VCE Legal Studies Question Thread

[HasibA]

This happens to most people, I'd say. Legal Studies is a big 'content subject', so to speak. Much of the marks you gain will be from simply knowing the content. Obviously, there will be times when you're asked to cross over between areas of the study design that rely on your ability to apply info. If you're finding that simply churning through the content is better for you, by all means do it. Just keep in mind that there will usually be a question or two on the exam that will really test your thinking and won't be as simple as identifying which dotpoint they fall under in the SD. Best of luck!

Ahh fair enough if I may ask , how many practice exams did you do for legal last year ? Did you revise everyday for legal the month before ? Thanks !!

[Alter]

if I may ask , how many practice exams did you do for legal last year ?

I didn't record the number, so I'd be guessing in telling you. I'd estimate somewhere in the range of 10-15. The actual number of prac exams doesn't really matter. It's just whether or not you learn not to repeat the mistakes you made in the last exam. In a similar vein, it may not be a good use of your time to repeatedly do easy questions that you know you'll get. Instead, go through exams and highlight what you think the harder/'higher order thinking' questions are, and then focus on them.

This is assuming you have a good hold on your content first. It's not a good use of your time to spam exams if you don't know your raw content, as you'll get little out of doing the exam itself in comparison.

Did you revise everyday for legal the month before ?

I tried to incorporate it as often as possible. Probably not every day, as I was juggling 5 other subjects alongside, but even if you can get a nice 15 minute period it, it can help more than you think. Doing the same amount progressively over a month is better than trying to cram it all into a few periods.

[cameotodd]

I try and usually skip the first few questions in a practice exam and go straight to the 6+ markers, I don't know I feel like already know how to do the lower mark questions. But for the VCAA exams 2011-2014, I'm doing all of those properly with timed constraints.
This has been working for me so far...

[euphoric]

when it says to compare a feature of the adversary system with the inquisitorial system for eg. role of the parties? Do I only state the difference between the roles of the parties in the adversary system and inquisitorial system or do I also have to look at similarities?

[Alter]

when it says to compare a feature of the adversary system with the inquisitorial system for eg. role of the parties? Do I only state the difference between the roles of the parties in the adversary system and inquisitorial system or do I also have to look at similarities?

Depends on the amount of marks, I think. However, I believe that comparison can mean both similarities and differences. Conversely, something such as 'distinguish' would imply just differences.

[meganrobyn]

No - in Legal 'compare' always means both. It's in the Assessor's Reports.

[drmockingbird]

I always would err on the side of writing more even if the marks don't directly correspond. Here, Megan's pointed out that any compare question necessitates similarities and differences, so you're going to lose marks if you don't show how the two systems are similar, but even in general I'd advise you to write more, just so there's no chance of you losing marks - e.g write 8 points for 7 markers, 10 points for 9 markers etc.

[HasibA]

hey guys, hope you are always studying really hard for your upcoming exams! (good luck for english tomorrow!! )
Just wondering, does anyone have a list of areas that have been answered poorly within the current study design? Was going to make my own and chuck it on here, but fi someone has already done it, could you please share !?
Thanks guys

[maddihanna]

What are your estimates for the 10 marker?
I'm thinking either something along the lines of "with reference to the relationships between courts and parliament, discuss the effectiveness of courts and parliament as law-makers"

Or even a critical evaluation of the jury where you suggest reforms/alternatives...?

What do you guys reckon?

[Übermensch]

I'm thinking evaluate how effectively rights are protected under the Commonwealth Constitution or explain the doctrine of precedent and to what extend does it provide for effective law-making. Just hopefully something easy 

[cameotodd]

Yeah I'm thinking it might be the effectiveness of the jury system with reforms/alternatives + recent changes

[HasibA]

hey guys!!
need some help, i didnt realise i had no similarities between the adversarial and inquistorial system, i couldnt find any for role of the parties, burdern & standard proof and need for legal rep.
If anyone can tell me some similiarities that would be great!!! exams are so soon and im stressing like crazy 

hey guys!!
need some help, i didnt realise i had no similarities between the adversarial and inquistorial system, i couldnt find any for role of the parties, burdern & standard proof and need for legal rep.
If anyone can tell me some similiarities that would be great!!! exams are so soon and im stressing like crazy 
[/quote]

i dont really have any either, but i wouldnt worry so much, i doubt there will be a question on this, and even if it did, i think the similarities are pretty self explanatory i.e Role of parties is to present their best possible case, albeit there is less party control in the inquisitorial system compared to the adversary system.

[esthertham58]

Hi Everyone,
Doing legal exam this year and have some questions
Would it be ok if I used pencil and write an outline on the page before writing the answer? And while writing an answer, let say a six marker, will the examiner stop reading my answer after reading the sixth point even if the question does not specify the number of points to be written. (Eg - Identify the one purpose of imprisonment?)

Thanks!

[HasibA]

Hi Everyone,
Doing legal exam this year and have some questions
Would it be ok if I used pencil and write an outline on the page before writing the answer? And while writing an answer, let say a six marker, will the examiner stop reading my answer after reading the sixth point even if the question does not specify the number of points to be written. (Eg - Identify the one purpose of imprisonment?)

Thanks!

im sure using pencil to write an outline is fine, i was also planning on doing this. Just make sure you rub it out and write feintly , you dont want it accidentally scanned and have it mess up your answer.
With your second question, if i a question has not specified how many points are needed (i.e two weaknesses of civil pre-trial procedure and how vcat can avoid them), then the examiner will read all of the question. If it has specified a number of points, let's say 'x' points, then the examiner will read up to 'x' points and no more than that, so make sure you explain those points well.

[meganrobyn]

The Legal exam isn't scanned, so don't worry about scanning issues - which also means you should just finish your answer below the lines! Also don't worry about wasting time switching to pencil: just do a quick pen plan in the margin if you want one