Legal Response to Environmental Destruction
| Module title | Legal Response to Environmental Destruction |
|---|---|
| Module code | LAW3016C |
| Academic year | 2020/1 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Josh Martin () |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
The module seeks to develop understanding of the role that law has to play in the protection of the environment and responds to the cutting-edge environmental challenges facing the world today. You will be introduced to the legislation that governs issues that compromise environmental quality like marine pollution, waste management and global warming. The module extends thinking from local agendas to develop more sustainably, through to global strategies to combat environmental harm.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to introduce you to the various sectors of environmental law and policy, offering an overview of basic principles while considering national and international responses to managing global environmental threats.
The module seeks to provide you with a practical understanding of environmental law. You will observe how important law is in society and industry in promoting a low carbon footprint and managing environmental impact retrospectively. You will learn to think critically about the adequacy of current environmental protection from a legal perspective and consider how the law might be reformed in the future.
The modules aims to equip you with a broad understanding of environmental law and the issues that shape it, and will provide an essential foundation for any career that you might pursue in an environmental field.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. explain the main features of environmental legislation, policy and principles on a local, national and international basis;
- 2. demonstrate an awareness of some of the current debates in environmental law and the role of law in resolving competing interests in the environmental issues;
- 3. link theoretical understandings of environmental law with practical perspective, while developing your critical thinking through the construction and defence of legal reasoning;
- 4. assess the future direction of law and policy in environmental decision making;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. assimilate and engage effectively with a range of primary and secondary legal resources in your legal writing and reasoning;
- 6. critically appraise competing legal and non-legal arguments by explaining their respective merits;
- 7. identify key issues in problem scenarios, analyse them logically and construct balanced arguments to resolve complex legal disputes;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. understand and develop complex ideas and communicate them confidently and professionally in written form;
- 9. work independently and as a group ; and
- 10. manage time efficiently and reflect on areas of performance where further learning and development might be necessary.
Syllabus plan
While the module’s precise content may vary each year, it is envisaged that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Introduction to international, EU and UK environmental law
- Contaminated land
- Climate change
- Air quality
- Water Pollution
- Waste Management
- Habitat Protection
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 125 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 22 | 11 x 2 hour lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 3 | 3 x 1 hour workshops |
| Guided Independent Study | 125 | A variety of private study tasks directed by module leader. These tasks may include: Reading textbooks, journals and other literature Preparation for lectures by for example answering questions in advance of group discussions or preparing group presentations Preparation for and completion of examination Essay preparation: conducting research, and writing the finished product |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workshops | 3 x Scheduled group workshops | 1-10 | Peer and tutor feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay on a choice of questions set by module convenor | 50 | 2,000 words | 1-10 | Written feedback on work coversheet with oral feedback available on request |
| Examination - 3 questions will be answered out of a choice of 6 and copies of legislation will be permitted | 50 | 2 hours and 15 minutes | 1-10 | Written feedback on exam script |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay (2,000 words) | Essay (2,000 words) | 1-10 | August Referral/Deferral Period |
| Examination (2 hrs 15 mins) | Examination (2 hrs 15 mins) | 1-10 | August Referral/Deferral Period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Bell and McGillivray, Environmental Law, (2017), Oxford
- Wolf, F and Stanley, N, Wolf and Stanley on Environmental Law, (6th edition, 2014), Routledge
- Finch and Fafinski, Legal Skills, OUP (2019). The textbook explains how to find legal resources from statutes to cases and includes tips on legal writing.
- Kramer, EC Environmental Law, Sweet and Maxwell (2016)
- Connie, Bradney and Burton, English Legal System in Context (5th Edition, 2010), OUP, Oxford
- Partington, M, Introduction to the English Legal System (2019) OUP Oxford
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/07/2014 |
| Last revision date | 25/08/20 |
