Evidence & Proof tutoring
Master admissibility under the Evidence Act.
Evidence rewards method. Students who do well run each piece of evidence through the Uniform Evidence Act in a set order, so admissibility becomes a process rather than a guess. That method is the core of the subject, and it can be learned.
The challenge
Where students get stuck
Each piece of evidence must clear a sequence, and marks are usually lost when a step is skipped under time pressure. Relevance comes first, then the exclusionary rules of hearsay, opinion, tendency and coincidence, and credibility, and then the discretions in sections 135, 137 and 138. Hearsay accounts for the most lost marks, because its exceptions are often applied loosely. The section 137 balance of probative value against unfair prejudice is a balancing exercise that many students assert rather than structure.
How I help
I teach a clear admissibility method and how to apply it. For each item of evidence we state the rule and its section, apply it to that evidence, and reach a conclusion before moving on. We spend additional time on the topics that most affect grades, including hearsay, tendency and coincidence, and the section 137 discretion, and work through past problems until the method is familiar. The aim is answers that are precise, anchored to the Act, and clear for an examiner to follow.
The method
One method, every problem
Four steps run every argument: name the issue, state the rule, apply it to the facts, conclude. Almost every legal rule takes one of six shapes. Any of these six shapes may carry a twist. Learn the six shapes and the twist →
Common questions
Evidence & Proof tutoring FAQ
Which Evidence Act do you teach?
The uniform Evidence Act in Victoria and the Commonwealth. The Evidence Act 2008 and 1995. Tell me if your jurisdiction differs.
Hearsay is my weak point. Can we focus on it?
Yes. Hearsay and its exceptions are the single most common thing students bring me.
Can you help me structure admissibility answers?
Yes. A repeatable section by section method is exactly what we drill.
Related subjects: Criminal Law & Procedure, Disputes, Torts. See all subjects, or read the publication on practice hypotheticals.
Get on top of Evidence.
Guides and worked problems for this subject are in development and will be announced in the Publication as they land. One-on-one tutoring is available now.