This module is designed for students who have not had any previous knowledge of UK law. Students will be introduced to the general principles of the legal system and develop an understanding of how the law operates in practice. This module will provide them with knowledge and skills at foundation level upon which to build their undergraduate programme. The topics in this module complement the topics taught in the Legal Theory module and the Human Rights module.
The Autumn Term introduces the basic concepts of law, the hierarchy of the courts and introduces students to the personnel involved in the legal system. The Spring Term builds upon this knowledge and starts by exploring the alternatives to court before looking at civil law and criminal law in depth. The Summer term is slanted toward revision and reinforcing students' learning skills.
Module Aims
- To develop students’ knowledge of the scope and nature of English law, and enable them to understand and define the relevant legal concepts within the syllabus;
- To encourage discussion within the class regarding legal issues by providing practical scenarios in order to enable the students to identify the liabilities within the topic;
- To promote students’ ability to formulate a legal argument in a given situation;
- To equip students to critically analyse case law and identify judicial interpretation of statutes;
- To foster good practice that enables students to construct and defend legal arguments.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module a student will be expected to be able to:
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Gain knowledge of law and be able to define the relevant legal concepts within the syllabus;
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Discuss legal issues raised in practical scenarios and identify the liabilities within each topic;
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Demonstrate their ability to apply the law in a given situation;
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Analyse and critique case law and utilise their ability to identify judicial interpretation of statute law within cases;
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Construct legal arguments and defend the arguments in a discussion.
Syllabus
Autumn Term:
Legal research and writing
Legal personnel
Legal services
Constitutional law
Statute law – acts of parliament
Judicial review
Classification of law
Courts of law
Concepts of law
Statute law
Spring Term :
Alternatives to the Courts
Consequences of wrongdoing
Case Law
Legal reform
Criminal law I
Criminal law II
Civil law I
Civil law II
Summer Term
Revision classes