Overview
(a) Historical introduction to the New Zealand legal system and its antecedents. Introduction to statutory interpretation; (b) Case analysis, legal reasoning and the judicial process.
About this paper
| Paper title | The Legal System |
|---|---|
| Subject | Law |
| EFTS | 0.3 |
| Points | 36 points |
| Teaching period | Full Year (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $2,461.20 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music
- Notes
- Two three-hour examinations.
- Eligibility
Students able to enrol at the University of Otago are able to take LAWS101 The Legal System.
- Contact
- law@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
- View more information on the Faculty of Law's website
- Teaching staff
- Teaching Arrangements
What is law, statutory interpretation and rights
Legal system today and case analysis
First law and the constitution- Textbooks
Printed course materials will be provided by the Faculty.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
By the end of the paper you should be able to:
- Write a legal opinion using a statute as the source of the law
- Write a legal opinion using case law as the source of law
- Orally argue a case by relating the facts to primary legal materials
- Write an essay on an issue of legal history
- Write a critical essay on an area of law that identifies the basis for the criticism, evaluates argument for and against change and demonstrates independent reading and a well-justified conclusion
- Assessment details
Two three-hour examinations.
Timetable
Overview
(a) Historical introduction to the New Zealand legal system and its antecedents. Introduction to statutory interpretation; (b) Case analysis, legal reasoning and the judicial process.
Curious about how law shapes everyday life in Aotearoa New Zealand? LAWS 101 introduces you to the big ideas that underpin our legal system, from Parliament and the courts to statutes, cases and the Constitution. You will explore the history of our legal system (both tikanga Māori and settler law), how law develops, how it is interpreted and the role of key legal actors including lawyers and judges. The paper builds skills in legal reasoning, analysis and clear communication that are valuable across many disciplines. LAWS 101 is required for students intending to apply for second year law and provides a strong foundation for those who choose other paths.
About this paper
| Paper title | The Legal System |
|---|---|
| Subject | Law |
| EFTS | 0.3 |
| Points | 36 points |
| Teaching period | Full Year (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music
- Notes
- Two three-hour examinations.
- Eligibility
Students able to enrol at the University of Otago are able to take LAWS 101 The Legal System.
- Contact
- law@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
- View more information on the Faculty of Law's website.
- Teaching staff
- Teaching Arrangements
This course is taught by lectures (three per week) and tutorials or workshops (one per week). All of these should be attended in person.
- Textbooks
Digital version of the course materials is available on Aoroa for download. Printed copies are available for purchase from Uniprint in the Central Library.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
By the end of the paper you should be able to:
- Read and understand legislation. Write a legal opinion, using a statute as the source of law, which identifies the legal issues (the links between the facts and the law), applies the statutory words and comes to justified conclusions as to which interpretations are more likely to succeed.
- Read and understand case law. Write a case brief, explaining what the case is about and write a legal opinion using case law as the source of law, which identifies the legal issues (the links between the facts and the law), interprets and applies the case law to these issues and comes to justified conclusions as to which view of the cases is more likely to succeed.
- Write a critical essay on an area of law that identifies the basis for the criticism, evaluates arguments for and against change and demonstrates a sound understanding of the course materials.
- Assessment details
Two 3-hour examinations.