This module is designed to introduce students to the foundations of legal knowledge. Through the delivery of taster sessions, students will gain awareness of the different areas of the law, recognise the relationship between these areas and will be able to identify and discuss key legal issues within each field, allowing for development of key skills within a range of contemporary and thought-provoking issues.

There is no prescribed content for this module.

Indicative content may include:

Introduction to Contract Law
Introduction to the English Legal System
Introduction to Tort Law
Introduction to Criminal Law

1.5 hour online examination consisting of short answer and MCT questions – assesses LOs 1 - 4

The learning strategy for this module is based around students committing a total of 200 hours of activities, split between 39 hours of direct contact with a tutor and 161 hours of directed and independent study, together with preparation for and completion of assessment tasks. Group discussions, tutorials and formative feedback will give students the opportunity to reflect upon progress and discuss strategies for developing skills and ideas

WHOLE GROUP SESSIONS
In these sessions, students are introduced to the general concepts underlying the subject and are provided with an introduction to each individual topic. 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. Class work will include individual, pair and group work and will involve producing, presenting and discussing oral and written work. The purpose of the smaller group sessions is to help students assess their understanding of a topic, to develop critical thinking and analytic skills, and to learn how to apply these skills to different situations. 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, research, teamwork, negotiation, presentation, referencing, judgement and the appropriate use of IT.

DIRECTED AND INDEPENDENT STUDY (161 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, 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 concerned with the foundations of legal knowledge. Module information including module booklet, timetable, class notes, practice activities, feedback, links to external resources, assessment details and additional resources to support study will be on the VLE. Students may also be expected to post comments and have on-line discussions through the VLE.

1. Identify key areas of law within the English Legal System and recognise the relationships between them

Knowledge and Understanding

2. Examine how the law operates within moral, social, national and global contexts

Analysis

3. Recognise the complexity of legal issues and make informed judgements on the merits of particular arguments

Enquiry

4. Reflect on and apply your knowledge to a range of scenarios

Application
Reflection

Module Handbook
Access to appropriate primary and secondary legal resources via the library databases, such as: Westlaw; Lexis-Nexis; Practical Law Online; Law Trove; E-books and Journals

Computing facilities to access material available via Blackboard and the web.

A range of OUP texts, available via Law Trove, relating to legal institutions, and the 'core' subject areas of legal learning.

For example: the OUP Directions Series