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LAW-20064 - Module Specification
School of Law
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2023/24 Last Updated: 13 February 2024

LAW-20064 - Criminal Law
Coordinator: Lisa Mountford Tel: +44 1782 7 34363
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733218

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

LAW-10039 (Legal Essentials)

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

Criminal law has a critical and high profile role in modern society. This module addresses basic questions regarding its scope and the conditions under which it is appropriate to impose criminal liability. Should a person who carelessly sets fire to a building be guilty of arson? Should a person who kills following years of domestic abuse or whilst extremely drunk be guilty of murder or manslaughter? To what extent should people be permitted to use force in defence of themselves or property? The principles governing the courts approach to questions such as these are contested and shaped by a range of political, social and theoretical considerations. This module explores these issues in order to provide a critical analysis of a key area of law.

Aims
To introduce students to the role of criminal law in modern society
To locate criminal law within its social and political context
To develop students skills in analysing problems and critically evaluating the criminal law
To develop students skills in reviewing theoretical issues surrounding the criminal law

Intended Learning Outcomes

access, review and critically appraise basic concepts in criminal law through the use of cases, statutes and theoretical sources: 1
critically evaluate criminal law problem questions by appropriate use of relevant legal sources: 1
demonstrate a critical appreciation of criminal law doctrinal issues in their theoretical, social and political context: 1

Study hours

Lectures - 24 hours
Tutorials - 8 hours (8 x 1)
Preparation for lectures and seminars - 50 hours
Further reading and assessment preparation - 68 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Open Book Examination weighted 100%
Unseen open book examination (active working time 4 hours)
Open book time limited exam involving a problem question covering several areas of the criminal law as studied in the module and to include theoretical discussion where appropriate Students will be given a 28 hour window to complete the assessment but are not expected to spend more than 4 hours on it

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 13 February 2024