LA115-15 The Modern English Legal System
Introductory description
This module introduces the foundations of the English legal method, understanding sources, legal rhetoric, arguments and essay writing.
Module aims
This foundational module aims to provide students with a sound understanding of English legal method within the institutional context of the English Legal System. It introduces the student to various ‘Law in Context’ methods that are used in the Warwick Law School.
Particular attention is given to sources of law, the techniques of reading and interpreting cases and statutes, understanding legal rhetoric, how to make an argument and essay writing.
These various aspects of the module are combined to produce a critical overview of the machinery of justice at the heart of the English legal system and to provide students with a fluency in fundamental legal techniques.
These techniques will be developed through participatory exercises in seminars whereby students will have the opportunity to test and develop their fundamental legal skills as well as other core skills which they will utilise throughout their legal studies including essay writing, solving problem questions.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
- Law in Context
- Reading Cases
- Judgments/Precedent
- Legislation
- Mooting
- Academic Writing
- Debate & Argumentation
- Human Rights
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Locate and research cases, statutes, journal articles and non-academic literature in the library and through online channels.
- Demonstrate an ability to use a variety of techniques of legal analysis including: formalist (‘black-letter’), socio-legal and critical-legal approaches.
- Demonstrate an ability to engage in autonomous research using a variety of different resources.
- Demonstrate full comprehension of the main sources of law in the English legal system.
- Critically analyse the role of the judiciary in the law making process.
- Demonstrate an ability to formulate and present a legal argument effectively.
- Demonstrate an understanding of different types of legal writing, both academic and non-academic, and how these styles of writing might be deployed most effectively.
Subject specific skills
No subject specific skills defined for this module.
Transferable skills
No transferable skills defined for this module.
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 4 sessions of 1 hour (3%) |
| Practical classes | 14 sessions of 1 hour (9%) |
| Private study | 132 hours (88%) |
| Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
Private study.
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.
Assessment group A1
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 100% | Yes (extension) | |
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MELS is an unusual module in that it is primarily oriented around helping you develop the skills necessary for a law degree. It is also unusual in its assessment. Instead of a single essay or problem question, you will build up a portfolio of your writing. Each seminar develops the skills and knowledge that you need for each of your three assessments. This is called 'feed-forward' in the jargon. There are three parts to your final assessments: Reflective note on law and the pandemic (500 words, 15%) |
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Feedback on assessment
Feedback provided in Tabula.
Post-requisite modules
If you pass this module, you can take:
- LA351-15 Taxation Law, Policy and Principles
Courses
This module is Core for:
- Year 1 of ULAA-ML34 BA in Law and Sociology (Qualifying Degree)
- Year 1 of UIBA-MN34 Law and Business Four Year (Qualifying Degree)
- Year 1 of ULAA-M105 Undergraduate Law (3 year) (Qualifying Degree)
- Year 1 of ULAA-M106 Undergraduate Law (4 year) (Qualifying Degree)
- Year 1 of ULAA-M108 Undergraduate Law (Year Abroad) (Qualifying Degree)
- Year 1 of UIBA-MN31 Undergraduate Law and Business Studies
- Year 1 of UIBA-MN32 Undergraduate Law and Business Studies
- Year 1 of UIBA-MN37 Undergraduate Law and Business Studies (Qualifying Degree) with Intercalated Year
- Year 1 of UIBA-MN35 Undergraduate Law and Business Studies with Intercalated Year (3+1)
- Year 1 of UIBA-MN36 Undergraduate Law and Business Studies with Intercalated Year (4+1)
- Year 1 of ULAA-M10A Undergraduate Law with French Law (Qualifying Degree)
- Year 1 of ULAA-M10C Undergraduate Law with German Law (Qualifying Degree)
- Year 1 of ULAA-M111 Undergraduate Law with Humanities (3 Year) (Qualifying Degree)
- Year 1 of ULAA-M113 Undergraduate Law with Humanities (4 Year) (Qualifying Degree)
- Year 1 of ULAA-M115 Undergraduate Law with Social Sciences (3 Year) (Qualifying Degree)
This module is Option list G for:
- Year 1 of UPHA-V7ML Undergraduate Philosophy, Politics and Economics