The course is designed to equip students with the theoretical and contextual material and practical knowledge to enable them to think critically about, and to take a considered position on family law issues. It is also designed to enable students to acquire understanding of law and its contexts in relation to the following areas: marriage, nullity and dissolution; violence and abuse in families; decision-making about parenting after separation; economic aspects of marriage and relationship breakdown.

On completion of this course, you should be able to:

• demonstrate understanding of key aspects of the family law system, including courts making decisions under it, and constitutional and jurisdictional issues;
• demonstrate understanding of the law on topics covered;
• engage in a critical analysis of aspects of family law, using empirical, contextual and/or theoretical research and writing;
• demonstrate an ability to research a substantive aspect of family law (including relevant case law and legislation) and a relevant body of secondary material;
• demonstrate understanding of relevant contextual material;
• demonstrate an ability to apply contextual material in advising on family law disputes;
• identify the relevant legal and other issues arising from a hypothetical family law dispute;
• discuss the application of relevant legislative provisions and case law in a given hypothetical family law dispute;
• demonstrate sensitivity to issues of family violence and understanding of how they are dealt with in the family law system;
• identify the different perspectives which may be taken on a particular issue or hypothetical factual scenario.

The means of assessment for this course is likely to include a compulsory research essay and a compulsory end of semester examination.

Details of the final assessment will be provided on the course home page by the first week of semester.

Three contact hours per week plus significant reading time.

Completed or completing five LAWS courses at 1000 level.

Please refer to the course home page.

Please refer to the course home page.

This course can be taken at any stage in a degree.  Students sometimes say that they find it easier to cope if they have done property.

There is a lot of feminist writing on family law, and those who have an interest in feminist legal theory and women and the law will find this course enhances their study in those areas. The course is also particularly recommended for those who are interested in social welfare and social security issues.  There are also commercial aspects to the course, and links with Property, Equity and Trusts and Corporations Law.