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.
POD timetable
- Wollongong Campus POD Timetable (PDF: 137 KB)
- South Western Sydney Campus POD Timetable (PDF: 101KB)
Enrolling in PODS
You will only need to enrol in the LLB1100 Foundations of Law seminar which corresponds with your selected POD. Please see below for further enrolment instructions. If you are not enrolled in LLB1100 for Autumn 2023, please contact Dr. Ryan Kernaghan: ryan_kernaghan@uow.edu.au.
"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
Autumn Seminars: Seminars in Autumn 2023 will be grouped into 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.
Please review and familiarise yourself with the POD timetables. The POD timetables will assist you in selecting preferred PODs. Please Note: POD enrolment, like seminars, are filled in order of enrolment.
Steps for Enrolling into your POD:
Steps for enrolling
- Visit the Get Started enrolment page for information on how to enrol in your subjects and seminars.
- Choose your POD from the POD Timetable. For those enrolling in Wollongong PODs, it is recommended to choose 1-2 back-up PODs in case you cannot secure your first choice.
- LLB1100 Foundations of Law will be the only subject you will need to enrol in via the ‘Tutorial Enrolment’ page in SOLS. This page will also show the exact time and date that enrolment opens.
- Enrol into the LLB1100 seminar time that corresponds with your chosen POD. The POD numbers will be clearly marked for your convenience.
- Our team will enrol you into the rest of the corresponding seminars for your POD. You will receive a SOLSMail advising you once this has been done.
- View your complete timetable from “My Timetable” in SOLS.
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.
Autumn 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.
You will be able to access a full Subject Outline for each subject on the relevant subject Moodle site. Each Subject Outline will contain a list of other recommended readings and resources. Details of the readings you are required to complete for your classes in Week 1 (and following weeks) will also be made available on the Moodle sites.
IMPORTANT NOTE: In each case, the texts listed below are the most recent editions. We recommend that you obtain the edition we recommend. This is because there are often important differences between older and newer editions that can be confusing and difficult to follow.
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).
LLB 1100 – Foundations of Law
The prescribed textbook for LLB1100 is:
- Greaney, Jennifer, Principles and Practice of Australian Law (Thomson Reuters, 4th ed, 2020).
You can also purchase the eBook version from the Thomson Reuters website: Principles and Practice of Australian Law 4th edition - Book. This text is available from a range of retailers, including the UniShop.
You may also wish to purchase a copy of the Australian Constitution. The Constitution can be found on numerous electronic databases or purchased from a range of retailers, including the UniShop. It is also in the back of most legal dictionaries.
LLB 1115 – Legal Skills
The prescribed textbook for LLB1115 is:
- Australian Guide to Legal Citation (Melbourne University Law Review Association, 4th ed, 2018).
This publication is available online and may be downloaded in pdf format (read only) from: UOW Library's resources database. This text is also available from a range of retailers, including the Unishop.
Given the difficulty of using this 337-page book as a PDF copy only, we advise you to buy a hardcopy. It will serve you throughout your studies. This is the referencing style adopted for all Law School assignments/submissions throughout your degree.
You may also wish to consider obtaining a copy of the following text. This is optional as a guide only and should not be considered essential:
- Kernaghan, Ryan, Quick Reference Card: Legal Referencing (LexisNexis Butterworths, 2nd ed, 2021). This text is available at the Unishop.
Other weekly readings are from a range of sources and will be available online via the UOW Library and the subject Moodle site.
LLB 1120 – Law of Contract A
The prescribed textbooks for LLB1120 are:
- Andrew Robertson and Jeannie Paterson, Contract: Cases and Materials (Thomson Reuters, 14th ed, 2020)
- Andrew Robertson and Jeannie Paterson, Principles of Contract Law (Thomson Reuters, 6th ed, 2020)
You can also purchase the eBook version from the Thomson Reuters website: Contract Law. These books are also available as a pack through a range of retailers, including the UniShop.
These books are also the prescribed texts for LLB 1170: Law of Contract B in Spring Session.
As well as the Major Texts, additional case readings for most weeks will be available electronically through Subject Readings on the Moodle site.
LLB 1130 – Criminal Law and Procedure A
The prescribed textbook for LLB1130 is:
- Brown, David, David Farrier, Luke McNamara, Alex Steel, Michael Grewcock, Julia Quilter, Melanie Schwartz, Thalia Anthony and Arlie Loughnan, Criminal Laws Materials and Commentary on Criminal Law and Process of NSW (The Federation Press, 7th ed, 2020).
You can also purchase the eBook version from The Federation Press website: Criminal Laws eBook. The hard copy of the textbook can also be purchased through a range of retailers including the UniShop.
This book is also the prescribed textbook for LLB 1180: Criminal Law and Procedure B in Spring Session.
As well as the Major Text, additional sources will be available electronically through Subject Readings on the Moodle site.
Useful links:
Autumn Session 2023
LLB1110
Coordinator: Dr Ryan Kernaghan
Email: ryan_kernaghan@uow.edu.au
LLB1115
Coordinator: Dr Jane Hogan
Email: jane_hogan@uow.edu.au
LLB1120
Coordinator: Dr Pariz Lythgo-Gordon
Email: pariz_lythgo-gordon@uow.edu.au
LLB1130
Coordinator: Dr Armin Alimardani
Email: armin_alimardani@uow.edu.au
