All Law Summer School papers have a pre-requisite requirement of 96 laws points. If you do not meet these requirements, approval may be granted at the Dean of Law's discretion.

Taught and Examined in Dunedin

LAWS 474 Human Rights and Comparative Biomedical Law (15 points)

Professor Olivier Guilod, Director, Health Law Institute, Neuchatel University

Lectures Mon, Wed: 10:00-11:50
The first lecture is on Wednesday, 6 January

This paper will look at the International and European legal framework for Human Rights (UN Covenants, Convention on the rights of the child, European Convention for the protection of human rights, European Convention on human rights and biomedicine, etc.) and the various jurisdictional instruments provided for in those Agreements. Participants will discuss the various national positions in Europe as to international law (monist and dualist theories) and consider a number of examples (taken from several European countries, both from the common and civil law traditions) of how International Human Rights Agreements can influence national legislators as well as national courts. A few substantive issues in biomedical law will be considered from a human rights perspective and from the point of view of national law eg reproductive freedom and new reproductive technology, biomedical research, etc.

Taught and Examined in Dunedin

LAWS486 Forensic Law (15 points)

Mr Len Andersen, Barrister, Dr Robin J Watt

Lectures Fri: 11.00am - 12.50pm, 1.30pm - 3.30pm (amended 4 Dec 09)
The first lecture is on Friday, 8 January

This paper will look at the use of forensics in legal cases. It will be taught by a leading New Zealand forensic anthropologist Dr Robin J Watt and by renowned Dunedin Barrister Len Andersen.

Taught and Examined in Dunedin

LAWS475 The Idea of Private Law (15 points)

Professor Charles Rickett, University of Queensland

Lectures Sat: 09:00-16:00 (weeks two to five)

This course will examine the arguments in Ernest Weinrib's book of the same name and analyse a number of the more important critiques of Weinrib's corrective justice position. The objective is to provide a philosophically coherent basis for understanding the nature of private law as actually conducted by lawyers.

Taught and Examined at the Wellington School of Medicine, Wellington

LAWS476 Public Health Law (15 points)

Dr Marie Bismark, MBChB, LLB, MBHL (Otago)

Lectures Tue, Thu: 18:00-21:00 (weeks one to four)
The first lecture is on Tuesday, 5 January

The course will examine the role of the law in protecting and improving the public’s health. The topics will include legal issues relating to communicable disease and bio-terrorism, promotion of healthy lifestyles (including laws relating to nutrition, tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs), pharmaceuticals and new biotechnologies, regulation of health practitioners, and environmental health.

Taught and Examined at the Wellington School of Medicine, Wellington

LAWS479 Understanding Judges (15 points)

Senior Lecturer Richard Cornes, University of Essex

Lectures Mon, Wed: (weeks one to three) 18:00-20:00, Sat: (weeks one and two) 09:00-16:00
The first lecture is on Wednesday, 6 January

Who should the judges be? How should they be appointed? Once on the bench how do they go about making decisions? What persuades judges to agree with one side of the case? What role do appellate courts play in the judicial system? These are some of the questions to be examined in this paper. Drawing on comparative material from Australia, the US, the UK and Spain the paper will examine the operation of courts, from first instance courts through to final courts of appeal. In addition to comparative analysis the paper will draw on insights into the structure and operation of the judicial branch from political science and sociology. The paper will be of interest both to those who work in the courts as well as candidates contemplating further academic study of the Judiciary.

Taught and examined at the University of Otago Auckland Centre, Queen St, Auckland

LAWS487 The Rights and Well-Being of Children (15 points)

Dr Nicola Taylor

Lectures Tue, Thu: (weeks two to six) 18:00-21:00

This paper examines the role of the New Zealand legal system and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in enhancing the rights and well-being of children and young people. Relevant legislation, case law and socio-legal readings will be covered within a range of topics concerning children and their families.

Taught and examined at the University of Otago Auckland Centre, Queen St, Auckland