Criminal Law 1: Foundations
Module title | Criminal Law 1: Foundations |
---|---|
Module code | LAW1040C |
Academic year | 2025/6 |
Credits | 15 |
Module staff | Dr Caroline Keenan (Convenor) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
---|---|---|---|
Duration: Weeks | 12 |
Number students taking module (anticipated) | 180 |
---|
Module description
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to introduce you to the operation of the criminal law within its social and criminal justice context. In this module you will develop foundation skills in using current criminal law in response to real-life criminal events. The module is taught through lectures and seminars simulating parts of the trial process, including closing arguments by prosecution and defence barristers, the ‘route to verdict’ (the written guidance on the applicable law for the jury created by the trial judge in each case) and jury deliberations. You will develop foundation skills in case and statute note taking, analysis and application of legal tests and legal writing These skills also support legal research, enabling you to complete your own research project in ‘Criminal Law 2 – Companies & Organisations’.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Correctly identify the legal tests for specific criminal offences and defences.
- 2. Apply the relevant offence and/or defence to given facts.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Draft legal writing at a foundation level
- 4. Apply legal authority at a foundation level
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Create written notes usable for a given task
- 6. Write precisely and concisely for a given audience
Syllabus plan
Please note: this module syllabus (LAW1040C) is exclusively available to students on the Cornwall Campuses and differs materially from the criminal law syllabus of the Streatham Campus (LAW1003).
In this module we explore the foundations of criminal liability and the construction and application of criminal offences. Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover at least some of the following topics:
- The criminal justice process, including the role of the actors within it including the decision to prosecute, the trial process and conviction.
- How crimes are defined in a common law legal system: (i) the actus reus – criminal conduct (ii) mens rea – the requisite criminal mental state for liability and (ii) the absence of defence, absolute and strict liability offences
- The identify and applu the legal tests for -f criminal offences including
- (i) harassment and stalking, and non-fatal aggravated offences
- (ii) homicide offences, including murder, voluntary and in-voluntary manslaughter and assisting suicide.
- (iii) a selection of other types of offences relating to people and property
- (iv) specific and general defences.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
---|---|---|
25 | 125 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
---|---|---|
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 10 | 10 x 1 hour lectures |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 7.5 | 5 x 1.5 hour seminars |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 5 | 5 x 1 hour peer-led firm meetings |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 2.5 | Skills and assessment lectures and workshops |
Guided Independent Study | 62.5 | Preparation for scheduled learning and teaching sessions, including pre-reading and the completion of learning activities. Individual reading |
Guided Independent Study | 62.5 | Assessment preparation |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|
Exam | 1 hour | 1-6 | Self, peer and tutor feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
---|---|---|
0 | 100 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|---|
Exam | 100 | 2 hours | 1-6 | Written tutor feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Exam (2 hours) | Exam (2 hours) (100%) | 1-6 | Ref/def reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Textbooks:
- J. Loveless, M.Allen,C. Derry, Complete Criminal Law, (8th edn., OUP, 2023).
- A P Simester, J R Spencer, F Stark, G R Sullivan, G J Virgo Criminal Law: Theory and Doctrine, (8th edn. Hart Publications, 2023)
- J. Herring, Criminal Law: Text, Cases and Materials ( 11th edn,OUP, 2024)
- S. R. Kyd, T. Elliott, M. A. Walters and D Bansal Clarkson and Keating : Criminal Law Text and Materials (11th edn,Sweet and Maxwell 2024)
- J. Horder, Ashworth’s Principles of Criminal Law, (10th edn, OUP, 2022)
- D Ormerod and K Laird Smith, Hogan, & Ormerod's Criminal Law 16th ed. (OUP, 2021)
- N. Monaghan, Criminal Law Directions, (7th edn. OUP, 2021).
- J Child and D Ormerod Essentials of Criminal Law (5th edn, OUP 2023)
- P Joyce and W Laverick Criminal Justice - An Introduction (4th edn Routledge, 2023)
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
You are expected to keep up to date with topical events. This is best done by reading newspapers such as The Times, The Guardian or The Independent. You may also find recent and current editions of specialist journals, in particular the Criminal Law Review and the Journal of Criminal Law are particularly useful.
Key words search
Criminal law, crime, criminal justice, law, Cornwall
Credit value | 15 |
---|---|
Module ECTS | 7.5 |
Module pre-requisites | None |
Module co-requisites | None |
NQF level (module) | 4 |
Available as distance learning? | No |
Origin date | 07/03/2022 |
Last revision date | 11/04/2025 |