LAW-20045 - 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

None

Description for 2024/25

Mental Health Law is a rapidly developing area of English law and has emerged as a subject in its own right. This module therefore aims to provide an appreciation of the main general legal and ethical principles underlying mental health law. This module will provide students with an understanding of mental health law, introducing theoretical and philosophical arguments concerning perceptions of mental illnesses, social policy dimensions, and legal doctrine. Key themes will include autonomy, capacity, control, coercion and empowerment.
Mental Health Law is a challenging but fun module. The law in this area can be complicated to navigate, and you will learn not only about key mental health legislation such as the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005, but also about how mental health in general is managed by society. You will also get involved in some rewarding practical tasks in each seminar ¿ so come prepared to talk and contribute! These skills will be helpful for any future career you might wish to go in to, not just law.

This module aims to provide an appreciation of the main general legal and ethical principles underlying mental health law. This module will provide you with an understanding of mental health law, introducing theoretical and philosophical arguments concerning perceptions of mental illnesses, social policy dimensions, and legal doctrine. Key themes will include autonomy, capacity, control, coercion and empowerment.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Understand key legislation, regulations, legal cases, policies and practices in mental health law.: 2
Identify relevant primary and secondary, legal and non-legal materials, relating to mental health law through library and online databases such as WestLaw and LexisNexis and critically evaluate these materials.: 1
Analyse and evaluate core principles of mental health law and how these principles are influenced by policy, social norms and theoretical perspectives, also looking at extra-legal sources of knowledge and mainstream culture.: 1
Organise and conduct effective research on mental health law.: 1
Develop the ability to promptly and skilfully work with legal concepts, reason `on their feet¿ and successfully elaborate legal arguments and counterarguments in real time.: 1,2
Develop coherence and clarity in oral argument that allows to articulate to others a critical evaluation of the knowledge they have acquired.: 1
Develop the basic initial skills required by the Solicitor Qualification Examination (SQE).: 2
Develop key transferable skills relevant to employment.: 1

Study hours

8 x 2 hr lectures = 16
4 x 1 hr seminars + 2 x 2 hr seminars = 8
Seminar preparation = 44
Independent study = 82
Total: 150

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment