Module Information

Module Identifier
LC10120
Module Title
Legal and Criminal Justice Systems
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
Reading List
Other Staff

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Essay  (1,500 words) - including 10% outine  50%
Semester Exam 1.5 Hours   MCQ Unseen exam  50%
Supplementary Assessment Essay  (1,500 words)  50%
Supplementary Exam 1.5 Hours   MCQ Unseen exam  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