Master Criminal Law with Confidence: Your Ultimate Victorian Study Companion
 
Conquer criminal law assessments with precision using A Guide to Answering Assessment Questions on Criminal Law (VIC) — your comprehensive toolkit for understanding and applying the law as it operates in Victoria.
 
Why This Guide Is Essential for Law Students:
 
• Issue Spotting Made Easy
Kick-start your exam or assignment preparation with clear checklists that train you to spot key criminal offences and defences. From assault to complicity, you'll learn how to break down scenarios with confidence.
 
• Concise Explanations of Key Doctrines
Understand foundational concepts like mens rea, actus reus, burden of proof, and the rules of criminal responsibility. Each concept is explained with clarity and includes relevant statutory references and case authorities.
 
• Step-by-Step Breakdown of Offences
Navigate the complexities of homicide, assault, sexual offences, drug offences, and dishonesty offences with ease. For each offence, you'll find:
The relevant statutory provisions
Clear distinctions between similar offences (e.g., burglary vs aggravated burglary)
Summaries of key High Court and appellate cases
Actus reus and mens rea requirements
Causation principles
Penalties and sentencing considerations
 
• Comprehensive Coverage of Defences
From self-defence and duress to mental impairment and automatism, this guide outlines both complete and partial defences, including the evidential burdens and statutory requirements relevant to each.
 
• Problem Question Support
Apply your knowledge using included hypothetical problems with complex fact patterns. These practice scenarios are designed to train you in applying legal principles to real-life facts in an assessment context.
 
• Authoritative and Current
Fully updated to reflect current Victorian legislation including the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic), Criminal Procedure Act 2009 (Vic), and Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic). Statutory provisions are paired with High Court authority wherever possible to ensure legal accuracy.
 
Included in this guide are structured templates to answer problem questions on:
Homicide: murder and manslaugher
Assault and aggravated offences 
Drug offences: possession, plant offences, supply, trafficking
Sexual offences
Dishonesty offences: theft, burglary, robbery, home invasion and aggravated offences
Complicity
Defences: self-defence, duress, emergency, mental impairment
 
The study guide is an essential companion for students studying criminal law in Victoria, including: 
University of Melbourne – LAWS50034 Criminal Law and Procedure
Monash University – LAW1114 Criminal Law 1
Deakin University – MLP114 Criminal Law
La Trobe University – LCR3ETA Criminal Law, Ethics and Accountability
RMIT University – LAW2596 Principles of Criminal Law and Procedure
Swinburne University of Technology – LAW10015 Criminal Law and Procedure
Australian Catholic University – LAWS107 Criminal Law and Procedure
Victoria University – BLB2129 Criminal Law
 
Unlike traditional textbooks and lecture notes, which often focus on theory, unnecessary case facts and overturned law, this Study Guide is uniquely designed to show students how to identify offences and defence, structure answers clearly, summarise the current law concisely, and apply it persuasively. It is an essential tool for students aiming to achieve high marks in criminal law assessments. Immediately download this Word Document today and see your grades improve!