module specification

Administrative Law provides a contextual introduction to some of the central areas of UK Public Law. It provides a detailed examination of the principles of administrative law with particular emphasis on the procedure and substantive grounds for judicial review in English law.

The aims of this module are to provide students with a working knowledge and
understanding of administrative law, and to develop several key transferable skills in this
context, including:

1. A critical understanding of the extent and efficiency of control on governmental
bodies;

2. An ability to apply legal principles to theoretical examples in order to draw
conclusions and give advice to the citizen;

3. To engage in independent research, analysis and academic writing, using both primary and secondary sources of law.

N/A

1. Introduction to Administrative Law

LO1 & LO2

2. The modern Administrative State

LO1 & LO3

3. Judicial Review

LO1 & LO4

Judicial review procedure
Judicial review substantive grounds
Illegality, irrationality and proportionality
Human Rights and EU law on irrationality doctrine
Procedural impropriety
Breach of statutory procedural rules
Breach of the rules of natural justice
Nature of natural justice protection.

Learning and 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:

Development of skills necessary to attain the module learning outcomes through:
Written and oral questions/answers designed to reinforce fundamental rules/principles/cases;
A range of step by step writing exercises;
IT tasks such as research of cases and statutes
Problem-solving
Legal writing

Blended Learning

All learning materials, previous examination questions and sample Q/A’s will be on Weblearn 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.

Students’ 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, the students will be able to:

1. Review and discuss primary and secondary source legal materials relating to administrative law.

2. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the key elements of administrative law.

3. Demonstrate an understanding of the modern administrative state.

4. Discuss case study problems relating to judicial review.

Time Constrained Examination (1.5 hours)

To demonstrate the ability to solve legal problems and critically analyse contemporary issues relating to Administrative Law in a time-constrained environment.

TBC