LAW-10039 - Module Specification
School of Law
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

LAW-20076 (Level 5 version of Legal Essentials)

Description for 2024/25

The Legal Essentials module will support you in the transition to study in higher education and will provide a solid basis for studying law throughout your undergraduate career.
Legal Essentials introduces you to all aspects of what it means to be a successful Law student:
¿ Thinking Law involves thinking critically about law. We show you ways of evaluating the law and the legal system, through discussion of case law and academic commentary.
¿ Making Law examines the English Legal system, including the process of law-making and how Acts of Parliament are interpreted and applied by the courts.
¿ Doing Law introduces you to good practice in reading, taking notes and writing ¿ to help you understand and evaluate the law. It also introduces you to legal research skills and to teamwork through group discussion, debate, and presentations.
¿ Being Law is designed to equip you with the personal and professional skills you will need to get the best out of your Law degree and your future career. You will also learn to reflect on your learning journey and skills development, and to identify how you can further develop your skills both during and after the module.

To introduce the legal, academic, and personal skills needed to participate effectively as a Law student, through delivery of 4 streams of learning and teaching: Thinking Law; Making Law; Doing Law; and Being Law.
To develop students' confidence and skills in making research-informed legal arguments, through individual and group work.
To equip students to reflect on their skills development, and to identify development needs, during the module and throughout their degree.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate familiarity with the structure of the English Legal System, including the Parliamentary process relating to the creation of legislation, and the doctrines of Parliamentary sovereignty and the separation of powers: 1
Demonstrate familiarity with the concepts of statutory interpretation, legal reasoning, precedent, ratio decidendi, obiter dicta and the significance of dissenting judgements: 1
Locate, retrieve and use a range of legal and non-legal materials: 2
Make research-informed legal arguments in written and oral form, through individual and group work: 2
Demonstrate the personal, practical and professional skills needed to be an effective Law student, including critical thinking, team working, presenting, and reflective practice: 2
Take ownership of their learning journey and skills development, identifying both strengths and areas for improvement, and how they can obtain support to improve: 3

Study hours

Scheduled teaching/active learning hours:
¿ Interactive Lectures = 16 hours
¿ Seminars = 15 hours
¿ Practical classes (library workshops) = 2 hours
¿ Drop-in sessions (held around assessment points) = 2 hours
Self-directed study, library work and assessment preparation:
¿ For interactive lectures and seminars (including wraparound materials and activities for preparation, consolidation, and reflection) = 25 hours
Independent study:
¿ For reading and research = 40 hours
¿ For MCQ assessment = 25 hours
¿ For group presentation and reflection assessments = 25 hours
Total = 150 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment