LEG301

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 will begin the year understanding the law-making process in relation to controversial or contested law change. 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 a chosen issue, past contexts have included; environment, women's rights, animal rights, racism, free speech, LGBTQI+ issues and so on.

Term 2
Students return to ideas of Justice, litigation and dispute resolution. Building on Level 2 Legal Studies students will evaluate litigation and dispute resolution processes in relation to challenging state power. They then examine a past social action of their choosing and evaluate its effectiveness and implications of the action on wider society.

Term 3
This term, the class will plan, carry out and examine their personal involvement in a social action that aims to influence policy change in some way. Towards the end of the term, students will begin to prepare for an external standard which looks at the impacts of ideologies and their impact on society.

Term 4
This term students continue preparation for the external.

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.

Pathway

The Legal Studies course provides an understanding of how New Zealand ensures a safe and orderly society. It equips students to be participants in that society and also allows people with a special interest in law and human rights the opportunity to be learning in this area. This provides students with a particular interest in law government and human rights to pursue that in advance of university study.

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

You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.

This course is eligible for subject endorsement.

This course is approved for University Entrance.

Total Credits Available: 32 credits.
Externally Assessed Credits: 4 credits.
Internally Assessed Credits: 28 credits.

Assessment
Description
Level
Internal or
External
Credits
L1 Literacy Credits
UE Literacy Credits
Numeracy Credits
U.S. 27840 v3
NZQA Info
Evaluate a concept of justice in relation to an actual situation

Further assessment opportunities will not be offered for this standard in line with NZQA guidelines

Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0
Numeracy Credits: 0
U.S. 27846 v3
NZQA Info
Evaluate litigation and dispute resolution processes in relation to challenging state power

Further assessment opportunities will not be offered for this standard in line with NZQA guidelines

Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0
Numeracy Credits: 0
U.S. 27849 v3
NZQA Info
Evaluate a law making process in relation to a significant legal issue

Further assessment opportunities will not be offered for this standard in line with NZQA guidelines

Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91597 v2
NZQA Info
Social Studies 3.2 - Conduct a critical social inquiry

Further assessment opportunities will not be offered for this standard in line with NZQA guidelines

Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 6
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 6r *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91598 v2
NZQA Info
Social Studies 3.3 - Demonstrate understanding of how ideologies shape society
4
4
4
4
Level: 3
Internal or External: External
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 4r,4w *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91599 v2
NZQA Info
Social Studies 3.4 - Examine personal involvement in a social action(s) that aims to influence policy change(s)

Further assessment opportunities will not be offered for this standard in line with NZQA guidelines

6
6
6
Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 6
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 6r *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91600 v2
NZQA Info
Social Studies 3.5 - Examine a campaign of social action(s) to influence policy change(s)

Further assessment opportunities will not be offered for this standard in line with NZQA guidelines

4
4
4
Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 4r *
Numeracy Credits: 0
Credit Summary
Total Credits: 32
Total Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
Total University Entrance Literacy Credits: 20
Total Numeracy Credits: 0

Approved subject for University Entrance

Number of credits that can be used for overall endorsement: 20

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.