This module is designed to provide students with an introduction to Sources of Law, including the Legislative Process and Influences on Parliament, Delegated Legislation, Statutory Interpretation, Judicial Precedent and European Law. Students will also cover areas of dispute-solving including the civil and criminal courts and alternative forms of dispute resolution, lay participation in delivering criminal justice, the judiciary and financing advice and representation.

The learning strategy for this module is based around students committing a total of 300 hours of activities, split between 72 hours of direct contact with a tutor and 228 hours of directed and independent study, together with preparation for and completion of assessment tasks.

WHOLE GROUP SESSIONS
In these sessions, students are introduced to the general concepts underlying the subject, and provided with an outline of the relevant legal principles and cases. Teaching materials, including the use of the VLE platform, supplement the sessions. These sessions guide students towards consolidating their knowledge and understanding

SMALLER GROUP SESSIONS
These are preceded by a period of independent learning. The module materials contain indicative reading for each session, together with subjects for discussion and case studies. The purpose of the smaller group sessions is to help students assess their understanding of a topic, to develop analytical skills, and to learn how to apply legal principles to factual situations. For all smaller group sessions, there are questions to help guide reading and preparation. The sessions encourage active participation and interaction among students and between students and tutors. A variety of teaching methods is adopted in order to encourage the development of essential skills such as intellectual rigour, communication, problem solving, research, teamwork, negotiation, presentation, referencing, judgement and the appropriate use of IT

DIRECTED AND INDEPENDENT STUDY (228 hours)
Independent study includes research and preparation for the work to be undertaken in the smaller group sessions and consolidation of understanding afterwards. Directed study opportunities, such as online tests, are provided to enable students to revise key topics at important stages in the module. Directed and independent study aims to develop a deeper understanding of issues within the area of crime and deviancy. Students are provided with guidance in their module materials, including via Blackboard. Completion of the tasks encourages students to assess their progress, identify strengths and weaknesses and manage their time more effectively.
Pre-seen guidance to support research for the assessment is provided.

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT:

All of the Learning Outcomes will be assessed by :

Teaching Block 1:
- Essay of 1500 words maximum (50% of total mark)
Assessing learning outcomes 2 + 3

Teaching Block 2:
- 10 minute Oral Assessment (50% of total mark)
Assessing learning outcomes 1, 2, + 3

To pass the module, students must obtain an average mark of at least 40% .


Additional Assessment Details:

Working towards the assessment tasks will be a key element of the learning, and tutors will be available to guide students through the process. Face to face contact sessions focussed on assessment activities will be scheduled into the timetable.

Module Study Guide

Access to appropriate primary and secondary legal resources

Computing facilities to access material available via Blackboard, and the Web.

Specialist software / databases (Lexis-Nexis, Westlaw)

1. RECALL, SELECT, DEPLOY AND DEVELOP KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF ENGLISH LAW ACCURATELY WITH EXAMPLES AND CASE CITATION.
LEARNING

2. DEMONSTRATE A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF FUNDAMENTAL LEGAL PRINCIPLES AND REASONING KEY TO SOURCES OF LAW AND DISPUTE-SOLVING.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

3. PRESENT ARGUMENTS IN A LOGICAL AND COHERENT WAY AND COMMUNICATE RELEVANT MATERIAL IN A CLEAR AND EFFECTIVE MANNER.
COMMUNICATION

Gillespie A, & Weare S. The English Legal System (7th edition, Oxford, 2019 )
Wilson S, Rutherford H, Storey T, & Wortley N. English Legal System. (3rd edition, Oxford, 2018)

Designed to give you an introduction to the function of the law, the legal principles that underpin the development of the law and the legal system as we see it today. You explore the court hierarchy, role of the judiciary and jury, and the history of common law. In semester two the module examines the legal profession and routes into the profession. Each week a different area of Law is studied to provide an insight into various areas including: Family, Social Welfare, Medical, Employment and Human Rights.