This module introduces students to the foundational concepts, sources of law, institutions and personnel of the legal system in England and Wales. It will encourage students to begin to engage with questions about the working of the system in contemporary society.

Key Themes include:

What is Law?
Classifying legal systems
Impact of European empires on legal systems around the world
Sources of Law
The legislative process
Court system in England and Wales
Judiciary
Magistrates
Judicial independence
Juries
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Access to Justice

The assessment in this module is a coursework essay, examining all Learning Outcomes 1-3. The assessment will provide students with the first opportunity to write an essay as part of the degree programme and the learning outcomes provide clear foundational guidance regarding expectations of academic legal writing.

Large group teaching on this module will take the form of a lecture each week, where the module tutor will introduce students to the key concepts, principles, institutions and personnel of the English Legal system. Students will have access to lecture materials, set readings and recommended resources prior to the lecture.

Small group teaching on this module will take the form of a workshop each week. These are preceded by a period of independent learning which builds upon the material encountered in the lecture session. 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, and particularly to facilitate development of analytical and evaluative skills, by examining topics through the lens of a contemporary debate on the subject area.

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 activities are employed in order also to encourage the development of essential skills for the assessment on the module, such as research, referencing and construction of coherent written arguments.

1. Identify, define and explain foundational concepts, sources of law, institutions and personnel of the legal system in England and Wales

Knowledge and understanding

2. Identify and comment upon the existence of key debates in the operation and/or structure of English Legal System,

Learning

3. Present a clear written argument, supported by evidence drawn from appropriate sources and referenced following the conventions of the student's chosen degree discipline (OSCOLA for LLB students, Harvard for all other students).

Enquiry
Communication

Other text books available on Law Trove:

Wilson S and others, English Legal System (4th edn, Oxford University Press 2020)

Primary law sources (law reports and statutes) and secondary sources (journal articles and legal practitioner texts) are available through the following legal databases:

WestLaw
LexisNexis

Websites:

Acas, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service https://www.acas.org.uk/
Bar Council https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/
The Crown Prosecution Service https://www.cps.gov.uk/
HM Courts and Tribunals Service https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-courts-and-tribunals-service
The Law Society https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/
The Magistrates’ Association https://www.magistrates-association.org.uk/
Ministry of Justice https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Finch E and Fafinski S, Legal Skills. (7th edn, Oxford University Press 2019)
Gillespie A and Weare S, The English Legal System. (7th edn, Oxford University Press 2019)
Partington M, Introduction to the English Legal System (14th edn, Oxford University Press 2019)

All reference texts are available on the Law Trove digital textbook service.