What is “law in society”?

Doctrinal vs socio-legal approaches

Legal Theory and Society

What is a legal theory?

Why theories matter for understanding law

Using theory as a lens to analyse law

The role of the state in regulating behaviour

Authority, legitimacy, and social control

Limits on state power

Utilitarianism (Bentham and Mill)

Formal vs substantive equality

Intersectionality as a socio-legal tool

Gender, race, class, disability and law

Privacy, Autonomy and Surveillance

Privacy as a social and legal concept

Individual autonomy vs collective interests

Moral Panics and Public Opinion

Access to Justice

Law, Society and Social Change

Applying theory to contemporary issues

Using news and social debate as evidence

1. Applied Written Assessment

In this assessment, you will explore how legal and social theories help us understand the relationship between law and society.

You will:

Choose one contemporary legal issue discussed on the module (for example privacy, online safety, equality, or the role of the state)
Identify one or two theories studied on the module (such as utilitarianism, intersectionality, or theories of state power)
Explain the theory clearly
Apply the theory to their chosen issue to show how the law reflects social values and how law shapes, responds to, or controls society.

Prior to the assessment, you will take part in a peer discussion board on Blackboard to share and develop your ideas. You will then complete an individual assessment, making brief reference to how this discussion supported your understanding.

2. Poster Presentation

A visual and oral poster presentation telling the story of how social concern, public opinion, or media attention can influence lawmaking. The poster takes the form of an individual presentation, but the presentation will be delivered to both groups of peers and the module leader. At the end of the 5-minute presentation, you will respond to 3 minutes of questions from the audience, including student peers.

The learning strategy for this module is based around students completing activities towards achieving the learning outcomes. These will be in the form of direct contact with a tutor directed, guided and self-study, together with preparation for the assessments.  Students are encouraged to complete reading on a weekly basis, spend time preparing for workshops, and consolidation of learning.

The remaining non-contact hours will be spent on preparation for assessments, including undertaking formative assessment opportunities, and responding to feedback on their performance in the mock exam and formative oral submission.

This module will adopt a structured building-block approach whereby learners will be afforded time to develop and hone their skills, as well as reinforce and consolidate the learning that has taken place.

Learners will be provided with opportunities to perform a close reading and analysis of various academic texts – from journal articles, textbook chapters, case reports, academic commentaries, and official reports – to best prepare them for their summative assessment.

Digital skills will be embedded throughout the module through use of Blackboard, Teams and online activities.

1. Apply socio-legal theories to contemporary issues in order to analyse how law interacts with society, public opinion, and social values.

Application and problem solving

2. Demonstrate critical reasoning and collaborative skills by evaluating different perspectives on the relationship between law and society.

Critical reasoning and collaboration

3. Communicate legal and socio-legal ideas effectively using appropriate formats for an academic audience.

Communication

Legal databases with access to statutes and case law

Digital technologies available through the university

Peter Goodrich and Shaun McVeigh, Law, Ethics, and the office of the Jurist (1st edn, Routledge 2025)

Raymond Wacks, Understanding Jurisprudence (6th edn, OUP 2020)*

* Although over 5 years old, this text is appropriate its author is a leading legal theorist and its clear, comprehensive, and widely respected analysis of core jurisprudential concepts and debates. A more recent edition is not available but it remains authoritative and relevant.

This module introduces you to the relationship between law and society, exploring how legal rules reflect social values, power, and public opinion. You will examine key legal theories and sociological ideas to understand how law operates in everyday life, and how social concerns, moral panics, and public attitudes influence legal change.

The module encourages critical thinking on a range of issues such as equality, privacy, access to justice, and the role of the state, using contemporary examples to apply theory in practice. Through written and visual assessments, you will develop transferable skills in analysis, communication, and problem-solving, supporting your future study and employability across a range of careers.