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Law Space: Geographies of Justice (GEOG30031)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
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About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Please refer to the specific study period for contact information.
Overview
| Availability | March - Dual-Delivery |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject aims to think carefully and critically about the relationship between law and space. In this way, it introduces the interdisciplinary field of study known as ‘legal geography’. In what is a very broad field, our focus will be on how law responds to the most pressing situations of violence, displacement, conflict and injustice. It is relatively easy to identify places of legal practice, such as court rooms, and legal definitions of particular types of spaces, such as national borders or war zones. It is harder – but necessary – to think about how particular places or scales give rise to or trouble particular forms and uses of law. Over this four-week intensive, we will interrogate a series of historical and contemporary, as well as mundane and extraordinary, ‘law spaces’. This will include examinations of the roles of bodies, objects, digital media, and everyday practices in making and sustaining different legal spaces.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Describe and evaluate the major concepts and theories of legal geography;
- Identify key trends in legal response to injustices in different places and kinds of spaces;
- Apply and modify concepts and theories in response to observations and experiences in the field;
- Evaluate and debate the social and spatial justice implications of existing legal regimes.
Generic skills
- Critical thinking and reading;
- Theoretical thinking and testing theories with evidence;
- Writing essays on complex social phenomena;
- Presentation, discussion and group facilitation skills.
Last updated: 17 March 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
One of any Level 2 GEOG subject
GEOG20012 Post-conflict Development and Difference is recommended
OR
Permission of the subject coordinator
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Prior study in Geography, and/or in Politics, Law, Planning or Criminology is recommended.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 17 March 2023
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Three weekly reports ( 500 words approx. each)
| From Week 3 to Week 5 | 30% |
Oral presentation (equiv. 1000 words)
| From Week 3 to Week 4 | 30% |
Research Essay
| During the examination period | 40% |
Attendance at seminars (at a minimum of 8 hours) plus one field visit (3 hours). One field trip in the students' own time (from Week 2-5), the group trip will be on a weekend day (between Weeks 3-4). Field visits will have an online option available. Hurdle requirement: Attendance at seminars (at a minimum of 8 hours) plus one field visit (3 hours). One field trip in the students' own time (from Week 2-5), the group trip will be on a weekend day (between Weeks 3-4). Field visits will have an online option available. | N/A |
Last updated: 17 March 2023
Dates & times
- March
Coordinator Rachel Hughes Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours 1 x 1-hour lecture and 1 x 2-hour seminar each day for eight days (total of 24 hours) during teaching weeks 1-4 of Semester 1. In addition, 2 x 3-hour field visits (total of 6 hours) to be undertaken during teaching weeks 3 and 4 with locations (in Melbourne or online). A film series (total 6 hours) will also be required viewing during the teaching period. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 7 March 2022 to 25 March 2022 Last self-enrol date 10 March 2022 Census date 1 April 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 13 May 2022 Assessment period ends 24 June 2022 March contact information
Last updated: 17 March 2023
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 17 March 2023