Module Identifier LA15710  
Module Title FOUNDATIONS OF LAW  
Academic Year 2002/2003  
Co-ordinator Mr Neil Kibble  
Semester Semester 1  
Other staff Mrs Lillian Stevenson  
Mutually Exclusive LA11010 , LA30110  
Course delivery Lecture   20 Hours  
  Seminars / Tutorials   4 Hours  
Assessment Semester Exam   1.5 Hours   50%  
  Semester Assessment   Essay: Two essays required in week 5 & 9   50%  
Professional Exemptions Not Required for Professional Purposes  

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module students should have developed the following:

An understanding of key legal concepts

An appreciation of the role of law in society

A grounding in criminal law and contract

Familiarity with legal method and argument

Analytical, problem-solving, argumentation and critical skills

Linguistic and interpretive skills

Brief description

This module cannot be taken by Law Students.

The Foundations of Law module aims to provide a foundation in legal studies to students who have an interest in studying the law but who are not studying towards a Law Degree.

The module will involve a consideration of a number of important questions concerning the nature and role of law: What are the sources of law and what techniques are available to assist in comprehending and evaluating them? What questions should law students ask of these sources? What are the connections between law and justice, law and politics and law and morality? What is the relationship between the Courts and Parliament, between case law and legislation? What is the role of the judge? Do judges create or merely apply the law, and what is involved in 'applying the law' What, if anything, is distinctive about legal argument and legal analysis?

Students will be required to read a variety of materials during the module: law reports, statutory provisions, academic articles, and other commentaries. The emphasis will be on engaging in critical analysis and evaluation and on developing those abilities in the students.

The Foundations of Law module also introduces students to the skills that students must master if they are to be successful in the study of law ? reading cases and problem-solving. The module achieves this aim by providing opportunities for students to develop and refine these skills.

The module also offers some exploration into both criminal law and the law of contract. Students will be introduced to the fundamental concepts in both subjects and will be expected to read and understand original cases, and to reflect upon leading debates and issues.

During the module the kind of inquiry we engage in ranges from the very close reading of texts with a focus on the precise meaning of individual words and phrases, to a more policy oriented and theoretical consideration of ideas about law and justice.

Aims

To introduce non-law students to the study of law, in particular to the sources underpinning the law, to legal reasoning and argumentation and to core legal concepts.

Content

Overview of Legal System
Sources of Law
The Nature of Judicial decisionmaking
Reading Cases & Legislation
Law, Morality & Justice

Criminal Law - core concepts
Criminal Law & Punishment
Criminal Law Problem-Solving - Burglary

Human Rights & the Law
Core concepts in Contract Law

Reading Lists

Books
Harris. (1997) An Introduction to Law. 5th. Butterworths
J Holland & J Webb. (1999) Learning Legal Rules. 4th.