LAW5022 - Criminal Law

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

Demonstrate depth of knowledge and understanding of the operation and fundamental principles of criminal law, including the elements of criminal offences, factors affecting culpability, modes of liability, specific offences, defences and evidence.

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the legal concepts, values, principles and rules of English Criminal Law, and their inter-relationship, within relevant contexts, including the European Convention of Human Rights.

Analyse, evaluate and form critical judgements on the application and interpretation of criminal law, applying acquired knowledge and understanding of this area of law and its issues and contexts.

Undertake independent research with appropriate guidance, using and analysing the law from relevant primary and secondary sources to produce current and accurate legal information.

Present coherent informed and critical arguments, in writing, about key issues based on advanced research skills.

Content:

This module enables students to acquire knowledge and understanding of the main legal principles and issues of English criminal law, and covers:

- Elements of offences - actus reus and mens rea. Factors affecting culpability: e.g. insanity, automatism and intoxication
- Capacity to commit offences
- Modes of liability: secondary participation, vicarious and corporate liability
- Specific offences: public order offences, fatal, non-fatal and sexual offences against the person, property offences
- Inchoate offences: assisting and encouraging crime, attempt and conspiracy
- Defences: self-defence, necessity, duress. Partial defences to murder loss of control, diminished responsibility
- Evidence, including burden and standard of proof, bad character and hearsay
- The European Convention of Human Rights, particularly articles 5 and 6,

or such other content as may be specified by the SRA and BSB for QLDs.

The module also enables students to develop awareness of the issues surrounding criminal law, practical and ethical implications, and to evaluate its operation within society, and to appreciate the social, economic and political contexts and underlying policy issues relating to its operation, and their impact.

In covering the module content, the seminars will also provide training and support for key transferable skills: to carry out independent tasks and research to a reasonable level as a basis for further development in subsequent study; to consider how legal principles can be applied to both actual and hypothetical facts, and to enhance relevant Employability skills in the context of the subject area.

The module covers the Criminal Law Foundation of Legal Knowledge under the Joint Statement as required by the SRA and BSB for a QLD, and the Criminal Law aspects of the SRA Statement of Legal Knowledge under "7. Criminal law and evidence".

Learning and Teaching Information:

The module will be delivered through seminars that combine aspects of lectures, workshops, group tutorials, directed learning and formative feedback. The learning and teaching activities will focus on the acquisition of deep learning of relevant principles, regulations, Acts, institutions, and procedures, and also the ability to apply these securely and accurately to cases under 'live' conditions. The first half of the module will be assessed through an essay that tests accuracy of understanding of criminal law. To prepare students for this, the sessions will provide key information, drawing links with the learning from LAW4002 The English Legal System, but the sessions will really focus on students using, developing and researching additional aspects of information to establish a fuller and rounder picture of criminal law. That knowledge will be tested through analysis of cases, identifying and articulating the relevant courts, processes and likely outcomes.

In the second half of the module the students will be prepared for an exam that is designed to test their ability to think on their feet and to enable them to demonstrate their secure understanding of the key principles of criminal law and, in particular, the ability to apply this understanding securely in specific instances. Again, the teaching will be problem-based and practice-led, honing the specific intellectual skills and developing student confidence in doing so.

Seminars
Hours: 36
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Guided independent study
Hours: 164

Further details relating to assessment
The 2-hour exam at 60% and 2,500-word essay at 40% are standard requirements in the sector and, although exceed the Leeds Trinity University guidelines, are justified on the basis that the module is a Foundation Subject, which is required for the award of a Qualifying Law Degree, As this is a Foundation Subject, the expectation is that, at Level 5, the assessment should be a step-up in the course work from Level 4, not just in terms of word count but in the rigour and demonstration of intellectual and cognitive skills expected.

Assessment:

001 Essay; 2,500 words; end of semester 1 40%
002 Exam; 2 hours; end of semester 2 60%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Frank Dignan
Level - 5
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 5YL

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