Programme of Study Catalogue

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 family law.
Clarify the legal concepts, values, principles and rules of family law, and determine their inter-relationship, within relevant contexts.
Clarify the principles and values of law and justice, and ethics as they relate to family law.
Present coherent legal argument, making a reasoned choice between alternative solutions.
Undertake self-directed research and to synthesise relevant issues and information in solving legal problems.

Content:

This law option module enables students to acquire a depth of knowledge and understanding of the main legal principles and issues of family law. The aim of this module is to capture significant contemporary issues in, and in relation to Family Law, including case law and changes in law and policy. The content of the module, which is not specified by either the SRA or BSB, will therefore be tailored to topics of current interest.

A second feature of the module is that it enables students to develop awareness of the issues surrounding family 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.

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 first half of the module will be assessed through a case study which raises interesting and significant aspects about the principles and legislation governing family law. As with Level 5 modules, students will be prepared for this assignment through active rehearsal of case study analysis. Feedback from such activity should flag up possible research questions and areas in which core knowledge should be consolidated. The students will be expected to contribute to these onward requirements in order to develop and reinforce self-directed learning. Again, as with Level 5 work, the focus will be on deep learning: making links between the various definitions, Acts, agents, and transactions or relationships involved, doing so across a range of sample cases and scenarios designed to test grasp of accuracy and detail.

In the second half of the module the students will be prepared for a 3,000-word essay that is designed to test their ability to engage in deeper reflection, analysis and research on a significant topic. Students will be able to negotiate the topic, which should involve aspects of ethics and social justice. The teaching for this half of the module will be student-led and the tutorial aspect will be emphasised.

Lectures/workshops/tutorials
Hours: 36
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Guided independent study
Hours: 164

Further details relating to assessment
As this module is not a Foundation Subject, it is assessed by way of a case study at 40 % and 3,000-word essay at 50%, rather than an exam. Although the 3,000-word essay may be more than the University's usual tariff, study of law option subjects to 60 credits is still a requirement for a QLD and, at Level 6 on a law degree programme, the expectation is that students should be engaging with a higher level of complexity, The 3,000-word requirement is therefore not to do with the number of words as such but the need to allow students to develop their thinking, provide critical judgement, consider alternative or competing arguments, and evidenced conclusions.

Assessment:

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Nathan Uglow
Level - 6
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered -