LAW4053 - Public Law

Objectives:

Assessment tasks are designed to enable students to demonstrate the Learning and Employability outcomes for the relevant level of study. Level Learning Outcomes are embedded in the assessment task(s) at that level. This enables a more integrated view of overall student performance at each level.

Content:

The module provides a general introduction to the operation and fundamental principles of the UK’s constitution, enabling you to acquire a basic knowledge of the basic institutions (the Crown and Parliament, central government, devolved institutions, EU institutions and the judiciary) and principles of the British Constitution, the nature, status and procedure for passing primary and delegated legislation, government accountability (and in particular the relationship between the Government and Parliament), Parliamentary sovereignty, the Separation of powers (including judicial independence), the rule of law, Judicial control of the Executive, in particular the process and principles of judicial review, and the role of the European Convention of Human Rights in domestic law .

This module is intended to be aligned with the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) areas of fundamental knowledge; specifically, SQE topic 6 - Constitutional and Administrative Law.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Workshops
Hours: 50
Intended Group Size: 50

Guided independent study
Hours: 250

The examination will be divided into two parts, each of which is worth 50% of the overall marks available. The first part will consist of 20 short answer questions. As such, you are encouraged to develop your broad general knowledge around the module content. The second part will have one question which will be a short essay. You must answer all questions in both parts of the examination paper.

The Essay Question is intended to develop and assess a different set of skills. It will focus on a topic covered in the second part of the module and it requires you to undertake additional reading and research over and above the materials covered in class.

The integrated assessment occurring at the end of Level 4 which takes the form of an extended analysis and presentation of case studies and assessment opportunities in the form of court-based advocacy. This will be used to develop and apply knowledge from two modules: LAW4053 Public Law and LAW4023 Legal Skills and Employability and the skills learnt in LAW4023.

This will give the students an opportunity throughout the year to develop a holistic perspective on the programme level learning outcomes and their own development in reference to them as legal professionals. The summative assessment at the conclusion of Semester 1 will be an opportunity to test the knowledge gained and the to enable application of the knowledge in the essay and integrated assessment. There will be an opportunity to engage in a formative assessment /practice linked to the integrated assessment.

Assessment:

001 Essay; 1,800 words; end of semester 1 30%
002 Exam; 1.5 hours; semester 2 30%
003 Integrated assessment; 15 min oral court hearing; end of semester 2 40%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Frank Dignan
Level - 4
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 4YL

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