Humanities - Order in the Court

Subject Area: Humanities - Civics & Citizenship

Unit of Study: Order in the Court

Brief Description: Order in the Court will explore how the Australian judicial system (courts) resolves and determines both criminal and civil cases. Students will use a recent criminal and civil case to analyse and apply the role and function of the court system to the facts of the case.

Scaffolding Learning

At the conclusion of this unit of study students will have: 

An understanding of key knowledge

• the key features and jurisdictions of Australia’s court system; the operations of courts and tribunals, including the roles of courts, judges, lawyers and juries in trials; and the rights of the accused and the rights of victim (C10K05)

• the role of parliaments and the High Court of Australia in protecting rights under the Constitution, common law, and through federal and state/territory laws (C10K06)

Attained these key skills 

• evaluate information, data, perspectives and ideas from a range of sources on contemporary issues (C10S02)
• evaluate how the principles of justice (fairness, equality and access) are achieved through legal institutions and processes (C10S04)
• construct evidence-based arguments using civics and citizenship knowledge, concepts and different perspectives, and determine the most effective method of communication (C10S08) 

Demonstrated the Victorian curriculum standards and capabilities

• Personal and Social Capability

• Ethical Capability

• Critical and Creative Thinking

Assessment Tasks

Students will be required to complete one of the following assessment tasks:

• Case study evaluation
• Mock trial

Additional learning opportunities

• Excursion to the court
• Guest speaker on the legal system 

Resources

1. Digital device (laptops preferred)

Pathways

This unit of study could provide students with the following pathway.