This course will build on the introduction to Australian government and legal systems presented in Becoming a Lawyer in a Globalised World. It will introduce you to the basic principles of public law and the role of government as a law maker. The course will include an in-depth analysis of statutory interpretation in the Australian context, beginning with the fundamental constitutional principle of parliamentary sovereignty and extending to the rules, principles and assumptions of statutory interpretation. You will gain an appreciation of the historical development of statutory interpretation and become familiar with the extrinsic materials that may be used to aid interpretation, including human rights statutes. You will also be introduced to the process and principles of legislative drafting. You will also have an opportunity to demonstrate an ability to apply the modern approach to statutory interpretation.