Legal Method in the Criminal Justice Context

Legal method in the criminal law context provides an introduction to understanding legal concepts, the sources of law, and the structure of the criminal justice system in New Zealand. Students will be introduced to important concepts and definitions and to the techniques of legal reasoning, case analysis and statutory interpretation through an examination of criminal cases and laws. They will also be introduced to the impact Tikanga and customary law has on understanding legal method in New Zealand. Students who study this course will be well equipped to understand legal method from a New Zealand criminal law perspective.