Legal Foundations
| Module title | Legal Foundations |
|---|---|
| Module code | LAW1036 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Louise Loder (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 12 | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 600 |
|---|
Module description
Legal Foundations provides you with a broadand critical understanding of the structure and functions of law, which will also require an exploration intothe nature, history and future of the legal systems in England and Wales. In Legal Foundations, you will examine core legal principles and concepts, the role of lawyers in society, develop core legal skills, and explore topical and timely subjects which may include the system and hierarchy of the courts and tribunals, law and technology, and access to justice. Through the module, you will begin to appreciate how the law is applied, implemented, and experienced. In short, Legal Foundations is a fascinating and dynamic introduction to law, legal systems and the legal profession.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module provides you with a foundational, and thus vital, understanding of the nature of law and legal principles. In particular, the module is designed to support you in developing the necessary academic, legal, theoretical, practical and ethical knowledge, awareness and skills that are foundational to both the study and practice of law.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. identify and analyse (with guidance) the basic organisation and structure of legal systems, including core underlying concepts and principles in England and Wales
- 2. identify and select relevant information from legal source material using appropriate interpretative techniques, and demonstrate an understanding of legal reasoning and its application;
- 3. demonstrate understanding of relevant legal practice and the wider socio-legal contexts within which the law operates.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. demonstrate understanding of a range of legal concepts, values, principles, institutions and procedures, and the ability to explain the relationships among them;
- 5. make an informed judgement about the merits and relevance of particular information and make reasoned choices between alternative solutions or arguments;
- 6. analyse, apply and communicate technical legal information and argument effectively and concisely, in a manner appropriate to the discipline.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. take responsibility for your own learning and manage time efficiently in preparing for learning activities;
- 8. identify, retrieve and efficiently use a range of resources (with some guidance);
- 9. work independently within a limited time frame to complete a specified task.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:
- Legal system of England and Wales
- Sources of law, the doctrine of precedent and statutory interpretation
- Legal skills, including legal research, writing, reasoning and problem-solving in law
- Practical legal and related skills
- Experiences of law in society
- Access to justice, open law and public legal education
- Professional ethics
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | 242 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 30 | 20 x 1.5 hour lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 20 | 10 x 2 hour seminars |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 8 | 8 x 1 hour Q & A sessions |
| Guided independent study | 150 | Individual reading, research and study |
| Guided independent study | 77 | Summative assessments preparation |
| Guided independent study | 13 | Formative assessments preparation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal reasoning / problem question skeleton | 750 words | 1, 5-9 | Individual written feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal reasoning examination (take-home, open book) | 50 | 2 hours intended duration (within a 24-hour submission window) | 1-9 | Individual written feedback and general whole cohort feedback |
| Reflective essay | 50 | 1,500 words | 1-8 | Individual written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal reasoning examination (take-home, open book) | Legal reasoning examination (take-home; open book - 2 hours intended duration)) | 1-9 | August/September re-assessment period |
| Reflective essay | Reflective essay (1,500 words) | 1-8 | August/September re-assessment period |
Re-assessment notes
None
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Finch E and Fafinski S, Legal Skills (8th edn, OUP 2021)
- Gillespie A and Weare S, The English Legal System (8th edn, OUP 2021)
- Moore I and Newbery-Jones C, The Successful Law Student: An Insider’s Guide to Studying Law (2nd edn, OUP 2022)
- Holland J and Webb J, Learning Legal Rules: A Students’ Guide to Legal Method and Reasoning (11th edn, OUP 2022)
- Slorach S et al, Legal Systems & Skills: Learn, Develop, Apply (5th edn, OUP 2023)
- Susskind R, Tomorrow’s Lawyers (3rd edn, OUP 2023)
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=9188
- Public Law for Everyone: publiclawforeveryone.com
- UK Human Rights Blog: ukhumanrightsblog.com
- UK Supreme Court Blog: ukscblog.com
- Judiciary of England and Wales: www.judiciary.gov.uk
- Ministry of Justice: www.justice.gov.uk
- HMCTS: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-courts-and-tribunals-service
- UK Parliament: www.parliament.uk
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/09/2015 |
| Last revision date | 11/04/2023 |
