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 satisfactory completion of the this course, students should (at a minimum) be able to:

1. Demonstrate an advanced and integrated knowledge of key principles of family law including an extended understanding of recent developments, and be able to cite the relevant legislative provisions and case law appropriately.
2. Apply their knowledge of family law creatively and with initiative to construct and present an accurate written advice that addresses a factually complex family law problem, and present that advice to a specialist and non-specialist audience.
3. Identify and use a range of legally-specific research principles, methods and tools appropriate to respond to a factually complex law problem.
4. Locate, describe, apply and critically evaluate key aspects of family law including recent developments, and selected secondary academic and theoretical writing about family law and its reforms.
5. Identify a range of perspectives and values that are relevant to family law and family law professional practice, and examine (in writing and orally) those perspectives and values.
6. Acquire experience in collaborative learning and demonstrate the necessary professional and communication skills to function effectively in small groups.
7. Demonstrate an ability to engage purposefully and constructively in the planning, management and execution of a substantial group project.
8. Demonstrate a high level of personal autonomy and accountability.
9. Reflect coherently upon their learning, in the course, their own values, the values underlying the family law system, and the differences between family law and practice in other legal areas, and comment on those differences at a theoretical level.

There will be 5 compulsory and non-redeemable assessment items for this course:

• Attendance at 75% of 12 seminars and 100% of 4 master classes.
• Timely completion of 75% of 8 online quizzes.
• A Take-Home Assignment worth 50% of the marks for the course. This Take-Home Assignment consists of a brief to a law firm (3000 words) and a letter to a client (1500 words).  THere will also be an 'anti-plagiarism' check that must be completed.
• A Group assignment to a Parlimentary Inquiry worth 35% of the marks for the course. This peice of assessment will consist of three parts, a written group submission (3000 words), an individual report, and participation in a hearing for a Parlimentary Inquiry (3 minutes),
• A Reflective Journal Entry worth 15% of the marks for the course.

3 x 2 hour lectures (in weeks 1, 9 and 10); 1 hour seminar in weeks 2 - 13; 4 x JD Master Classes (2 x 1 hr and 2 x 1-2 hours); plus significant reading and online learning.

Must be enrolled in the JD program - 7330; Must have already completed or be undertaking concurrently 5 x 1000 level LAWS courses including LAWS1205 AUstralian Public Law.

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Lisa Young and Geoff Monahan, Family Law in Australia, 7th edition, Lexus Nexus, 2009

additional setup required in WATTLE and associated functions