Module Information

Module Identifier
LC31620
Module Title
Criminal Law and Practice
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2
Pre-Requisite
Pre-Requisite
Reading List
Other Staff

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Problem-solving written answers  25%
Semester Exam 2 Hours   Online Examination  In person online examination in computer room  75%
Supplementary Assessment Problem-solving written answers  25%
Supplementary Exam 2 Hours   Online Examination  In person online examination in computer room  75%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. ​Apply the core principles of criminal liability to analyse the merits of the prosecution case or defence

2. ​Apply the procedure and processes involved in advising a client at the police station and in criminal litigation in order to evaluate pre- trial considerations and steps

3. ​Apply the procedure and processes involved in criminal litigation to follow the appropriate procedure within the Criminal Procedure Rules and other relevant legislation for prosecuting or defending a criminal case

4. ​Apply the core principles of criminal liability and the procedure and processes involved in criminal litigation to determine how best to prosecute or defend the claim to meet the client’s objectives and the interests of justice

5. Apply the core principles of criminal liability and the procedure and processes involved in criminal litigation to determine what evidence is needed to prosecute or defend a claim and take steps to admit or exclude that evidence

6. Apply the core principles of criminal liability and the procedure and processes involved in criminal litigation to prepare a case for trial and take forward post trial steps

Brief description

This module covers the core legal principles and practical rules associated with Criminal Law and Practice.

Students are expected to draw on and apply knowledge of the following areas of law and practice:

  • the core legal principles of criminal liability relating to a range of criminal offences
  • the procedure and processes involved in advising clients, including vulnerable clients, at the Police Station
  • the procedure and processes involved in prosecuting and defending a case before the Magistrates’, Crown and Youth courts

Content

1. ​​The core principles of criminal liability including specified criminal offences, specific and general defences and participation.

2. The law, procedure and processes involved in advising a client at the police station.

3. The law, procedure and processes involved in pre-trial considerations and steps.

4. The law, procedure and processes involved in criminal litigation to advise a client to meet the client's objectives and to prosecute in the interests of justice.

5. The law, procedure and processes involved in Magistrates' Court and Crown Court trials, sentencing and post-trial steps.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Adaptability and resilience Students will be presented with new and novel scenarios regularly in order to develop their ability to adapt the application of their legal knowledge. Feedback and feedforward sessions reflecting on performance in set tasks.
Co-ordinating with others Many of the classroom exercises will require teamwork.
Critical and analytical thinking Central to problem-solving and decision making in the context of legal analysis.
Digital capability Computer-based assessment. Legal research via electronic databases.
Problem solving Scenarios and case studies central to module delivery with students developing solutions.
Professional communication Central to all interactions on this module (core to the professional and ethical elements of the competency requirements)
Real world sense Practical and client-facing aspects of the module.
Reflection Feedback and feedforward sessions reflecting on performance in set tasks.
Subject Specific Skills Knowledge of Criminal Law and Practice.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6