Module One: Background to the Law and Courts
Introduction
In this module you will read about the New Zealand legal system including Parliament, Courts, legislation and court decisions with a focus on criminal law. This module gives you the wider context as a background for learning about the specific work of Justices later in the course.
This is a large module but you are sure to find it interesting and you may well find that you know about some of the material from your general knowledge. You will meet many of the concepts again throughout the course.
There are five sections in this module: The Constitution; Courts; Legislation; Case Reports; and Natural Justice.
Module objective
To gain knowledge of the basics of the New Zealand legal and courts system.
Reading
Judicial JP Manual chapter 1, Introduction to the Legal System
Ruru, Scott and Webb The New Zealand Legal System Structures and Processes (6th ed, LexisNexis, Wellington, 2016) chapters 3,4,5,6,8 and 9. This text will be referred to as New Zealand Legal System in this course.
Time
This module should take you take between 35 - 45 hours including readings and activities, depending on your personal preferred working style.
Before you begin
Your Learning Journal - Questions for reflection
Start this module by making your first journal entry. Find the e-journal download link on the journal page in the course overview section. The journal is also uploaded on the JSC Students' page.
Each module in this course will have a set of questions like these at the beginning of it. The questions are intended to encourage you to reflect on your own experiences and ideas that link with specific aspects that will be covered in this section. The quality of your reflection is the important factor here not the amount that you write.
In this module because there are several sections you may wish to answer only some questions at this point. You can return to the rest of the questions while you work through each section, or at the end of the module.