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The course aims to provide a foundation in the skills of legal research and legal writing together with an academic grounding in topics fundamental to the New Zealand legal system. The course will involve training by way of proactive exercises in legal research and legal writing. It will also examine the historical development of New Zealand's legal system, fundamental constitutional doctrines and the significance of the Treaty of Waitangi within the New Zealand legal system. The examination of the Treaty of Waitangi will be in a context of Maori customary law and Maori rights under the New Zealand legal system.
The objectives of Laws 110 are:• To provide you with a foundation in the skills of legal research and writing;• To provide you with practice in using law-specific databases to engage in legal research;• To introduce you to the legal issues relating to Maori rights under the New Zealand legal system, and the significance of the Treaty of Waitangi; and• To introduce you to the historical development of New Zealand’s legal institutions and constitution.
A successful student will, by the end of this course, be able to demonstrate an understanding of: The legal significance of the Treaty of Waitangi, and its role in New Zealand society; The history of both the English and New Zealand legal systems, and the relevance of this history to the modern New Zealand system; and New Zealand’s constitutional doctrines.A successful student will also be able to demonstrate competence in: Legal research, using a variety of primary and secondary sources; and Legal writing.
LAWS101
The stipulated rooms have only sufficient seats for students allocated for each lecture stream at enrolment. Serious seating problems will arise if students arbitrarily shift streams.
Debra Wilson
John Hopkins and David Round
Each student’s final mark is arrived at by a combination of marks for in-term assessments and the final examinations. The percentages of the assessments will be advised in due course.The assessment comprises:a Research Exercise, an Essay and a Final Exam.In-term Assessments -There are two compulsory in-term assessments. 1. Research Exercise: 11-17 MarchThis is an online research exercise. The exercise will be available through Learn (the student online learning environment) from Friday 11 March 9:00am until Thursday 17 March 9:00 am (“the assessment period”). You will receive a percentage towards your final grade on achieving 100% in the online research exercise. You will receive 0% towards your final grade on achieving anything less than 100% in the online research exercise.You can retake the exercise as many times as you wish during the assessment period in order to achieve the 100% grade. Students are advised that they may need to be physically present in the Law Library to complete some elements of the online research exercise.It is the student’s responsibility to complete the exercise on time within the assessment period. Students should allow for unforeseen circumstances including personal computer or internet connection issues. 2. Essay: Due Wednesday 11 May, 12:00pmThe topic and further information will be distributed early in the first term.No Aegrotat Consideration for In-term Assessments -A student may not apply for aegrotat consideration for in-term assessments.Final Examination -The final examination will count for a percentage of the final mark. The examination will be 2.5 hours long. Students will be advised of the date of the examination after the commencement of the academic year.NOTE: Assignments, tests and examinations will be assessed only once. Resubmissions or resits are not permitted.
Greville, Margaret. et al; Legal research and writing in New Zealand ; 3rd ed; LexisNexis, 2007.
Webb, Duncan et al; The New Zealand legal system : structures and processes ; 5th ed; LexisNexis, 2010.
Joseph, Philip A; Constitutional & administrative law in New Zealand ; 3rd ed; Thomson/Brookers, 2007.
Krever, Richard E. , Barkehall Thomas, Susan; Mastering law studies and law exam techniques ; 6th ed; LexisNexis Butterworths, 2006.
Miller, Raymond; New Zealand government and politics ; 4th ed; Oxford University Press, 2006.
Morris, Grant; Law alive : the New Zealand legal system in context ; Oxford University Press, 2009.
Mulgan, R. G. , Aimer, Peter; Politics in New Zealand ; 3rd ed. ; Auckland University Press, 2004.
Orange, Claudia; An illustrated history of the Treaty of Waitangi ; Bridget Williams Books, 2004.
Palmer, G. W. R. , Palmer, Matthew; Bridled power : New Zealand's constitution and government ; 4th ed; Oxford University Press, 2004.
Spiller, Peter. , Finn, Jeremy., Boast, Richard; A New Zealand legal history ; 2nd ed; Brookers, 2001.
Spiller, Peter. , Hinde, M. S., Hinde, G. W; Butterworths New Zealand law dictionary ; 6th ed; LexisNexis NZ, 2005.
Williams, Glanville Llewelyn , Smith, A. T. H; Glanville Williams - learning the law ; 14th ed. ; Sweet & Maxwell /Thomson Reuters, 2010.
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Successful completion of this course makes students eligible for consideration for selection for Laws 200 courses.
Domestic fee $630.00
International fee $3,013.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Faculty of Law .