Melbourne Law School The Melbourne JD

Home > Subject Pages > Subjects

Legal Theory 733518

Generic Skills

On completion of this subject students should have further developed the following generic skills:

  • attitudes towards knowledge that include valuing truth, openness to new ideas and ethics associated with knowledge creation and usage
  • the capacity for close reading and analysis of a range of sources, including legal theory texts, other legal sources and interdisciplinary work
  • the capacity to engage in critical thinking, independent thought and reflection 
  • the capacity to articulate knowledge and understanding of complex ideas in oral and written forms
  • the ability to write effectively in descriptive, analytical, critical and reflective modes
  • the ability to consider appropriate ethical responses to unfamiliar or challenging issues
  • the ability to participate constructively as a member of a team
  • intercultural sensitivity and understanding.

     

Cognitive Legal Skills

On completion of the subject, students should have further developed the following cognitive legal skills:

  • the ability to critically analyse rhetorical argument and logical reasoning
  • the ability to communicate legal analysis and argument orally and in writing
  • the ability to identify, formulate and investigate legal questions of a theoretical nature
  • skills in finding, reading, comprehending and using legal materials, notably primary sources and reliable secondary sources
  • skills in finding, reading, comprehending and using interdisciplinary and theoretical materials that contribute to an understanding of law
  • skills in legal writing, including skills in developing a conceptual argument
  • skills in identifying relevant local, national, regional and international materials of law, and using them in the presentation of a conceptual argument
  • skills in identifying and responding to ethical dilemmas.