Welcome to your first year in the School of Law
UOW Law’s first-year curriculum and support program experience will give you the best chance at success.
To do this, we foster learning through small groups known as PODS. Each POD will be made up of approximately 25 students, and the benefit of the POD system is that you will attend all of your autumn session subjects with this same group of students. Our research has shown that this helps with the transition into tertiary law studies by facilitating the formation of friendships and study groups, and building a supportive network.
"In the first year of law we're assigned into POD groups and it's really beneficial because you get to know everybody in your class. It's a really supportive network."
UOW Law student
Spring Seminars: There will be no PODs in Spring Session, you will need to enrol into all 4 of your subject seminars separately. To do this please follow the instructions on the Faculty current students resources webpage for Seminar and tutorial enrolments.
Important: If your first choice is full, please enrol into an alternative seminar. It may be possible to negotiate a change at the discretion of the First Year Coordinator. Special consideration can only be given to extenuating circumstances and, although we attempt to meet the needs of all students, work schedules, holidays and class consolidation are not generally considered by the University as warranting special consideration.
Student Central are able to assist with all student enquiries
Law First Year Coordinator, Dr Ryan Kernaghan, is able to assist and support first year student enquiries.
Spring Session 2023
Below is a list of the prescribed textbooks for your First Year subjects. In some subjects, there are also suggestions about purchasing additional books that will support your studies. Those suggestions are recommendations, not required purchases.
As with Autumn session, you will be able to access a Subject Outline for each subject on the relevant subject Moodle site and they will contain a list of other recommended readings and resources. Details of the readings you are required to do for your classes in Week 1 (and following weeks) will also be made available on the Moodle site.
If you do not have one already, you may also consider buying a law dictionary, such as the Concise Australian Legal Dictionary (LexisNexis, 6th ed, 2020) or the Australian Law Dictionary (Oxford University Press, 3rd ed, 2017).
LLB1160 – Interpreting the Law Prescribed text:
- Sanson, Michelle, Statutory Interpretation (Oxford University Press, 2nd ed, 2016).
We also require you to revisit some selections from Jennifer Greaney, Principles and Practice of Australian Law (Thomson Reuters, 4th ed, 2020), with which you would be familiar from your studies in LLB 1100: Foundations of Law. If you no longer have a copy of that text, it can be viewed as an eReading via the Library catalogue.
At some points during session, you may be asked to consult other readings from the LLB 1160 e-Readings site or other resources via the Moodle site. If so, you will be notified in advance of the relevant classes.
LLB1170 – Law of Contract B Prescribed text:
- Paterson, Jeannie, Andrew Robertson & Arlen Duke, Contract: Cases and Materials (Thomson Reuters, 14th ed, 2020). As you would recall, this was also the prescribed text for LLB 1120: Law of Contract A in Autumn Session 2023.
As with last semester, you may also wish to have the companion book with you: Paterson, Jeannie, Andrew Robertson & Arlen Duke, Principles of Contract Law, (Thomson Reuters, 6th ed, 2020). This can be purchased individually or in a package with the Case book.
LLB1180 – Criminal Law & Procedure B Prescribed text:
- Brown, David et al, Criminal Laws: Materials and Commentary on Criminal Law and Process of New South Wales (Federation Press, 7th ed, 2020). As you would recall, this was also the prescribed text for LLB 1130: Criminal Law & Procedure A.
LLB1197 – Ethics & Professional Responsibility Prescribed text:
- Littrich, John and Karina Murray, Lawyers in Australia (Federation Press, 4th ed, 2019).
Students are also encouraged to print out a copy of the Legal Profession Uniform Law Australian Solicitors’ Conduct Rules 2015 (NSW) – available on the Moodle site.
Relevant information and links
Please note that you are able to obtain copies of these textbooks as short loans from the UOW library. Many are also available as e-Books through the library. Please visit the following pages for more information.
Useful links:
Spring Session 2023
LLB1160
Coordinator: Dr Afroza Begum
Email: afroza_begum@uow.edu.au
LLB1170
Coordinator: Professor Cassandra Sharp
Email: cassandra_sharp@uow.edu.au
LLB1180
Coordinator: Dr Armin Alimardani
Email: armin_alimardani@uow.edu.au
LLB1197
Coordinator: Ms Meredith McLaine
Email: meredith_mclaine@uow.edu.au
