Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 16 x 1 Hour Lectures |
| Seminar | 3 x 1 Hour Seminars |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Essay | 70% |
| Semester Assessment | Oral presentation by way of a moot (mock trial) | 30% |
| Supplementary Assessment | - Essay (if element failed) | 70% |
| Supplementary Assessment | - Written representation - If moot is failed - resit is by way of written, as opposed to oral representations | 30% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Show an ability to retrieve legal information by use of both electronic and hard copy research methods in order to demonstrate a basic level of competence in locating and using both primary and secondary sources of law.
2. Interpret, evaluate and critically analyse primary and secondary legal sources, and apply these in legal reasoning and problem-solving situations.
3. Demonstrate problem-solving, case-noting and critical analysis skills.
4. Organise ideas and arguments in applying the law to factual situations.
5. Construct legal arguments and apply legal reasoning in oral and written communication.
6. Effectively and coherently prepare, argue for and orally present a case for defendant or prosecution in a formally assessed moot (mock trial).
Brief description
Mooting, oral presentation and advocacy skills will be formally assessed, as this forms an important skill for vocational purposes.
Aims
The module aims to teach students the skills essential to (i) their law studies, and (ii) their future vocational/legal career.
Content
- Legal information sources, including using the library and legal databases.
- Reading cases and case noting
- Reading and understanding legislation
- Essay writing, footnoting and referencing
- How to avoid unfair practice and plagiarism
- Critical analysis of cases and commentaries
- Problem solving in relation to both common law and legislative offences
- Mooting and advocacy skills
- Presentation skills
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | |
| Communication | The module will develop students' written communication skills by way of the assessment. In addition, student will develop their oral communication skills through individual and group responses to set work on the seminars and in the moot. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Pre and post-lecture research and seminar preparation; using legal databases in preparation for seminar work and in the assessment. Oral skills in the moot |
| Information Technology | Students will be required to undertake research for the module using bibliographic search-engines and library catalogues in preparation for their assessment, (and their seminars). They will also use standard word-processing packages to carry out their work. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Learning throughout the module will be relevant to a career in the legal profession |
| Problem solving | The module will develop students' problem-solving skills in a number of ways. Students will receive problem-solving lectures and examples; be required to analyse a range of sources and texts in order to answer problem-solving questions in the seminars; as part of their independent research for their written assessment. |
| Research skills | Students are expected to research and synthesize a range of academic source material in preparing for their seminars and for their assessment. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Legal research: use of legal databases as a resource for statute and case law; Reading primary sources in the way of cases and legislation; Problem solving, case noting and critical analysis exercises in lectures and seminars will assist in the written module assessment and, more widely, in the legal profession, as will the mooting and advocacy exercise. |
| Team work | The seminars will include problem-solving and group discussions which will provide opportunities for students to develop team-working skills and discuss their thoughts with the rest of the class. Team work is also a key part of the assessed Moot |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4