QCE Legal Studies past exams 2020–2025, by year and topic

The rest of the syllabus

Question-level mapping for these areas is still being verified. Every official paper covering them is in the year table above.

• Unit 1 — Beyond reasonable doubt (Legal foundations & criminal law) — Topic 1: Legal foundations (rule of law, separation of powers, Australia's court hierarchy, federal law-making) · Topic 2: Criminal investigation process (principles and types of crime, individual rights/responsibilities in dealing with police) · Topic 3: Criminal trial process (court jurisdiction, trial processes, defences and excuses, fair trial concept) · Topic 4: Punishment and sentencing (theories of punishment, types of sentences, sentencing trends)
• Unit 2 — Balance of probabilities (Civil law foundations) — Civil law and dispute resolution (judicial determination and alternative dispute resolution, tribunals, class actions) · Standard/burden of proof in civil disputes (balance of probabilities, plaintiff/defendant roles) · Contract law (elements of a valid contract, balancing competing interests) · Negligence (duty of care, breach, damage, Civil Liability Act 2003 (Qld), defences and remedies)
• Unit 3 — Law, governance and change — Topic 1: Governance in Australia (Australian Constitution, s51 and residual powers, three levels of government, representative and responsible government, rule of law, parliamentary accountability) · Topic 2: Law reform within a dynamic society (researching and evaluating a current legal issue requiring reform, catalysts for legal change)
• Unit 4 — Human rights in legal contexts — Topic 1: Human rights (rights of states — sovereignty, equality, political independence, territorial integrity; key human rights documents; Australian Constitution's express/implied rights protections) · Topic 2: The effectiveness of international law (Australia's role upholding human rights globally; International Bill of Human Rights — UDHR, ICCPR, ICESCR; International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court) · Topic 3: Human rights in Australian contexts (rights in criminal and civil contexts — free speech, protest/assembly, freedom from discrimination, democratic representation, freedom of religion, trial by jury; role of AHRC, ALRC, courts, advocacy groups)
• External assessment skills (examined every EA year, Unit 4 focus) — Comprehending legal concepts, principles and processes relevant to human rights · Analysing legal issues involving human rights in Australia and internationally · Evaluating legal situations and proposing/justifying responses relevant to human rights