Legal Foundations
| Module title | Legal Foundations |
|---|---|
| Module code | LAW1022C |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Caroline Keenan (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 12 | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 50 |
|---|
Module description
This module is a dynamic introduction to the law, equipping you with a broad and critical understanding of its role within society. You will start to develop key academic, study and legal skills, using real world examples, practical experience and role- play. You will explore the primary sources of English law and the role of lawyers within the legal system. You will begin your development of the important legal practice skills of advocacy, negotiation, interviewing and advice, within a framework of professional ethics and team work. Your studies will include participation in a mock trial of a business for environmental pollution and a mock employment tribunal. The module will encourage you to recognise the importance of self-reflection in study and professional practice, whatever your degree.
This module is one of the choice of core modules for Flexible Combined Honours students on the Law Pathway and is also available to any first year student on the University of Exeter Cornwall Campuses under modularisation rules (subject to student numbers and timetabling).
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to provide you with a foundation of core legal skills, which you can use and build-on throughout your life. It also aims to help you to develop in confidence both as a reflective self-motivated learner and a member of a team.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. identify, select relevant information from, and analyse a variety of legal sources using appropriate interpretative techniques and demonstrate an understanding of legal reasoning and its application
- 2. demonstrate an understanding of the place of advocacy and negotiation within the practice of law, and a basic understanding of the skills and competencies required to be able to engage successfully in advocacy and negotiation respectively
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. demonstrate understanding of a range of legal concepts, values, principles, institutions and procedures, and the capability to explain the relationships among them
- 4. communicate technical legal information and argument effectively and concisely, orally and in writing, in a manner appropriate to the discipline
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. take responsibility for your own learning (with support), and for the work that you complete with others within a group, ensuring that you meet the goals that you set for yourself and your obligations to the other members of the group
- 6. reflect upon your own skills development, both orally and in writing, and set and achieve skills development goals
Syllabus plan
Please note:
(i) This module syllabus (Legal Foundations LAW1022C) is exclusively available to students on the Cornwall Campuses and differs materially from the Legal Foundations syllabus of the Streatham Campus (LAW1036).
(ii) Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
Term 1 :
This term focusses on the application of contract and employment law to a real life case scenario ending in an employment tribunal. You will interview your client, write a client letter and become part of a legal team which take part in a mock employment tribunal on the case. You will learn from visits to an employment tribunal and from masterclasses by practicing lawyers in constructing and delivering your legal arguments. You start your individual skills meetings with your tutor which continue through both terms. You also start to work as part of your legal team and take part in team building exercises including our beach day.
- What is Law? Who are Lawyers? Why do people turn to law?
- Finding, reading and understanding the law : Looking at legal systems (common and civil jurisdictions), reading and applying Acts of Parliament, case law and other legal sources
- client interviewing
- Running a client file
- Giving advice
- Letter writing to clients
- Advocacy within a tribunal setting
- mediation and negotiation skills
Term 2:
This term examines the application of the law of negligence to a company accused of environmental pollution. You will work within your legal team to construct a case for your clients who may be the Environment Agency, the company or the alleged victims. You will also join forces with environmental science students studying a Legal Foundations for Environmental Protection (2) who will act as your expert witnesses during your trial.
- Applying the law to a real world problem
- Writing a legal opinion
- Creating a case: preparation for trial including planning oral argument and advocacy training
- Trial advocacy – opening and closing arguments, examination in chief and cross examination.
- Alternative mechanisms for reparation and redress.
Legal Principles, particularly equality and justice, professional ethical behaviour and teamwork skills are embedded throughout the course.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 108 | 192 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 2 | Individual skills meeting with tutor |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 66 | 33 x 2 hour teacher-led seminars |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 40 | 20 x 2 hours 'law team' peer-led meetings |
| Guided Independent Study | 44 | Individual reading, and preparation for tasks. |
| Guided Independent Study or Group Study | 80 | Seminar preparation |
| Guided Independent Study | 60 | Portfolio preparation |
| Guided Independent Study | 8 | Preparation of tutor/student meeting notes and action points |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| You will receive feedback on your work in seminars, both written and oral, including advocacy | 33 x 2 hour seminars | 1-6 | Self and peer-to-peer feedback and tutor observation and feedback. |
| You will receive feedback on your teamwork skills in team meetings | 20 x 2 hour team meetings | 5-6 | Self and peer-to-peer feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A personal portfolio of work | 80 | 5000 words | 1-4, 6 | Specific written pre-submission guidance. Post submission written feedback. |
| Skills meeting notes and action points evidence | 10 | 1700 words | 5-6 | Specific pre-submission guidance from tutor. Post submission written feedback. |
| Team work self and peer assessments | 10 | 800 words | 5-6 | Post submission written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio of work | Resubmission of portfolio (5,000 words) | 1-4, 6 | August/September reassessment period |
| Skills meetings notes (10%) and teamwork assessment (10%) | Reflective essay on teamwork and legal skills (2,500 words) | 5-6 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
There are two textbooks for this module
Legal Foundations published by OUP – a custom textbook compiled for this module. and Ross Hyams, Susan Campbell & Adrian Evans(2014) Practical Legal Skills : Developing Your clinical technique
You may also find Imogen Moore and Craig Newbery-Jones (2018) The Successful Law Student: An Insider's Guide to Studying Law (OUP) very useful.
There are other more specific books which will be referred to for different stages of the module and multiple copies of these are available in the Penryn Campus Library.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Digital Resources
An online reading list suggesting further reading and resources can be accessed via the Legal Foundations ELE page, and will be updated throughout the year. You are encouraged to make use of these resources to further your knowledge and understanding.
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 03/04/2018 |
| Last revision date | 03/01/2019 |
