VCE LEGAL STUDIES /

Transport Accident Commission

TEACHER NOTES

VCE LegalStudies

This resource is designed to supplement existing textbooks for VCE Legal Studies. There are links made to electronic resources to ensure that these materials are contemporary and dynamic. Use has also been made of resources produced by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), which are aligned closely with the content requirements of VCE Legal Studies courses.

Links to the VCE Legal Studies course

The resources on this website relate to two specific units of the VCE Legal Studies course:

  • Unit 1: Criminal law in action

Area of Study 1: Law in society

Assessment: There are individual worksheets that have been developed to meet the Key Knowledge and Key Skills requirement for this area of study.

Area of Study 2: Criminal law

Assessment: 75-minute test

Area of Study 3: The criminal courtroom

Assessment: case study of culpable driving – Nei Lima da Costa

  • Unit 4: Resolution and justice

Area of Study 2: Court processes and procedures, and engaging in justice

Assessment: 75-minute test

Content and skills

The areas covered in these materials relate to:

  • Risk-taking behaviour by young people, with an emphasis on the use of alcohol.
  • The behaviour of young people which may lead to increased risk of road trauma
  • Perceptions relating to car ownership and driving.
  • The role of the TAC and its road safety initiatives, including advertising campaigns.
  • The need for road laws and the roles of parliament, courts and subordinate authorities.
  • The role of groups and individuals in society who attempt to influence law-makers in the development of public policy on the issue of road safety.
  • The nature and purpose of criminal law relating to drink-driving offences, culpable driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death and serious injury and sentencing issues.
  • The effectiveness of the Victorian Government’s road safety strategy.
  • Road safety legislation as it applies in a variety of scenarios and case studies.

The activities encourage the development of skills in:

  • Analysing and interpreting textual information, including documentary film
  • Organising ideas
  • Problem-solving
  • Interpreting graphs and tables
  • Drawing conclusions
  • Report writing
  • Interviewing and researching
  • Devising multimedia productions such as web pages or a slideshow presentation.

Resources

  • Make a Film, Make a Difference. (MAFMAD) (short films produced with the assistance of the Transport Accident Commission)
  • Connecting the Dots (documentary film based on an episode of Australian Story)
  • Mentally, teens drive best alone:feature article by Steve Biddulph (Sydney Morning Herald, 11/01/07), which is attached to this site as a link
  • Selected Internet resources
  • Prison term for speeding(written text)

Assessment for Unit 1: Criminal law in action

This task involves three components, covering all of the key knowledge points for this major area of study. Each worksheet is designed to be undertaken separately as a distinct resource. A criteria sheet covers the key skills relevant to this unit of work.

Area of Study 1: Law in society

Worksheet 1: An introduction to law-making

Introduces concepts such as legal and non-legal rules and law-making through the parliament and subordinate authorities.

Area of Study 2: Criminal law

Worksheet 2: Criminal law and road use

A case study on a conviction for the offence of culpable driving causing death, with references to the applicable law.

Worksheet 3: The effects of road trauma on the individual and the community

A case study analysis of a road fatality, Alisha Longmore, drawing on TAC materials, news media resources on road safety, criminal law and law-making. This is followed by a written, oral and/or multimedia report based on findings from the folio. This is found in the website materials based on Pictures of You.

Area of Study 3: The criminal courtroom

A case study analysis of a multiple road fatality drawing on TAC materials, news media resources on road safety, criminal law and law-making.

Worksheet 4: Analysis of the NeiLimadaCostacase

Teaching strategiesfor Unit 1: Criminal law in action

Links to area of study

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Resources

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Assessment

The difference between legal and non-legal rules; the distinction between criminal and civil law; an introduction to law-making through Parliament and subordinate authorities; the need for criminal laws and the characteristics of an effective law. / Prescribed textbook being used in class.
MAFMAD
Resource article, Prison term for speeding.
Internet resources / Worksheet 1 –
Structured questions
Writing task
The general principles of criminal liability; types of crime and related defences; rights and responsibilities within the criminal investigation process; possible sanctions under criminal law and an evaluation of their effectiveness. / Prescribed textbook being used in class.
MAFMAD
Connecting the dots
‘Mentally, teens drive best alone’ by Steve Biddulph
Internet resources / Worksheet 2 –
Structured questions
Writing task
The effects of criminal acts on individuals and the community. / Prescribed textbook being used in class.
MAFMAD
Connecting the dots
Internet resources / Worksheet 3 –
Structured questions
Oral/multimedia/ written presentation
Criminal cases are heard across a number of courts in the Victorian court hierarchy and these are subject
to specific processes and procedures / Notes on the criminal prosecution and sentencing of Nei Lima da Costa / Worksheet 4
Written essay on the outcome imposed in the Nei Lima da Costa case and the extent to which it meets the expectations of the community.

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