Constitutional Law is one of the most intellectually demanding units in the law degree, but also one of the most rewarding. It provides the foundation for understanding Australia’s legal and political system , covering doctrines such as federalism, separation of powers, responsible government, and the doctrine of Commonwealth-state immunity. What makes the unit challenging is its heavy reliance on statutory authorities and the need to engage with complex principles and tests to ascertain the validity of the act. Students often find it difficult to move from simply memorising cases to applying principles critically in problem-solving contexts. My own experience with the unit highlighted the importance of structured thinking. Using IRAC, mapping out doctrinal themes, and connecting different areas — such as the relationship between Commonwealth powers and implied freedoms — made the material more coherent. Rather than treating cases as isolated, I learned to see them as part of an ongoing dialogue about the balance of power and constitutional limits. As a future tutor, I see my role as helping students manage this complexity. The key is to break down dense material into accessible steps, use case law to illustrate broader principles, and provide strategies for tackling problem questions under exam conditions. Constitutional Law rewards persistence and critical thinking, and with the right guidance, students can build both confidence and precision in their legal reasoning.

The content is really interesting and taught in a very straightforward manner. The dissenting judgements are useful and the lecturers explain why they are important and why you should include them in your exam answers. The only downside to this unit was that some of the lecturer slides were extremely hard to follow and were made to suit the lecturer rather than the student. But others were fantastic. The tutes were super relevant. The assessment was pretty good too although there were some controversies around how it was marked. The exam was fair. It builds on first year law concepts (FOL and PLSI).

Incredibly boring unit, poor lecturers and the assignment made me have break down after break down - an essay on the dissenting judges of the longest HC judgement in history due in Week 6. Very, very painful. Exam was nothing like the practice ones they have given. Poor structure. Reading guide not helpful.