Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 30 x 1 Hour Lectures |
| Seminar | 3 x 2 Hour Seminars |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Exam | 1.5 Hours Unseen exam | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | Essay (1,500 words) - including 10% outine | 50% |
| Supplementary Exam | 1.5 Hours Unseen exam | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Essay (1,500 words) | 50% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate a basic understanding of both the legal system and the criminal justice system, and the interaction between the two.
2. Be familiar with sources of law and how to locate and identify same.
3. Be familiar with courtroom procedures and course of trial.
Brief description
This module will incorporate all the legal system components that are fundamental to qualifying law degree while providing an overview of the criminal justice system. The two topics will be integrated into a module that presents the relationship and interaction of the two systems. This is intended to be a required module for all UG students across Law and Criminology.
Content
Students will consider the following in respect of the legal system the structure of the courts and the court hierarchy and how this relates to case law and the doctrine of precedent. Legislation will be studied and the principle of statutory interpretation, with further study of how Parliament legislates. The legal profession, including the judiciary, barristers and solicitors and magistrates; jury; adversarial/inquisitorial systems; ADR; tribunals will be focal areas for study within the legal system component. In terms of the criminal justice system police discretion and powers and the impact of PACE will be considered. The trial/courtroom workgroup will be studied and linked to role within legal system. Sentencing, including custodial/non-custodial sentencing and prison rules/procedures will also be considered.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | |
| Communication | Interactive seminars |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Research and seminar preparation |
| Information Technology | IT systems and legal databases essential to study and research. Library and research skills are fundamental to preparation for seminars and assessed work. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Students will be advised as to various opportunities that a law/criminology degree offers. |
| Problem solving | Interactive seminars |
| Research skills | Research law databases |
| Subject Specific Skills | Understanding of legal method |
| Team work | Interactive seminars |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4