Commerce and Legal Studies Resources

The Rule of Law Education Program encourages active participation by teaching Australian students about the rule of law.

A society that supports the rule of law is not one composed of uncritical and obedient citizens; rather it is one whose citizens understand and respect just laws, are aware of their function and know how to engage with them constructively and how to challenge them as needed, within the appropriate mechanisms and institutions.

– United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Case Studies

Case studies to develop students’ understanding and critical thinking skills.

Explainers

Our collection of explainers take students through key legal topics.

Posters

Posters to explain legal concepts. The Institute provides posters to schools and teachers.

Videos

Interviews, training videos, and animations about rule of law principles.

Australian History for Civics

The development of the Rule of Law and Democratic Institutions in early Australia

Top Education Resources in 2023/2024

Case Studies
Chris Dawson
Keli Lane
Skaf
Claremont Killings
Defamation
NZYQ

Explainers
What is the Rule of Law?
What is the Voice to Parliament?
Separation of Powers
Retrospective Laws
Criminal Trial Processes

Posters
Rule of Law Wheel
Legacy of Magna Carta
Separation of Powers
Australian Court Hierarchy
Layout of Courtroom

Videos
Constitution Basics
Magna Carta and Australia
Checks and Balances
What is the Rule of Law
Presumption of Innocence

History
Magna Carta today
Terra Nullius
Australian History for Civics
First Civil Case: The Lost Parcel
NSW Supreme Court

If you want to know more about:

our Court Education programs including our Court Excursion Documents, Click here
our Advocacy for Curriculum changes, click here

Topic Areas for Education Explainers

The Rule of Law Education Centre writes resources for Australian School students to help understand the rule of law in action.

Click on the below areas to view the relevant teaching material and resources.

Australian Colonies and the development of the Rule of Law in Australia

Case Method for Teaching Civic Concepts

a) Checks and Balances: Freedom of the Press and an Independent Judiciary f0llowing the establishment of the NSW Supreme Court in 1824

b) Simple explainers and activities for students on Australian Colonies

a) An Ancient people

b) terra nullius

c) How law applied to indigenous people in early colony

d) Penal Facility

e) European Settlement

i. The First Civil Case in NSW: Henry and Susannah Cable and The Lost Parcel

– Case Summary

– Education Resources

– Source Documents

Court Documents

ii. First Five Governors

– Arthur Phillip

– John Hunter

– Philip Gidley King

– William Bligh

– Lachlan Macquarie

iii. Colonial Capers

e) The Establishment of the Supreme Court in NSW

Civics, Citizenship and Laws

Simple explainers and activities for students on Civics and Citizenship

a) Civics and Citizenship

i. Rights and Responsibilities: What are they and how are they connected?

b) Australian Beliefs and Values

c) Rules and Laws

i. What makes an effective law?

Civil Law (including Defamation)

a) Civil Law Poster

b) Defamation Law

i. Social Media and Defamation Law Reform

ii. 2021 Law Reform

iii. Public Interest Defence

iv. Geoffrey Rush Case Note

Constitution

a) Constitution Summary

i. Overaching Principles of the Constitution

ii. Separation of Powers

iii. Division of Powers

iv. Human Rights

b) Constitution: What is its purpose?

c) Border Closures

i. Palmer Challenge to Border Closures

d) Reserve Powers and the Whitlam Dismissal

e) Constitution Day

g) Dual Citizenship

i. Kables Case

ii. Communist Party Case

iii. Love and Thoms Case

i) 2023 Referendum

i. Explainer Information and Video

ii. Voice: Legal Realities Both Sides of Debate

iii. Claims in Official YES NO Pamphlet

iv. Case for Voting NO

Crime: Criminal Investigation Process and Bail

a) Introduction to Bail

b) Explanation of Bail and the History Behind Current Laws

c) Contemporary Issues in QLD Bail Legislation

d) Video: Murder and justice when a suspect dies before a trial

Crime: Criminal Trial Process

a) Adversary system

b) People in Court

c) Pleas and Charges

d) Access to Justice

e) Burden and Standard of Proof

f) Use of Evidence

g) Defences Against Criminal Charges

h) The Role of Juries

Crime: Sentencing and Punishment

NEW: Post-Sentencing Considerations: Balancing the rights of individuals and the Community

a) Case Note Rv Dowdle- Sentencing and Judicial Independence

b) Case Note Covid-19 Restrict: Sentencing and Judical Discretion

c) 2017 Sentencing Laws Update

d) Sentencing at the International Criminal Court

b) Mandatory Sentencing Resource

i. 2014 Law Reform and NSW Mandatory Sentencing for violent assaults

ii. Case Study- Mandatory Sentencing

Court Hierarchy

a) Court Jurisdiction

i) General Jurisdictions and Hierachies

ii) Coroner’s Court

iii) Youth Koori Court

iv) Drug Court

Curriculum Links and Support for Teachers

Resources for teachers including

a) Curriculum links and Program ideas for Primary Teachers (Stage 2 and 3) including differentiated units

b) Teaching Strategies for Case Studies

c) Developing Legal Literacy using the ILAC Scaffold

Democracy and systems of government

Simple explainers and activities for students on Democracy and Governance:

a) Five Main Forms of Government

b) Magna Carta’s Influence on Australia

c) Sovereignty

d) Democracy in Australia

i. Australian Constitution and democracy

ii. Executive Government and democracy

iii. Bicameralism and democracy

iv. Separation of Powers and democracy

Human Rights

Simple explainers and activities for students on Human Rights

a) Historical Background of Human Rights

i. The Magna Carta

ii. The rule of law

b) Human Rights

i. Video Series on Human Rights with Australian Human Rights Commissioner

ii. Human Rights and Rule of Law Poster

c) Treaties

i. International Treaty Bodies

d) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

e) The International Bill of Rights

f) Does Australia need a Human Rights Act?

g) Principle of Legality

International Law

a) Customary International Law

b) Becoming a Country under International Law

c) The Treaty Process in Australia

d) International Investment Arbitration and the Rule of Law

e) The ICC and challenges to international rule of law

f) Treaties

i. International Treaty Bodies

Media and Social Media

a) Presentation to Legal Studies Association on “Media: The Good, the Bad and the Murky, Media as a non legal response”

b) Media Explainer and Case Studies

c) Social Media Explainer and Case Studies

d) Defamation and Social Media Law Reform

Pandemic and the Rule of Law

a) Covid-19 and the rule of law

b) The Legal Position of Covid Restrictions

c) Did democracy die during the pandemic?

d) Victorian Pandemic Legislation

e) Victorian curfew invalid according to QC

f) Civic Duty during Covid

Technology

Technology and the Rule of Law

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