Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 30 Hours total |
| Seminars / Tutorials | 6 hours total. 3 x 1 hour per semester. |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Exam | 1.5 Hours Exam at the end of Semester 1 Candidates will be provided with unmarked copies of: ~a case~ in the exam hall. Please do not bring in copies that you have been provided with prior to the exam. | 50% |
| Semester Exam | 1.5 Hours Exam at the end of Semester 2 Candidates will be provided with unmarked copies of: ~a case~ in the exam hall. Please do not bring in copies that you have been provided with prior to the exam. | 50% |
| Supplementary Exam | 1.5 Hours Semester 1 exam - if element failed Candidates will be provided with unmarked copies of: ~a case~ in the exam hall. Please do not bring in copies that you have been provided with prior to the exam. | 50% |
| Supplementary Exam | 1.5 Hours Semester 2 exam - if element failed Candidates will be provided with unmarked copies of: ~a case~ in the exam hall. Please do not bring in copies that you have been provided with prior to the exam. | 50% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Explain and demonstrate an understanding of the structure and development of the English and Welsh Legal system, and those who play a role in it
2. Explain the use and significance of judicial precedent and its relationship with the court system
3. Critically analyse the processes of creating legislation.
4. Analyse, and demonstrate an understanding of the process of judicial statutory interpretation
5. Display a knowledge of alternative forms of dispute resolution and assess their viability and usefulness
6. Show an ability to retrieve legal information by use of both electronic and hard copy research methods in order to demonstrate a basic level of competence in locating and using both primary and secondary sources of law.
7. Interpret, evaluate and critically analyse primary and secondary legal sources and apply these in legal reasoning
8. Demonstrate case noting and problem-solving skills
9. Exhibit the organisation of ideas and arguments in applying the law to factual situations
10. Construct legal arguments and apply legal reasoning in oral and written communication
Brief description
(ii) The module prepares students for their other Law studies at University by introducing them to the range of skills they must master if they are to be successful in those studies. This will include reading legislation and cases; critical analysis; essay writing; case noting and problem solving.
Content
2. The functions of the law and the Court System
3. How precedent works; reading cases and case noting (this includes a practical exercise in the case noting lecture)
4. Legislation; reading legislation and statutory interpretation
5. Problem solving in relation to both common law and legislative offences (each of the problem solving lectures is linked with a practical exercise to be prepared by the students prior to lectures)
6. Critical analysis of cases and commentaries again, practical exercises on how to critically analyse.
7. Legal personnel, including the legal profession; magistrates; judiciary; and the jury
8. Further skills: Essay writing and footnoting; exam preparation; and avoiding unfair practice
9. Tribunals; inquisitorial and adversarial procedures
10. Alternative dispute resolution and negotiation.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | |
| Communication | Oral Communication - Preparation for, and discussion, in adversarial seminars Written Communication is assessed in the examination, applying case law to legal and factual situations |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Pre and post-lecture research and seminar preparation, including preparation of written case notes and critical analyses |
| Information Technology | In lectures; pre and post-lecture research; and for seminar preparation |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Learning throughout the module will be relevant to a career in the legal profession if desired |
| Problem solving | Preparation for and discussion of problem-solving questions in lectures and seminars |
| Research skills | Pre and post-lecture research; seminar preparation |
| Subject Specific Skills | Legal research: use of specifically designed legal databases as a resource for statute and case law. Reading primary sources in the way of cases and legislation Problem solving; critical analysis and case noting (Some elements of this are assessed) |
| Team work | Seminar work: preparation and group discussions especially in adversarial seminars where student groups will argue for and against long-standing legal principles |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6