Active learning ideas
Law reform is the process of examining existing laws and advocating for changes to improve justice and efficiency. This topic explores why laws must evolve, citing factors like shifting social values, technological advancements, and new concepts of justice. Students evaluate the roles of various agencies, including Law Reform Commissions, parliamentary committees, and the media, in driving these changes.
Activity 01
Students act as a Law Reform Commission investigating a specific issue, such as the use of AI in the workplace. They must gather 'submissions' from different stakeholders and draft a set of recommendations for parliament.
Why does the law need to change over time?
Activity 02
Students are presented with a new technology (e.g., deepfake videos). They individually identify three ways current laws fail to address it, discuss with a partner, and then propose one specific legislative change to the class.
What role do law reform commissions play?
Activity 03
Display images and headlines representing different drivers of law reform (e.g., a protest for climate action, a news report on a new drug, a court ruling). Students move around and tag each with the primary reason for reform: social values, technology, or justice.
How effective are parliaments and courts in reforming the law?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Law reform happens quickly once a problem is identified.
Law reform is often a slow, political process involving extensive consultation and debate. Using a 'bill to law' tracker for a real piece of legislation helps students see the time and effort required for change.
The media is a formal agency of law reform.
The media is an informal mechanism; it can influence public opinion and pressure the government, but it cannot change the law itself. Comparing the media's role to the formal role of the ALRC helps clarify this distinction.
Methods used in this brief
Basic Legal Concepts
Explore the fundamental differences between customs, rules, and laws. Examine the concepts of justice, fairness, and the rule of law in Australian society.
8 methodologies
Sources of Contemporary Australian Law
Investigate the origins of Australian law, including the British common law system, statute law, and the Australian Constitution. Recognise the significance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander customary laws.
8 methodologies
Classification of Law
Differentiate between public and private law, and understand the distinction between criminal and civil court proceedings. Analyse the roles of legal personnel in these contexts.
8 methodologies