module specification

Law of the European Union I provides a detailed understanding of the underlying concepts of European Union Law and its topical relationship to domestic law of Member States.

It considers the law-making powers of the EU institutions; the constitutional principles of the EU; the direct effect of EU law; indirect effect and the principle of State Liability; and the key role of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in relation to preliminary references from domestic courts, enforcement actions against Member States, judicial review of EU law and its development of human rights.

The module provides a sound understanding of the key features of the EU legal order, its main institutions, the law-making processes and the legal control of administrative powers in the EU and within EU Member States.

It will provide a sound understanding of the relationship between history, politics, law and economics in the development of the EU.

The aims of the module are as follows:

1. You will acquire knowledge of the institutions of the European Union; the constitutional principles of the EU; the direct and indirect effect of EU law; principle of State Liability; and the key role of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

2. You will develop several key transferable skills, including independent research, critical analysis and cogent academic writing in the context of EU law, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources.

3. You will enhance their employability by the development both of these skills, and by the practice of written communication activities (including summative) and oral communication activities (formative only).

The different learning styles of students will be accommodated by the incorporation of a variety of assessment methods in seminars. This is in accordance with the inclusive assessment aims of the ESJ framework.

The indicative weekly programme shows the topic likely to be covered in each teaching week, please note that the precise order can change.

Week 01 
  Introduction to module content, delivery and assessment 
Advising on areas of reading prior to lectures and seminars 
EU General knowledge quiz.

Week 02
The History and Ideas Behind European Integration.
Sources of EU Law. 
EU Institutions.  

Week 03
Principles of Supremacy, Direct Effect, Indirect Effect and State Liability

Week 04
General Principles of EU Law

Week 05
The Protection of Fundamental Rights in the EU.

Week 06
The Role of the Court of Justice of the European Union. Enforcement of EU Law – e.g. Article 258 TFEU.  

Week 07
The Preliminary Ruling Procedure – Article 267 TFEU

Week 08
Judicial Review of Community Acts – Articles 263 TFEU

Week 09
Principles, procedures and enforcement of EU Law  consolidation and revision.  

Week 10
Consolidation and revision.

Week 11
Consolidation and revision.  

Week 12
Consolidation and revision.  

All these subjects pervade each of the Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3.

Learning & Teaching Strategy
Weekly two-hour lecture and one-hour seminar.

The lecture will be used for:
• Dissemination of knowledge through an overview of each topic with detailed guidance on appropriate aspects;
• An introduction to relevant academic literature;
• Guidance on learning strategies;
• Use of WebLearn and IT resources;
• Whole group questions and discussion.
The seminar will be used for the development of skills necessary to attain the module learning outcomes through:
• Written and oral questions/answers designed to reinforce fundamental rules, principles and cases;
• A range of step-by-step analytical exercises;
• Problem solving;
• IT tasks, such as research of cases and statutes;
• Legal writing;
• Oral presentation;
• Oral communication;
• Teamwork.

Blended Learning
All learning materials, previous examination questions and sample Q/A’s will be on blackboard for use in directed private study.

Student engagement will be encouraged in both lectures and seminars through weekly use of WebLearn for access to all of the above materials.

There will be required use of the professional legal databases, especially Westlaw and Lexis Library, for legal research.

Opportunities for reflective learning/pdp
Each weekly seminar will contain space for students to reflect on what they have learnt in relation to the overall syllabus. There will be frequent feedback opportunities structured into the timetable and a range of sample answers posted onto WebLearn.

Employability
Employability strategy will aim to acquaint students with a range of employment avenues both in the legal profession and in those professions into which legal qualifications and skills are transferable.

Student’s Study Responsibilities
The need for attendance, punctuality, preparation and engagement will be emphasised with particular reference to written and IT research, problem-solving, team-work, discussion, debate and critical awareness of the subject.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a knowledge of the institutions of the European Union; the constitutional principles of the EU; the direct and indirect effect of EU law; principle of State Liability; and the key role of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

2. Demonstrate the ability critically to discuss case study problems relating to the topics covered in the syllabus.

3. Demonstrate the ability to write critical, discursive essays relating to the topics covered in the syllabus.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/D57B8449-6742-0DF4-1CAE-428367562630.html
CORE
European Union Law, by Steve Peers, Catherine Barnard, 4th edition, 2023
European Union Law, by Robert Schütze, 4th edition 2025

ADDTIONAL
European Union Law: Text and Materials, by Damian Chalmers et al, 5th edition, 2024
Understanding European Union Law, by et al, 8th edition 2022

DATABASES
Westlaw Edge UK
Lexis+ UK