Learning path

First-year foundations

A recommended sequence through Australian legal institutions, legal method, authority and constitutional foundations before doctrinal study.

This path is recommended guidance only. Canonical Markdown remains the source of truth for public articles.

This is a recommended route through the shared curriculum graph, not a mandatory course or a replacement for your law school's sequence. Complete each stage in order; the linked articles remain useful as standalone references afterwards.

Articles in this pathway 14

Step 1

The Australian legal system: an overview

A guided introduction to the institutions, legal sources and federal structure that shape Australian law for beginning university students.

Open article

Step 2

Sources and authority basics

How Australian law students should distinguish primary authority, official explanatory material and teaching guidance when making legal claims.

Open article

Step 3

Commonwealth, state and territory law

How Commonwealth, state and territory laws relate to each other, and why jurisdiction is a recurring threshold issue in Australian legal study.

Open article

Step 4

Court hierarchy and jurisdiction

A practical guide to Australian court hierarchy, original and appellate jurisdiction, and why forum matters when reading cases.

Open article

Step 5

Reading cases with purpose

A practical method for reading Australian cases so that facts, issues, holdings and reasons remain distinct and useful for later legal analysis.

Open article

Step 6

Precedent in Australian law

How Australian students should think about binding authority, ratio decidendi, obiter dicta and the practical discipline of reading cases through precedent.

Open article

Step 7

Reading legislation and delegated legislation

How to read Acts, regulations and other delegated legislation with closer attention to structure, authority, commencement and current status.

Open article

Step 8

Statutory interpretation in Australia

An introductory guide to purposive interpretation, statutory text, context and the careful use of extrinsic materials in Australian law.

Open article

Step 9

Introductory legal citation

An introductory explanation of why Australian legal citation matters, how case and legislation references work, and where students should seek detailed AGLC guidance.

Open article

Step 10

Authority treatment and citation practice

A research-method article on noting up cases, checking subsequent treatment, using authorised and unauthorised sources responsibly, and building pinpoint citations.

Open article

Step 11

Legal research with authoritative sources

A practical approach to Australian legal research that prioritises authoritative legislation, official court materials and disciplined use of research databases.

Open article

Step 12

Ratio, obiter and material facts

A practical guide to identifying the binding part of a case, separating ratio from obiter, and using material facts to reason by analogy.

Open article

Step 13

Constitutional foundations and federalism

An introductory account of the constitutional structure of the Commonwealth, the states, and the federal relationships that shape Australian public law.

Open article

Step 14

Legal reasoning and problem solving

An introductory guide to structured legal reasoning, including how students connect facts, authority and argument without giving personal legal advice.

Open article

Step	Article	Summary
1	The Australian legal system: an overviewAU-NATIONAL, Commonwealth, ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA · 50-70 minutes	A guided introduction to the institutions, legal sources and federal structure that shape Australian law for beginning university students.
2	Sources and authority basicsAU-NATIONAL, Commonwealth, NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, NT, ACT · 45-60 minutes	How Australian law students should distinguish primary authority, official explanatory material and teaching guidance when making legal claims.
3	Commonwealth, state and territory lawCommonwealth, ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA · 45-65 minutes	How Commonwealth, state and territory laws relate to each other, and why jurisdiction is a recurring threshold issue in Australian legal study.
4	Court hierarchy and jurisdictionCommonwealth, NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, NT, ACT · 45-60 minutes	A practical guide to Australian court hierarchy, original and appellate jurisdiction, and why forum matters when reading cases.
5	Reading cases with purposeAU-NATIONAL, Commonwealth · 40-55 minutes	A practical method for reading Australian cases so that facts, issues, holdings and reasons remain distinct and useful for later legal analysis.
6	Precedent in Australian lawAU-NATIONAL, Commonwealth · 55-75 minutes	How Australian students should think about binding authority, ratio decidendi, obiter dicta and the practical discipline of reading cases through precedent.
7	Reading legislation and delegated legislationCommonwealth, NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, NT, ACT · 50-70 minutes	How to read Acts, regulations and other delegated legislation with closer attention to structure, authority, commencement and current status.
8	Statutory interpretation in AustraliaCommonwealth, AU-NATIONAL · 55-75 minutes	An introductory guide to purposive interpretation, statutory text, context and the careful use of extrinsic materials in Australian law.
9	Introductory legal citationAU-NATIONAL · 35-50 minutes	An introductory explanation of why Australian legal citation matters, how case and legislation references work, and where students should seek detailed AGLC guidance.
10	Authority treatment and citation practiceAU-NATIONAL, Commonwealth · 60-75 minutes	A research-method article on noting up cases, checking subsequent treatment, using authorised and unauthorised sources responsibly, and building pinpoint citations.
11	Legal research with authoritative sourcesAU-NATIONAL, Commonwealth, NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, NT, ACT · 45-60 minutes	A practical approach to Australian legal research that prioritises authoritative legislation, official court materials and disciplined use of research databases.
12	Ratio, obiter and material factsAU-NATIONAL, Commonwealth · 60-75 minutes	A practical guide to identifying the binding part of a case, separating ratio from obiter, and using material facts to reason by analogy.
13	Constitutional foundations and federalismCommonwealth, AU-NATIONAL · 55-75 minutes	An introductory account of the constitutional structure of the Commonwealth, the states, and the federal relationships that shape Australian public law.
14	Legal reasoning and problem solvingAU-NATIONAL, Commonwealth · 45-60 minutes	An introductory guide to structured legal reasoning, including how students connect facts, authority and argument without giving personal legal advice.