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A guide to the new Legal Studies Stage 6 Syllabus

The revised Legal Studies Stage 6 Syllabus will replace the current Legal Studies Stage 6 Syllabus (1999). It will be implemented for Year 11 students in 2010 and will be first examined in the HSC in 2011.

The syllabus has been improved by providing:

• fewer and clearer outcomes organised in relation to objectives
• a simpler, more accessible content framework with the integration of relevant themes
• enhanced opportunities for students to explore contemporary legal issues
• content for each section of the syllabus that has been reviewed to ensure greater coherence and engagement for students
• the removal of overlap between the Preliminary and HSC courses.

What is similar?

Much of the content in the revised Legal Studies Stage 6 Syllabus builds on the current syllabus. Learn about statements continue to describe the scope and depth of course content and outcomes.

Part I The legal system continues to examine basic legal concepts, sources of law, the constitution and the operation of the legal system. Part II The individual and the law covers similar content to the previous topic The individual and the state, including rights and responsibilities and resolving disputes. Part III Law in practice continues to provide opportunities for students to undertake case studies to further understanding of principles of law covered in Parts I and II.

In the HSC course, students will continue to study as core topics Human rights, Crime and two Optional studies. The weighting for the topic Crime has increased to 30%, and Human rights to 20%, making up the core areas of study, with a total weighting of 50%. The content is more clearly outlined and any major overlap with the Preliminary course has been removed.

Current programs may be modified to meet the requirements of the new syllabus and many existing units of work can form the basis of effective programs. Many existing resources will continue to be relevant.

What is different?

Course structure

Themes and challenges replace Themes and Key questions/issues ensuring a simpler overview. Themes and challenges relates directly to each content area and is designed to be integrated into each topic.

Learn about and learn to statements have been incorporated into each topic to further clarify content depth of knowledge required, relevant skills and learning outcomes. Previously there were no learn to statements in the syllabus. The structure of the Preliminary course has been simplified to ensure there is no repetition of content with HSC material and to ensure that topics are more relevant and engaging for students.

In the Preliminary course:

• Part I The legal system includes a more detailed examination of law reform and law reform in action. A law reform issue that is contemporary, relevant and engaging for students is now to be studied.
• Part II The individual and the law has replaced The individual and the state. This includes a new sub-topic The individual and technology which considers legal implications of the use of technology and its impact on the individual.
• Part III The law in practice replaces The law in focus with enhanced opportunities to investigate a wider choice of topics that deepen understanding of the principles covered in Parts I and II. Students will have opportunities to develop relevant research, analytical and communication skills that underpin the process of investigation. The law in practice may be taught as a stand-alone topic or may be integrated with Parts I and II, allowing greater flexibility for teachers.

In the HSC course:

• Parts I and II represent a strengthening of the Core topics Crime and Human rights. Crime has been increased to a weighting of 30% and includes a section on young offenders that ensures relevance to students and opportunities to study law reform in more depth. Human Rights allows the opportunity to study a choice of contemporary issues.
• The Law and justice section has been removed.
• The Part III option Technological change has been removed.

Outcomes

• have been reduced in number
• are clearer and more accessible for students and teachers.

Content

Content has been written in clearer and simpler language and is presented in a more logical sequence across all topic areas. Opportunities to investigate relevant and engaging legal issues and to develop research skills have been included.

Assessment

There are changes in the internal assessment advice to simplify and improve assessment requirements and allow greater flexibility for teachers. Teachers may use their discretion in determining the manner in which they allocate tasks within course content.

• There will be three to five assessment tasks.
• The previous mandatory oral task required in the assessment components has been removed.
• The structure of the examination has changed.
• Sections I and II form the Core, examining both Crime and Human rights.
• Section III examines the seven Options, with students to answer questions on two Options.

A specimen paper package will be available on the Board’s website

What support is available for implementing the revised syllabus?

Many current resources may still be used. A Legal Studies Stage 6 Support Document is planned for publication on the Board of Studies website in 2009. It will assist teachers in the implementation of the revised syllabus and will include programming and assessment advice.

School systems and the Legal Studies Association of NSW will provide ongoing support for the implementation of the Legal Studies Stage 6 Syllabus.

The State Library’s Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC) offers resources specifically written for the HSC Legal Studies syllabus.

The principal focus provides the broad overview of the topic

Features of the Content pages

Option 3: Family - 25% of course time

Principal focus: Through the use of contemporary examples, students investigate the legal nature of family relationships and the effectiveness of the law in achieving justice.

Themes and challenges emphasise key aspects of the topic to be integrated in the content

Themes and challenges to be incorporated throughout this topic:

• the role of the law in encouraging cooperation and resolving conflict in regard to family
• issues of compliance and non-compliance
• changes to family law as a response to changing values of the community
• role of law reform in achieving just outcomes for family members and society
• effectiveness of legal and non-legal responses in achieving just outcomes for family members.

In designing teaching and learning programs, teachers should consider integrating the principal focus, Themes and challenges, learn about and learn to statements, together with the relevant course outcomes.