The aim of this course is to assist first year law students who have English as a second language to address and overcome any issues or problems they are experiencing with their legal studies as a result of their lack of English language background. The course takes material from subject areas to which students are exposed in their first year of law studies (Foundations of Australian Law, Torts, Lawyers Justice and Ethics and Contracts) and creates activities designed both to help students to develop a cultural context for their legal studies and to acquire the practical legal skills they will need for their future study and practice.  The following is an example of the kinds of issues that are addressed and skills that are practised:

• how to read cases;
• how to write case notes;
• techniques to simplify legal writing;
• how to speed up reading of cases and other material;
• preparing for tutorial problems;
• participating effectively in discussion groups.

At the conclusion of this course students should have enhanced their ability to:

• read common law cases in their black letter law subject areas;
• engage in statutory interpretation;
• answer problem based questions in a structured and coherent manner;
• talk confidently about legal issues and concepts in front of other students;
• research and write legal essays;
• prepare for and adopt effective strategies for undertaking law exams.

This subject is not assessed.

Week by week content is negotiated between the convenor and the students and is designed to address the immediate concerns of students in relation to their other first year law subjects.  Typical preparation for students would involve preparing a brief case note or an answer to a tutorial problem.

None. This subject is only available to first-year students whose first language is not English, or who identify themselves as indigenous students.

This course runs in both first and second semester. Students may enrol for two semesters and are encouraged to do so. Satisfactory participation in this course is a College requirement for consideration for extra time in examinations under the University's Policy on Assessment.