas of the substantive criminal law
• to engage with contemporary and emerging issues in the area
• to consider the purpose and role of the criminal law in our society.

The course will take a theoretical, doctrinal and comparative approach both to traditional areas of the criminal law and to new offences against the Commonwealth Criminal Code and against the various State and Territory Acts. Topics will be selected from a range of areas which may include: theories of crime and punishment; attempt, cyber crimes; drugs and prohibited commodities; corporate and industrial crimes; terrorism and political offences; defences and future directions in the criminal law.

At the conclusion of this course students should be able to:

• demonstrate their familiarity with relevant course themes and readings as well as thorough research techniques
• demonstrate a depth of critical knowledge and understanding with respect to the purposes and role of the criminal law and the context of its administration
• apply their knowledge in the development of a sustainable analysis or argument concerning the topic, issue or debate involved
• demonstrate their familiarity with the core principles of the substantive law taught
• analyse the facts of a problem and identify the legal issues they raise
• accurately and concisely summarise the relevant law
• formulate legal arguments relevant to the resolution of the legal issues
• demonstrate an understanding of how different offences and bodies of criminal law doctrine overlap and inter-relate in relation to concrete fact situations.

Assessment in this course is likely to involve at least two pieces of assessment including an exam at the end of the semester.  More information about the means of assessment, including the relationship between the assessment and the learning outcomes of the course, will be available on the course home page by the first week of semester.

Every week there will be three contact hours.  Depending on the size of the group, it is likely that predominantly the classes will be lecture-style.  However, during some weeks, it is likely that one of the contact hours will be in a seminar format and will involve working through problems or other material for group discussion. In general, students are expected to spend 10 hours a week in reading, preparation and participation in this course.

Criminal Law and Procedure LAWS1206.
Completed or completing five LAWS courses at 1000 level.

This course has Criminal Law and Procedure as a prerequisite. It complements the other criminal law related courses offered by the Law School including Criminal Justice and International Criminal Law.