Description

Victoria's most trusted legal studies series has been updated for the 2018-2022 VCE Legal Studies study design offering complete support for VCE teachers and their students in 2018 and beyond. Teachers and students alike will experience immediate benefit from the enhancements offered in these new editions.All content explicitly aligned to the 2018-2022 VCE Legal Studies study designContent developed by expert teachers: accurate, trusted, in-depth and appropriately levelledA new, simplified structure with content organised into manageable 2, 4 or 6 page topicsClear, simple and unambiguous language with visuals on every spreadMargin glossary definitions  on every page support students at the point of learningEngaging and age-appropriate case studiesComprehensive student and teacher digital support on obook assess including answers to every question in the book, assessment support, exam preparation videos, worksheets and more.A range of new chapter features will give students of all abilities the best chance at experiencing success in VCE Legal Studies.New: The Legal Toolkit at the front of each Student book provides clear course information, tips for success, advice on mastering legal citation and a motivational exploration of careers in lawNew: A short introductory chapter at the beginning of each major unit covers essential prior-knowledge to launch students successfully into the main course contentNew: 'Check your learning' questions at the end of every topic are levelled according to Bloom's taxonomy to allow for differentiation. Answers are to every question in the Student book are provided on Teacher obook assessNew: 'Going further' content provides additional background information and opportunities for for students who want to gain a richer understanding and thrive on challengeNew: 'Study tips' are short notes provided throughout designed to explicitly help students to achieve better results on school-based and external assessment tasks.

Author description

Authors Lisa Filippin, Josie Gray, Margaret Beazer, Annie Wilson and Peter Farrar bring their years of classroom experience to the new editions and provide unparalleled depth and coverage in an easy to read, easy to understand and easy to master format.Lisa Filippin is an experienced solicitor, teacher, assessor and examiner. She is currently a practising solicitor, working predominantly in the areas of commercial litigation and insolvency. Prior to working as a solicitor, Lisa taught at Melbourne Girls Grammar in the areas of Legal Studies and Business Management and was also the Year 10 Coordinator.Lisa has held several roles involving exam development, assessment and curriculum development, and was involved in the re-accreditation of the VCE Legal Studies course in 2009-2010 and 2016-17.Josie Gray has 30 years' experience in the planning and delivery of both academic and vocational education and training programs. She has taught business and law-related subjects to both school-age and adult learners. In recent years, Josie has worked as an Assistant Principal in the Victorian government school sector and as an educator in the Vocational Education and Training sector delivering law-related units within the Diploma of Public Safety.Margaret Beazer has been involved with Legal Studies in Victoria for many years. She has been writing Legal Studies text books since 1990 and ran her own publishing business for many years. Prior to publishing and authoring, Margaret taught Legal Studies at Monash High School and Trinity Grammar School; worked in curriculum development for the then Board of Studies; and was the Legal Studies State Reviewer for over 20 years.Annie Wilson is an experienced VCE Legal Studies and commerce teacher and who has been passionately teaching and developing curriculum materials for over 30 years. She is the author of numerous textbooks and has prepared a range of teaching and learning resources for various publishers and subject associations including the Victorian Commercial Teachers Association (VCTA). Annie is currently teaching at Camberwell Girls Grammar School and is actively involved in providing professional development to VCE Legal Studies teachers and student revision lectures.Peter Farrar has taught VCE Legal Studies for over 25 years. He is passionate about learning and teaching and is highly skilled at developing a range learning materials to meet the needs of a diverse range of students. During his career, he has authored over 20 books and also served in numerous senior leadership roles schools. Peter is actively involved with the VCTA, and has been a regular presenter at Comview since 1992. He currently teaches at Star of the Sea College.

Table of contents

Chapter 1: Legal toolkit 1.1 Introduction to VCE Legal Studies Units 3 & 4 1.2 How to succeed in VCE Legal Studies 1.3 Mastering legal citation 1.4 Careers in the law Chapter 2: Introduction to Unit 3 2.1 The nature of laws and their purpose 2.2 The Australian Constitution 2.3 Law makers in Australia 2.4 Criminal law and civil law 2.5 The rule of law Chapter 2 Review: Chapter summary, revision questions and practice assessment task Chapter 3: Introduction to the Victorian criminal justice system 3.1 Introduction to the criminal justice system 3.2 The principles of justice 3.3 Key concepts in the Victorian criminal justice system 3.4 The rights of an accused 3.5 The rights of victims Chapter 3 Review: Chapter summary, revision questions and practice assessment task Chapter 4: Determining a criminal case 4.1 The role of institutions available to assist an accused 4.2 The purposes of committal hearings 4.3 Plea negotiations 4.4 Sentence indications 4.5 The Victorian court hierarchy 4.6 The responsibilities of the judge and jury in a criminal trial 4.7 The responsibilities of the parties and legal practitioners in a criminal trial 4.8 The purposes of sanctions 4.9 Types of sanctions 4.8 Sentencing factors Chapter 4 Review: Chapter summary, revision questions and practice assessment task Chapter 5: Reforming the criminal justice system 5.1 Costs factors 5.2 Time factors 5.3 Cultural differences 5.4 Other factors 5.5 Recent reforms 5.6 Recommended reforms Chapter 5 Review: Chapter summary, revision questions and practice assessment task Chapter 6: Introduction to the Victorian civil justice system 6.1 Introduction to the civil justice system 6.2 The principles of justice 6.3 Key concepts in the Victorian civil justice system 6.4 Factors to consider when initiating a civil claim Chapter 6 Review: Chapter summary, revision questions and practice assessment task Chapter 7: Resolving a civil dispute 7.1 Dispute resolution bodies: Consumer Affairs Victoria and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) 7.2 The purposes of civil pre-trial procedures 7.3 The reasons for a Victorian court hierarchy in determining civil cases 7.4 The responsibilities of key personnel in a civil trial 7.5 Judicial powers of case management 7.6 Methods used to resolve civil disputes 7.7 The purposes of remedies 7.8 Types of remedies Chapter 7 Review: Chapter summary, revision questions and practice assessment task Chapter 8: Reforming the civil justice system 8.1 Costs factors 8.2 Time factors 8.3 Accessibility factors 8.4 Recent reforms 8.5 Recommended reforms Chapter 8 Review: Chapter summary, revision questions and practice assessment task Chapter 9: Introduction to Unit 4 9.1 The historical development of the British parliament 9.2 The federation of Australia 9.3 The parliaments of Australia 9.4 The meaning of the rule of law Chapter 10: The people and the Constitution 10.1 Introduction 10.2 The roles of the Crown and the Houses of Parliament in law-making 10.3 The division of constitutional law-making powers 10.4 The significance of section 109 10.5 The ways in which the Australian Constitution acts a check on parliament in law-making Chapter 10 Review: Chapter summary, revision questions and practice assessment task Chapter 11: Changing and protecting the Constitution11.1 High Court cases and sections 7 and 24 of the Australian Constitution 11.2 Referendums 11.3 The High Court and the division of law-making powers 11.4 The external affairs power Chapter 11 Review: Chapter summary, revision questions and practice assessment task Chapter 12: The parliament 12.1 The roles of the Houses of Parliament 12.2 The representative nature of parliament 12.3 Political pressures 12.4 Restrictions on law-making powers Chapter 12 Review: Chapter summary, revision questions and practice assessment taskChapter 13: The courts13.1 Introduction 13.2 The roles of the Victorian courts and the High Court in law-making 13.3 Statutory interpretation 13.4 The doctrine of precedent 13.5 Judicial conservatism 13.6 Judicial activism 13.7 Cost and time in bringing a case to court 13.8 The requirement for standing 13.9 The relationship between courts and parliament in law-making Chapter 13 Review: Chapter summary, revision questions and practice assessment taskChapter 14: Law reform 14.1 Reasons for law reform 14.2 Individuals influencing law reform 14.3 The role of the media in law reform 14.4 The Victorian Law Reform Commission (VLRC) 14.5 Parliamentary committees 14.6 Royal Commissions 14.7 The ability of parliament and the courts to respond to the need for law reform Chapter 14 Review: Chapter summary, revision questions and practice assessment task Glossary Acknowledgements List of acts and cases Index