Legal Foundations
| Module title | Legal Foundations |
|---|---|
| Module code | LAW1036 |
| Academic year | 2020/1 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Ben Hudson () |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 12 | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 420 |
|---|
Module description
The module will provide you with a broad and critical understanding of the structure and functions of the English legal system. You will explore the system and hierarchy of the courts within England and Wales. You will be introduced to and start to explore the primary sources of English law and you will consider the role of lawyers who operate within the legal system. You will identify and start to develop some of the key academic, study and legal practice skills necessary to study law and appreciate how the law is applied in practice. You will study the important legal practice skills of advocacy and negotiation, and undertake practical advocacy presentations and negotiation exercises. The module will enable you to identify and apply ethical issues which arise in the legal system and in the legal profession. The module will encourage you to become reflective learners and to recognise the importance of self-reflection in the study and practice of law. In short, the module is an interesting and dynamic introduction to the English legal system and legal profession that will give you a vital foundation for studying other law modules.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module aims to provide you with a foundational understanding of the nature and sources of law and legal principles to enable you to undertake other undergraduate law modules. In particular, the module aims to give you the necessary academic, legal, theoretical, legal practice and ethical knowledge and awareness to study other law modules on the programme, as well as to enable you to start to develop the necessary academic, study and legal practice skills and competencies necessary to study on an undergraduate law degree.
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 the English legal system and the main general concepts and principles underlying it;
- 2. 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;
- 3. 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;
- 4. demonstrate competent understanding of some of the relevant legal practice, social, economic, political, historical, philosophical, ethical and cultural contexts within which the law operates;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. demonstrate understanding of a range of legal concepts, values, principles, institutions and procedures, and the ability to explain the relationships among them;
- 6. make an informed judgement about the merits and relevance of particular information and make reasoned choices between alternative solutions or arguments;
- 7. communicate technical legal information and argument 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...
- 8. take responsibility for your own learning (with support), meeting obligations to others;
- 9. work effectively with others within a group;
- 10. reflect upon your own skills development;
- 11. identify, retrieve and use efficiently a range of resources with some guidance;
- 12. manage time efficiently in preparing for learning activities and work independently within a limited time frame, to complete a specified task.
Syllabus plan
It is envisaged that the syllabus will include the following topics in the following order, although precise content and order may vary.
- Law, lawyers and the legal system
- Case law as a source of law
- Legislation as a source of law
- Problem solving
- Research and essay writing
- Client interviewing
- Advocacy
- Negotiation
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | 242 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 22 | 22 x 1 hour Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 13.5 | 9 x 1.5 hour seminars |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 13.5 | 9 x 1.5 hour syndicate workshops |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 9 | 9 x 1 hour Q & A sessions |
| Guided Independent Study | 149 | Individual reading, research and study by way of lecture, syndicate meeting and seminar preparation and consolidation (and associated group work), including preparation for formative work (including timetabled formative work) |
| Guided Independent Study | 62 | Assessment preparation |
| Guided Independent Study | 31 | Formative assessment preparation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Video Presentation | 10 minutes | 1-10 | Group written feedback |
| Online Multiple-choice quiz | 30 minutes | 1-8, 10, 11 | Online automatic feedback |
| Group Written Research Plan | 750 words | 1-11 | Oral feedback and general written feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 50 | 30 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advocacy Presentation | 30 | 15 minutes | 1-8, 10, 11 | Individual written feedback and general feedback |
| Examination | 50 | 2 hours | 1-8, 10, 12 | General feedback to the whole cohort and opportunity for individual feedback |
| Group Written Research Project | 20 | 2,000 words | 1-11 | Written feedback and general 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advocacy Presentation | Advocacy Presentation (15 minutes) | 1-8, 10, 11 | August/September reassessment period |
| Examination | Examination (2 hours) | 1-8, 10, 12 | August/September reassessment period |
| Group Written Research Project | Written Research Project (2,000 words) | 1-11 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Legal Foundations (OUP Custom Publishing, 2019) and similar
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Judiciary of England and Wales: http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/
Ministry of Justice: http://www.justice.gov.uk/
HMCTS: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-courts-and-tribunals-service
UK Parliament: http://www.parliament.uk/
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module co-requisites | Any one from: LAW1003; LAW1004; or LAW1035 |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/09/2015 |
| Last revision date | 15/07/2020 |
