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 (1000 words) (mid-semester) | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | - Research Project (1500 words) (end of semester) | 50% |
| Supplementary Exam | 1.5 Hours - Seen Exam | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the purpose and significance of law in contemporary political, economic and social debate
2. Demonstrate an understand the way in which law develops and the key drivers of law reform
3. Evaluate and identify topical issues using a multimedia approach (for example newspapers, Flipboard and social media.
4. Perform interdisciplinary analysis of legal issues with an appropriate awareness of the purposes and limits of such a methodological approach
5. Explain and discuss contemporary problems with a legal context
6. Compare opposing views on current issues within a legal framework.
7. Explain and demonstrate an understanding of the structure and development of the English and Welsh Legal system, and those who play a role in it
8. Explain the use and significance of judicial precedent and its relationship with the court system
9. Analyse the processes of creating law and how it is interpreted by judges
10. 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
11. Interpret, evaluate and critically analyse primary and secondary legal sources
12. Demonstrate problem-solving skills, and the organisation of ideas and arguments in applying the law to factual situations
13. Construct legal arguments and apply legal reasoning in oral and written communication
Brief description
As its name suggests, the module will involve students in observing how the law works in action. It will take approximately four current topics that are in the media (legal, broadcasting, specialist and international) and students will be required to analyze and criticize them. They will need to do this from an interdisciplinary perspective. However, given what may be their limited understanding or awareness of other disciplines, those involved in teaching the module will provide them with any necessary guidance.
Aims
2. Develop group work skills.
3. Develop research and fact finding skills
4. Develop oral and presentational skills
5. Develop and enhance written skills.
6. Locate topical issues within a legal framework and subject them to a legal analysis.
7. Achieve better understand the nature of media representation of current legal issues.
8. Make links between different areas of law
Content
- Introduction to the module and an outline of the aims and objectives.
- Reading the news. An introduction to the news media and the way news is reported.
- A legal view of the news media and the way in which social and political issues feed into legal debate.
- Project 1 - current legal issue.
- Group research activity using the Synergy Room.
- Project 2 - current legal issue
- Project 3 - current legal issue
- Consolidation of learning and reflection.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | |
| Communication | Group working (not assessed). Written assignments |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Responsibility for choice of topic for the assignments. Self-directed research. |
| Information Technology | Information technology is used throughout the module - studying the module will be impossible without the use of such learning resources. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Confidence in preparing reports. Development of presentational skills. Awareness of current legal issues (a favourite question in interviews). |
| Problem solving | Through analyzing complex issues involving a range of different disciplines |
| Research skills | Researching the background to current issues |
| Subject Specific Skills | Developing an awareness of the law making process and the complexities of law reform. |
| Team work | Responsibility to provide input into group sessions. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6