191-211 Law, Justice and Social Change

Formerly available as 191-310. Students who have completed 191-310 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Usually 25 points of first-year arts including 191-110 Law in Society.

This subject will examine the ways in which law can be seen as both an instrument of positive social change and yet also as a means of confirming existing social arrangements and resisting social change. It will investigate both theoretical perspectives on law, justice and the community and a series of case studies concerning the struggles for access to justice and involvement in legal processes and institutions by particular groups and individuals. It will look at a selection of issues such as gender politics, ethnicity, race, indigenous politics, sexual orientation, class and economic struggles, social dissent, non-English speaking background individuals. Students will chosse a case study to follow through the course, and will visit a community legal centre or government body to interview a staff member involved in the writing of a report or submission.

Written work totalling 4000 words. An examination may be substituted for part of the assessment.