LA1H7-30 Critical Introduction to English Law
Introductory description
This new law foundation module introduces non-lawyers to the English Legal System. In term one it will offer a broad overview of the courts system, legal reasoning, legal institutions, sources of law, law and equity and critical perspectives on the common law. In term two it will offer three short taster courses on specific areas of law, of interest to non lawyers and available as options in future years to PPL students. Module content will broadly align with the Law foundation module LA128 but will contain more structured pedagogy around the institutions and core concepts of the English Legal System. It will also reflect Warwick Law School's contextual approach to legal education, with critical perspectives introduced in a Term 1 case study and repeated in the short tasters in term 2. The module will contain a strong skills element with a focus on practical and reflective exercises in term 1 and core legal skills in term 2 .
Teaching will be primarily through 2-hour in-person workshop sessions, with a limited number of supplementary lectures delivered either in-person or online.
Module aims
The module aims to offer an introduction to legal studies suitable for students with a non-law background. It is designed to provide a thorough foundation in:
The English Legal System
Courts and institutions
Legal Profession
Sources of Law
Law and Equity
Legal Reasoning and Legal Method
Legal skills e.g. argumentation, reading cases and statutes, oral presentation, critical analysis
It also aims to introduce students to a broad range of legal topics with three tasters in term 2 chosen from.
Tort Law
Public Law
Business Law
International Law
In the first year, the tasters will be from the core law subjects Tort, Criminal and Public Law.
Criminal Law . In later years, tasters will be selected according to staff availability and student feedback.
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.
English Legal System
History, traditions and unique features
Courts and Institutions
Legal Professions
Legal Reasoning
Critical perspectives on law
Introduction to legal theory
Three of five 'tasters' in law selected from:
Introduction to Criminal Law
Introduction to Tort Law
Introduction to Public Law
Introduction to International Law
Introduction to Business Law
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Understand the institutions and principles of the English Legal System
- Understand the difference between civil and common law systems
- Understand the difference between private and public law, and civil and criminal law
- Be familiar with sources of English law, including cases, statutes, human rights and other traditions of law
- Address practical legal problems in criminal, tort and public law (and/or International Law/Business Law)
- Critically analyse legal sources such as caselaw and statutes, academic texts
- Research and produce a legal argument in writing and orally
- Recognise and apply a theoretical or conceptual framework to legal issues
- Recognise and address a criminal legal problem
- Recognise and address a problem in public law
- Recognise and address a problem in Tort Law
- Demonstrate transferable and cross-curricular skills, such as those of interpersonal communication and collaborative group-working.
- Understand the evolution of Law and Equity
- Be familiar with the structure of the legal professions in England and Wales
Indicative reading list
Reading lists can be found in Talis
Research element
Students will be required to learn legal research skills through precedent mapping, using Westlaw and Lexus/Nexus law databases, and recognising and understanding legal citations of cases and legislatoin
Interdisciplinary
The prime cohort for this Module will be First Year Politics, Philosophy and Law students. The course is being developed with close attention to the broader PPL syllabus and its critical elements reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the course.
International
In future years we might select an International Law Taster in Term 2. This will be based around a key issue in International Law - the example suggested relates to the right of self determination.
Subject specific skills
Legal Reasoning (Information Literacy) (Problem Solving)
Reading complex texts (Information Literacy)
Legal Problem solving (Problem Solving)
Legal Research (Information Literacy) (Intercultural awareness)
Analysis, deployment and presentation of legal theories and philosophy. (Information Literacy) (Critical Thinking)
Transferable skills
Working collaboratively with others. (Teamwork, Collaboration)
Written and oral presentation (Communication)
Negotiation and argumentation.(Communication)
Reading complex texts (Information Literacy)
Critical analysis. (Critical Thinking)
Problem solving (Problem Solving)
Constructing and substantiating a comprehensive scholarly argument. (Information Literacy) (Problem Solving)
Study time
| Type | Required | Optional |
|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 8 sessions of 1 hour (3%) | 1 session of 1 hour |
| Seminars | 18 sessions of 2 hours (12%) | |
| External visits | 1 session of 7 hours (2%) | |
| Online learning (scheduled sessions) | 2 sessions of (0%) | |
| Online learning (independent) | (0%) | 8 sessions of 30 minutes |
| Private study | 221 hours (74%) | |
| Assessment | 28 hours (9%) | |
| Total | 300 hours |
Private study description
Students will prepare for seminars in their small groups and individually, carrying out assigned readings, preparing for problem based learning exercise and case studies.
Costs
| Category | Description | Funded by | Cost to student |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field trips, placements and study abroad |
Funding for transport for assessment related court visit in Term 1 - £2500 |
Department | £0.00 |
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group C
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
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| Enhanced Court Visit Critical Reflection | 30% | 7 hours | Yes (extension) |
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Students will be required to visit a court for the day in their small groups. Their assessment will be to write a reflective piece drawing on the critical/contextual perspectives they have learnt in weeks 6-10. These might include, moral contexts of law, critical race theory, feminist/gender theory, justice and retribution, human rights. They will be required to attach their physical/written notes/illustrations/photos of the visit. |
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Reassessment component |
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| Critical Reflection | Yes (extension) | ||
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Students will be offered the choice of reflection on a court visit to a Court of their choice ( subject to the agreement of the Course Convenor) or a reflection on a batch of critical materials relating to the English Legal System. |
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Assessment component |
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| Doctrinal Law - Case Note | 20% | 7 hours | Yes (extension) |
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Students will complete a casenote of one case selected from the doctrinal law case studies covered in Term 2. The case note might also on draw on ELS and theory covered in Term 1. Term 2 Assessments will be structured so as students have to cover content from each of the 3 cases studies. |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| English Legal System - Multiple Choice Test | 20% | 7 hours | No |
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The first assessment component will be a multiple choice test examined in class in week 5. The test content will be based on knowledge gained in weeks 1-5 on the English Legal System. |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| Doctrinal Law Examination | 30% | 7 hours | No |
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Students will be required to answer 2 questions in a 2 hour in-person examination, relating to the Term 2 Doctrinal Law content. Questions will be a mix of problem and essay questions and students must answer one of each. Term Two assessments will be structured so that students must answer questions relating to content from each of the three cases studies.
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Feedback on assessment
Written assignments (reflection/casenote) will be uploaded onto the Tabula system and feedback will be delivered through Tabula.
MCT test will be uploaded to the Moodle system and automated feedback will delivered through Moodle.
Examinations will be centrally timetabled in-person examinations.
Courses
This module is Core optional for:
- Year 1 of UPHA-V7MW Undergraduate Politics, Philosophy and Law