In this module we consider the way Administrative Law provides a degree of control or ‘regulation’ of governmental power, assisted by citizens’ ability to appeal to administrative tribunals, initiate judicial review claims in the Administrative Court (and some tribunals), and utilise other Administrative Justice mechanisms. These include inquiries and complaints of maladministration made within the limitations of the ombudsman system. Consideration is also given to remedies in the tribunals and the courts, ‘internal’ review, and local authority complaints schemes. Substantive topics include police powers, public order, and human rights of the kind that feature in Administrative Court and Administrative Tribunals’ proceedings.

MODULE LEARNING STRATEGY - this is based around students committing to a total of 150 hours of activities towards achieving the learning outcomes. These are split between 36 hours of direct contact with a tutor and 114 hours of directed, guided and self-study, together with preparation for and completion of assessment tasks. A blend of teaching methods will be used, facilitating different styles of learning. These will also provide a platform for the development of essential skills including intellectual skills, communication, problem-solving, research, teamwork, negotiation, presentation, and the effective use of IT. Activities will be supported by guided learning and independent learning/enquiry.

WHOLE GROUP/LECTURE SESSIONS – these will be used to introduce new topics in the programme and to provide opportunities for shared learning experiences for all cohort participants, assisted by buzz sessions, and problem and practice-based tasks and activities. New topics and themes introduced in these sessions will be developed further in small-group/workshop sessions

SMALL GROUP SESSIONS/WORKSHOPS – these comprise learning activities organised around Administrative Justice and Human Rights topics and themes which will have been introduced in the whole-group/lecture sessions. Participants undertake preparatory directed study and research, assisted by on-line systems like Lexis Library, Practical Law, and Westlaw. Workshops include exercises in which participants engage in ‘client’ and adviser role plays, discuss and draft pre-review formal complaints based on scenarios and case studies, and engage in other problem-based exercises. An emphasis is on student interaction, team-working, and demonstration of knowledge, and the application of knowledge. Post-workshop reflective work is a further feature (with opportunities to undertake follow-up study or collaborative learning activities).
Participants are expected to prepare for workshops effectively, and to maintain a journal recording their work, including their preparation for, and contribution to, the workshops


GUIDED LEARNING & INDEPENDENT STUDY/ENQUIRY - guided learning work will comprise a mix of activities, some of which will require group work, completion of pre-sessional tasks, and use of on-line systems and resources. Learning will be facilitated by use of the VLE platform and interactions between students and tutors. Besides guided learning tasks, other study will take the form of pre-sessional enquiry linked to specific tasks, post-sessional reflective work, and preparatory work linked to assessment tasks. Independent, self-managed enquiry is an important feature of the programme, including enquiry in pursuit of particular interests. It is expected that around 50 hours will be devoted to the completion of assessment tasks. Students are expected to be familiar with current issues and debates on administrative justice and human rights issues. Debate on these is assisted by the facility of student contributions to the ‘Topical Issues & New Developments’ section of the module’s Blackboard site


Total Learning - 150 Hours

End of Semester 1 = 3000 word assignment assessing Learning Outcomes 1,2,3 and 4

To pass this module, students must obtain an overall mark of at least 40%.


Formative Assessment. Students will be required to complete two activities during the module’s workshop programme (a presentation based on a contribution to the module’s ‘Topical Issues & New Developments’ section of the module’s Blackboard site, and a research task). These will be the subject of formative feedback.

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.

Access to Law Library facilities, including hard copy materials: legislation, cases, monographs, relevant journals (Public Law, Modern Law Review, etc) and PC network.

Module study guide and materials on the module’s Blackboard site.

Computing facilities will be needed to access material available on the web and specialist on-line databases including On-line systems including Lexis Library, PLC Practical Law, Westlaw.

Links to articles, press reports, etc on topical issues and new developments will be accessible on the module’s ‘Topical Issues & New Developments’ site to which students are also encouraged to contribute.

T. Endiscott Administrative Law (3rd ed) Oxford University Press, 2015

B. Thompson and M. Gordon Cases and Materials on Constitutional and Administrative Law, Oxford University Press, 2014

Sir M. Burton (ed) Civil Appeals (2nd ed) Sweet & Maxwell, 2014 (including chapters by A. White, K. Puttick et al).

Other publications, journals, on-line sources, etc will be advised in the Study Guide, and a selection of materials will also be accessible on the module’s Blackboard site.

1. DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW SYSTEM AND THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH THE SYSTEM , AND CITIZENS’ RIGHTS AND DUTIES, OPERATE
Knowledge and Understanding
Learning

2. APPLY KNOWLEDGE OF KEY PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS IN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW AND JUSTICE, INCLUDING ‘LEGALITY’ AND ‘RATIONALITY’ PRINCIPLES, AND CONVENTION RIGHTS
Application
Knowledge and Understanding
Analysis

3. DEMONSTRATE ABILITY TO CONDUCT EFFECTIVE RESEARCH, AND UTILISE THE RESULTS OF THAT RESEARCH, FOR EXAMPLE WHEN COMPLETING WORKSHOP TASKS
Enquiry
Communication
Problem-solving
Reflection

4. EVALUATE AND COMMENT ON PUBLISHED TEXTS, ARTICLES, AND SCHOLARSHIP, CRITICALLY ASSESS ARGUMENTS AND CONCEPTS, AND MAKE INFORMED JUDGMENTS ON CURRENT ISSUES & DEBATES
Analysis
Communication
Enquiry