LAWS6028Criminal Law Practice & Procedure

Course handbook

Description

This course is designed to ensure students have a comprehensive understanding of both the practice and procedure of criminal law at the Local (including the Early Appropriate Guilty Plea process) and Children’s court levels. Students can expect to be trained in the art of persuasive advocacy, ethical practice and the skills necessary to effectively represent a client in court on all matters ranging from a short mention to a defended hearing. With over 90 percent of criminal law cases being dealt with at the lower court level, this course seeks to utilise a ‘case file’ approach to ensure the knowledge and skills acquired equip students with the basic but fundamental practical skills of advocacy, facilitating the transition into criminal law practice in these jurisdictions.

Availability2024 Course Timetables

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. 1. The gaining of a comprehensive understanding of the procedural rules that govern and guide the practice of law at the Local and Children's court levels

2. 2. Applied understanding of the operation of theoretical legal principles in the practical settings of the criminal jurisdictions of Local and Children's courts.

3. Critical understanding of the role of the criminal lawyer and the legal profession in facilitating a just and accessible legal system.

4. Prepare legal arguments and formulate strategies to effectively represent a client in court.

5. 5. Developing legal practice skills in dealing with clients in criminal legal practice, including the capacity to analyse and apply different models of client centred practice.

6. Developing capacity to exercise judgment and make informed and considered decisions in a criminal legal practice environment.

7. The further development of research, analytical, and oral and written communication skills.

8. Demonstrate specialised advocacy skills and competency in court procedure in the criminal jurisdiction

Content

• Case Management, Procedures and protocol of the Local and Children’s Court
• Ethics and professional responsibility of criminal lawyers.
• Client interviewing and taking instructions in criminal matters.
• Fact investigation and developing a case theory.
• Strategy and tactics of criminal defence work.
• Preparation and presentation of bail applications and pleas in mitigation in Local and Children’s Courts
• Trial advocacy skills
• Admissibility of Evidence
• Traffic and Licence Appeals
• Appeals and Appeals Bail

Requisite

This course is only available to students enrolled in the programs:

[12334] Juris Doctor/Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (JD)

[12340] Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[12341] Bachelor of Social Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[12342] Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[12343] Bachelor of Aboriginal Professional Practice/Bachelor of Laws(Honours)

[12346] Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[12347] Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Diploma of Legal Practice

[12348] Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40036] Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40037] Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40129] Bachelor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40130] Bachelor of Development Studies/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40150] Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40188] Bachelor of Global Indigenous Studies/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40189] Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40272] Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40279] Bachelor of Coastal and Marine Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40280] Bachelor of Biomedicine/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40290] Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[50005] Bachelor of Media and Communication/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[50016] Juris Doctor

Assumed knowledge

LAWS6001, LAWS6002A, LAWS6002B, LAWS6003A, LAWS6003B, LAWS6004A, LAWS6004B, LAWS6005.

Assessment items

Case Study / Problem Based Learning: Drafting Task

Role Play: Advocacy Based Exercise Oral

Professional Task: Advocacy Based Exercise - Written

Professional Task: Written Submissions - Bail

Contact hours

Semester 2 - 2024 - Newcastle City Precinct

Course outline

Course outline not yet available.