module specification

This module provides students with an understanding of immigration law and the various categories of the law. This will involve a study of the rules relating to temporary admissions, settlement, deportation, illegal entry, removal, and of course asylum. Students will also gain an understanding of Asylum and Immigration Tribunal Chamber. They will be expected to attend hearings at the Tribunal during the course of the term.     

• To introduce the legal concept of Immigration and Nationality
• To develop students’ research, written and oral communication.
• Provide an awareness of the rules, policies, Conventions and case law
• Provide awareness of the variety of applications that may be made in Immigration and Asylum
• Provide an awareness of the implications of human rights
• Develop and encourage confidence in using appropriate analytical and discursive skills.
• Develop an understanding of the ethical implications arising out of UK Immigration policy as evidenced in the most recent case law and legislations
 

Overview of the concepts of the concepts and historical development
Introduction to the rules, policies
Spouses and Partners
Children and other family members
Visitors, students and other temporary visitors
Workers and business people
EEA Nationals and Families
Asylum and Human Rights
Deportation
Illegal entry
Structure and role of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal
Tribunal representation
Research and coursework skills
Removals  and Directions
Criminalisation and Immigration Law
Expulsions and anti-terrorism
Expulsions and Article 8
Appeals
Judicial review

The module is taught by lectures and seminars with students required to read from specified case law and legal journals.  There is a logical progression through a complex syllabus involving concepts of nationality, immigration and asylum.  Students are given the opportunity to discuss theoretical issues as well as practical problem solving.  Students are supported in undertaking on-line research using electronic law databases and encouraged to use Westlaw on a weekly basis. There is a virtual learning environment (VLE) containing handbooks, lecture notes, weblinks, discussion groups, past assessments, study skills materials and assessment criteria.  Blended learning pervades the delivery of the module and is actively encouraged as students engage with digital materials, use on-line discussion groups (blogs) and achieve a competent standard of digital literacy during their studies.
 
Students will be assessed by group presentations and coursework.

Knowledge of the topics covered will enhance students’ employability both within the legal profession and more generally in a range of opportunities where knowledge of this subject is required, for example in Citizens Advice Bureaux and Law Centres. This subject is commonly practised by lawyers and is a popular subject on the Legal Practice Course especially. It is also taught as an option on the Bar Professional Training Course.

Students’ study responsibilities are to attend all classes, research and prepare for seminar discussion and academic debate, engage in interactive IT related activities and to undertake all formative and final assessments.
 

• Develop an ability to critically evaluate the principles and concepts of immigration, nationality and asylum 
• Develop knowledge, understanding and critical evaluation of the primary legislation and the immigration rules that form the basis of the law
• Develop a critical evaluation and  understanding of the Conventions on asylum and human rights
• Develop a critical evaluation of the case law in the Tribunal and above
• Gain an understanding  and of the different categories upon which the law operates i.e. students, visitors, marriage, adults and other members of the family, deportations and removals, appeals, Tribunal structure
• Be able to apply their knowledge to problem solving. Be able to apply the rules to factual   situations and to critically evaluate the various scenarios
• Develop knowledge and ability to critically evaluate the appeal system
• To research and critically evaluate specified areas of the law
• Be able to communicate effectively in the context of the assessments

There will be two assessments:

• Group oral presentation.  Students marked out of a possible 100% which will be divided: 25% for group work and 75% for individual contribution.  Students will be allocated groups by their tutor.
• Coursework covering one or more areas of the course

Gina Clayton, Immigration and Asylum Law

Textbooks
Phelan Immigration Law Handbook
Macdonalds, Immigration Law and Practice, Butterworths 
Butterworths, Immigration Law Handbook
Immigration Appeal Reports
Tolleys Immigration Law and Practice

Websites :
EIN – Electronic network- www.ein.org.uk
Tolleys – http://www.tolley.co.uk  
Jcwi - www.jcwi.org.uk