Studying online
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
This unit introduces students to Roman private law, which has, for centuries, provided the conceptual foundation for legal science and legal problem-solving in the Western tradition. The unit is grounded in the Institutes of Gaius (second century CE) and the Institutes of Justinian (sixth century CE); the primary materials are studied in translation: no Latin is required.
While also noticing key concepts from the law of persons and from the law of actions, the unit engages with substantive Roman law in four principal areas: (1) sources; (2) property; (3) contracts; and (4) delicts. An additional theme is the Institutional taxonomy of private law, a reference point for the organisation of all subsequent systems, civilian and common law.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
Availability Location Mode Not available in 2025 Online Online timetabled - Outcomes
Students are able to (1) demonstrate an understanding of the sources of Roman private law and of its evolution in response to constitutional, political and social change; (2) analyse fact patterns and apply principles, rules and sources of the Roman law of property, contracts and delicts; (3) demonstrate an understanding of legal rules and institutions, and their historical development; (4) demonstrate an understanding of a legal system in its entirety, including the relationship between the whole and the parts of that system; and (5) evaluate the comparative methods of common law and civil law reasoning.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) participation; (2) assignment; and (3) take-home test. Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Dr Benjamin Spagnolo
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- Enrolment in ) )
Approved quota: 60—first come first serve - Contact hours
- This unit will run as a mixture of online and in person classes.
- Textbook:
-
PJ du Plessis, Borkowski’s Textbook on Roman Law (6th edn, Oxford University Press 2020)
- Texts:
-
Gaius, Gai Institutiones or Institutes of Roman Law by Gaius (E Poste tr, 4th edn, Clarendon Press 1904), available at: https://droitromain.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/Anglica/Gaius_Poste.html
Justinian, The Institutes of Justinian (JB Moyle tr, 5th edn, Clarendon Press 1913), available at: https://droitromain.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/Anglica/iust_institut_Moyle.html
- Recommended
Reference Books: -
JAC Thomas, Textbook of Roman Law (North-Holland 1976 or reprint edn, Philip McDonald 2013)
WW Buckland, A Text-Book of Roman Law from Augustus to Justinian (PG Stein ed, 3rd edn, Cambridge University Press 1963)
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.