Details for LAW103 Legal Reasoning and Argument

Winning arguments are built, not guessed. Legal Reasoning and Argument trains you to read judgments for the ratio and the dicta, spot logical fallacies, and construct arguments using syllogisms and sound logic. You’ll practise legal problem-solving with persistence and integrity, and model ethical decision-making, servant leadership and respectful collaboration. You’ll finish ready to analyse cases carefully and argue with precision.

Quick Stats

• Currently offered by Alphacrucis: Yes
• Course code: LAW103
• Credit points: 10

Subject Coordinator

Prerequisite

Nil

Unit Content

Outcomes

1. Analyse legal judgements to extract the ratio decidendi and obiter dicta in case law.
2. Explain and apply the concepts of logic, rhetoric, practical reason, and critical thinking.
3. Identify and correct common logical fallacies.
4. Make legal arguments supported by syllogisms and deductive, abductive and inductive logic.
5. Solve basic legal problems using legal reasoning with persistence, independence, rigour and integrity.
6. Model self-discipline, ethical decision-making, servant leadership, collaboration with and respect for others.

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Subject Content

1. Introduction to the subject
2. Legal Problem Solving
3. Legal Problem Solving Continued
4. Legal Problem Solving Continued
5. Common Fallacies
6. Common Fallacies Continued
7. The Major Premise
8. The Major Premise Continued
9. The Minor Premise
10. The Minor Premise and Brining it all Together
11. Brining it all Together
12. Subject Revision
13. Examination Week

This course may be offered in the following formats

Face to Face on site

Please check the timetable to see when this subject will next be offered at Alphacrucis University College.

Assessment Methods

1. Class Debate (20%)
2. Reflective Essay (30%)
3. Final Examination (50%)

Prescribed Text

• Kenneth Yin and Anibeth Desierto, Legal Problem Solving and Syllogistic Analysis (LexisNexis, 2016) 
• Melbourne University Law Review Association, Australian Guide to Legal Citation (Melbourne University Law Review Association, 4th ed, 2018) 

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