Finding primary and secondary materials using electronic and hard copy resources;
statutory interpretation;
judicial precedent;
referencing.

The delivery of the module will be via weekly lectures and weekly workshops. Together these will compose 39 hours of direct contact with the tutor. Students will also be expected to engage in 161 hours of guided independent study.

Lectures will be designed to provide a focus and context for students. While they will be predominantly tutor led, they will also be in part interactive, with topics being explored by means of questions and answers. Attendance at lectures is compulsory and students will be expected to undertake any specified preparation beforehand. Where appropriate, a handout will be distributed at the start of the lecture will guide the student through the issues discussed in the lecture.

The workshops will enable students to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the topics introduced in the lectures. As with the lectures, attendance is compulsory and preparation beforehand essential. Preparation will take the form of directed reading and independent research thus allowing the student the ability to take increasing responsibility and ownership of their own learning. Students will be expected to communicate complex legal issues effectively. In this way, students will further develop their inter-personal skills, legal research skills, legal reasoning skills, problem solving and critical analysis skills.

The VLE will specify or contain the materials to be read prior to attending classes.

Finch E and Fafinski S, Legal Skills (9th edn, OUP 2023)

Gillespie A and Weare S, The English Legal System (9th edn, OUP 2023)

Holland J and Webb J, Learning Legal Rules: A Students' Guide to Legal Method and Reasoning (11th edn, OUP 2022)

Databases
Students will have access to Lexis and Westlaw

Journals
The Library also has access to a variety of relevant journal articles.

1. Locate and select relevant primary and secondary materials by effectively employing print and digital resources.

Enquiry

2. Identify, explain, interpret and apply principles of statutory interpretation and the operation of the doctrine of judicial precedent.

Knowledge and Understanding

Application; Analysis

3. Communicate effectively employing a style appropriate for legal academic writing including the accurate use of the OSCOLA referencing conventions.

Communication

4. Reflect on the development of academic knowledge and skills through the learning and assessment process.

Reflection

The assessment will demonstrate research skills in locating a reported case and a relevant journal article which critically discusses the case. Students will produce an appropriately referenced summary and analysis of the journal article discussing the judicial reasoning within the case (LOs 1, 2, and 3). In the last 500 words of the assessment, a reflective model will be used to reflect on the legal and academic skills that have been developed during the first semester at Level 4.

The Legal Skills modules is designed to equip you with the core skills necessary to be a successful law student and legal professional. You will learn how to find, interpret and use the law – such as statute and case law – as well as other relevant material such as journal articles.