LAW20009 Week 1 - Introduction & Relevance

LAW20009 Week 1 - Introduction & Relevance

This Week’s Focus

Understanding the foundational principles of evidence law, the meaning of “evidence” vs “proof”, and the critical relevance test under s55.

📚 Study Materials

Core Content

• Introduction & Relevance Guide - Comprehensive analysis of s55 and foundational concepts
• Week 1 Collaboration Notes - Class discussions and practical examples

🎯 Learning Objectives

By the end of this week, you should understand:

• The distinction between “evidence” and “proof”
• Section 55 relevance test - “could rationally affect probability”
• Facts in issue and their categorization
• The low threshold for relevance vs admissibility

📝 Quick Reference

Subject	Week	Key Topics
LAW20009	1	s55 relevance, Facts in issue, Evidence vs proof

🔍 Key Legal Principles

Section 55 Test

Evidence is relevant if, if accepted, it could rationally affect the probability of a fact in issue.

Remember

Relevance is necessary but not sufficient for admissibility. Weak evidence ≠ irrelevant evidence.

🔗 Related Materials

• Next Week: Week 2 Materials
• Advanced Topic: Week 7 - Hearsay Evidence
• Course Materials: All Evidence Law (LAW20009) content

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Study Strategy

Master s55 first - it’s the gateway to all evidence law. Every piece of evidence must pass the relevance test before considering any exclusionary rules.