TEACHING DOCTRINE IN CONTEXT: USING A SITUATED CASE BRIEF TO BRIDGE THE ACADEMIC–VOCATIONAL DIVIDE IN A CROWDED LAW CURRICULUM

The crowded law curriculum presents an enduring challenge for legal educators, particularly in doctrinally dense subjects which must adhere to accreditation requirements. This article examines how a situated, semester‑long case brief can integrate doctrinal learning, skills development, and professional identity formation without adding to curriculum load. Focusing on the teaching of Evidence and Criminal Procedure in an Australian law school, the article analyses the design and implementation of a fictional, practitioner‑authored case brief that operates as a unifying narrative across the semester. Drawing on theories of experiential learning, the flipped classroom, and reflective practice, the case brief embeds doctrinal content within authentic, practice‑based materials. Empirical data from a mixed‑methods student survey suggest that the approach enhanced conceptual understanding, forensic reasoning, confidence, and perceptions of authenticity, while also exposing tensions between experiential learning and exam‑centred assessment. While not presented as a universal solution, the case brief offers a high‑efficiency pedagogical response to curriculum crowding by transforming compliance‑driven requirements into coherent, situated learning experiences.