NCEA Level 3 Legal Studies 301
Course Description
Teacher in Charge: Mrs J. Struthers
Legal Studies 301
Legal Studies is a blend of law, history, politics, international relations and sociology. It is a social sciences course designed to make students more aware of the world around them from a legal perspective. Students will gain an understanding of the Law in NZ as it relates to them. Topics include: systems of justice, international relations - Pitcairn Islands Trials, social action, and criminology. Students will participate in a range of practical activities including mock trials and debates.
UE Approved Subject
Course Overview
Term 1
In Term 1 students begin with a case-study examining ideas of sovereignty and jurisdiction. They will begin a critical social inquiry by identifying an issue that is reflected in a social action film, extending this context to cover legislation and potential law changes related to their chosen issue, which might be women's rights, animal rights, racism, free speech, LGBTQI+ issues and so on.
Term 2
Students complete their Inquiry, and complete an evaluation of the original social action to achieve a second Achievement Standard this term. Building on Level 2 Legal Studies students will evaluate litigation and dispute resolution processes in relation to challenging state power.
Term 3
This term, the class will examine their personal involvement in a social action that aims to influence policy change in some way. They will once again extend the Level 2 "concept of justice" learning by evaluating one of those concepts in relation to a specific scenario.
Term 4
This term is for carrying out work that still needs to be completed, from the previous terms' assessments.
Recommended Prior Learning
8 credits or more credits at Level 2 or higher in any one of the following subjects: English, History, Geography, Classics, Legal Studies.
Assessment Information
Above is an offering of the possible assessment opportunities in Legal Studies.Students wishing to use Legal Studies as a UE subject may prioritise the Achievement Standard Assessments in this course.
Credit Information
This course is approved for University Entrance.
Total Credits Available: 32 credits.
Internally Assessed Credits: 32 credits.
External
NZQA Info
NZQA Info
NZQA Info
NZQA Info
NZQA Info
NZQA Info
NZQA Info
Approved subject for University Entrance
Number of credits that can be used for overall endorsement: 16
Only students engaged in learning and achievement derived from Te Marautanga o Aotearoa are eligible to be awarded these subjects as part of the requirement for 14 credits in each of three subjects.