Connecting with Law covers the foundations of law in an interesting and thought provoking way, challenging students to think critically, question ideas, and connect with law. It provides students with a broader context which allows them to start thinking about the values law embodies and their relationship to society. This fresh approach to introductory law is designed to engage students with contemporary examples and case studies they can relate to, and which help them understand the law.

Videos

Watch Michelle Sanson (one of the three authors) talk about the overall approach of Connecting with Law.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ob30sLYBoo
 

• The opening chapter provides a quick summary of everything in the book; this serves as pre-reading for students, who are likely to be studying Torts, Contract Law or other law subjects at the same time, and need a quick foundation.
• Teaches students skills for case analysis and interpreting legislation through practice exercises and discussion questions in each chapter, which build in intensity as these skills develop.
• Introduces students to the legal system, legal terminology and legal concepts using clear language which can be easily understood by students with no prior knowledge of the law.

Preface

1. Introduction: Overview of the Book

2. Learning Law: How can I Develop a Legal Mind?

3. Sources: What is the Law Itself?

4. Legal Institutions: How is Law Made?

5. Research Law: How do I find the law?

6. Jurisprudence: What is law?

7. History: How did Australian Law Develop?

8. Australia: Where Does Indigenous Law Fit in?

9. Precedent: How do Judicial Decisions become Law?

10. Statutory Interpretation: How do Courts Interpret Legislation?

11. Applying Law: How are Cases Resolved?

12. The Profession: What do Lawyers do?

13. Law in Society: How do People Access Justice?

14. My Law Career: How can I Best Prepare for it?

Dr Michelle Sanson – International Legal Consultant and Educator

David Worswick – Associate Lecturer, School of Law, Flinders University

Dr Thalia Anthony – Lecturer, Law School, The University of Sydney

Acknowledgments

We sincerely thank all the people over the years who we have taught with, and who have taught us to connect with law, and have moulded and shaped our understanding and how we express that understanding. Our special thanks go to Amanda Porter for her outstanding research and compelling insights into Indigenous issues, Dorothea Anthony, Michelle Burgis and Scott Calnan for their critical reading of jurisprudence, Professor David Barker AM for his mentorship, and to the anonymous reviewers who provided useful comments and suggestions. Thanks to all the academics who have had the confidence to set our text for their classes – we look forward to any comments you may have so that our second edition is even better! Finally, we are grateful to our partners, families and friends who have supported us along the way, and to all the people at Oxford University Press (particularly Karen Hildebrandt) for their good work and patience.

Lecturer resources are organised by chapter and include PowerPoints for use in lectures or tutorials, sample answers for the discussion questions in the text, and videos where the authors discuss the overall approach of the book.

Don’t forget to check out the Student Resources tab, where your students will find extra practice exercises organised by chapter, fact and activity sheets on goal setting, stress, and motivation, and a flashcard glossary to self-test.

Student resources include:

• fact and activity sheets on goal setting, stress, motivation, anxiety, maintaining work-life balance, time management and more
• a flashcard glossary for you to test your knowledge on key terms
• links to Commonwealth and state/territory-specific acts and regulations
• videos, including the winner of the first Connecting with Law short film competition

practice exercises and other material organised by chapter

Resources
01. Introduction
02. Learning Law
03. Sources
     Case Note Practice - High Court Case
     Case Note Practice - Lottie v Lottie
04. Legal Institutions
05. Legal Research roadmap
06. Jurisprudence
07. History
08. Australia
09. Precedent
10. Statutory Interpretation
11. Legal Problem Solving
12. Ethics and Duties
13. Thinking about access to justice
14. Preparing for my law career

Fact Sheets
Flashcard Glossary
Links to Acts and Regulations

Multiple Choice Questions

Connecting with Law

Videos

Watch Michelle Sanson (one of the three authors) talk about the overall approach of Connecting with Law.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ob30sLYBoo

Additional Resources for UWA Students