Legal Foundations

Module title	Legal Foundations
Module code	LAW1036
Academic year	2025/6
Credits	30
Module staff	Dr Louise Loder (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	12	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	600

Module description

Legal Foundations provides you with a broad and critical understanding of the structure and functions of law, and the nature, history and future of the legal system in England and Wales. In Legal Foundations, you will examine core legal principles and concepts and the role of lawyers in society. You will develop core legal skills and explore topical and timely subjects which will include the hierarchy and procedures of the courts and tribunals, law and technology, ethics in the legal profession, and access to justice. Through the module, you will begin to appreciate how the law is applied, implemented and experienced. In short, Legal Foundations is a fascinating and dynamic introduction to law, legal systems and the legal profession.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module provides you with a foundational, and thus vital, understanding of the nature of law and legal principles. In particular, the module is designed to support you in developing the necessary academic, legal, theoretical, practical and ethical knowledge, awareness and skills that are foundational to both the study and practice of law.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. identify and analyse (with guidance) the basic organisation and structure of legal systems, including core underlying concepts and principles in England and Wales;
2. identify and select relevant information from legal source material using appropriate interpretative techniques, and demonstrate an understanding of legal reasoning and its application;
3. demonstrate understanding of relevant legal practice, and the wider socio-legal contexts within which the law operates.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

4. demonstrate understanding of a range of legal concepts, values, principles, institutions and procedures, and the ability to explain the relationships among them;
5. make an informed judgement about the merits and relevance of particular information, and make reasoned choices between alternative solutions or arguments;
6. analyse, apply and communicate technical legal information and arguments effectively and concisely, in a manner appropriate to the discipline.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

7. take responsibility for your own learning and manage time efficiently in preparing for learning activities;
8. identify, retrieve and efficiently use a range of resources (with some guidance);
9. work independently within a limited time frame to complete a specified task.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:

Legal system of England and Wales
Sources of law, the doctrine of precedent and statutory interpretation
Legal skills, including legal research, writing, reasoning and problem-solving in law
Practical legal and related skills
Experiences of law in society
Access to justice, open law and public legal education
Professional ethics
The impact of artificial intelligence on the legal profession

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
60	240	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	40	20 x 2 hour workshops
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	20	20 x 1 hour support sessions
Guided Independent Study	146	Individual reading, research and study
Guided Independent Study	94	Assessments preparation

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Reflective essay plan	500 words	1-9	Individual written 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
Portfolio	100	Portfolio (3000 words)	1-9	Individual written feedback and general whole cohort feedback

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 (3000 words)	Portfolio (3000 words) (100%)	1-9	August/September re-assessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Essential reading typically includes:

Finch E and Fafinski S, Legal Skills (9th edn, OUP 2023)
Gillespie A and Weare S, The English Legal System (9th edn, OUP 2023)
Moore I and Newbery-Jones C, The Successful Law Student: An Insider’s Guide to Studying Law (2^nd edn, OUP 2022)
Holland J and Webb J, Learning Legal Rules: A Students’ Guide to Legal Method and Reasoning (11^th edn, OUP 2022)
Slorach S et al, Legal Systems & Skills: Learn, Develop, Apply (5^th edn, OUP 2023)
Susskind R, Tomorrow’s Lawyers (3^rd edn, OUP 2023)

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=9188
Public Law for Everyone: publiclawforeveryone.com
UK Human Rights Blog: ukhumanrightsblog.com
UK Supreme Court Blog: ukscblog.com
Judiciary of England and Wales: www.judiciary.gov.uk
Ministry of Justice: www.justice.gov.uk
HMCTS: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-courts-and-tribunals-service
UK Parliament: www.parliament.uk

Key words search

Legal practice, legal profession, legislation, case law, judicial precedent, legal ethics, legal skills, law reform

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	01/09/2015
Last revision date	26/03/2025