module specification

English Legal System introduces you to the workings of the English Legal System in its historical, contemporary and international context. It includes the study of the sources of law; the law-making process; the institutional and court structure; and basic issues of procedure within the English Legal system.

It also enables you to start to acquire the fundamental academic and professional skills necessary for the undergraduate study of law. In this way, it provides a solid support both for the other Level 4 modules, and also for the remainder of the degree course and beyond into professional practice.
This module will give you the opportunity to choose a subject of assessment within the syllabus according to their own particular interests, in accordance with the Inclusive Assessment aims of the ESJ Framework.

The aims of the module are to introduce you to the following:

1. Reflective thinking in the context of contemporary legal issues.
2. A working knowledge of legal language, sources of English law and legal procedure;
3. How to locate legal material;
4. How to read and understand primary and secondary sources of law (paper based and electronic);
5. How to recognise and develop at an introductory level the practical and professional legal skills of advocacy, legal research and legal writing.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

N/A

PART ONE:

LEGAL LANGUAGE AND PROCEDURE
1 The Categories of Law     
2 The Language of the Law    
3 The Overlap of Criminal and Civil Law
4 The Hierarchy of the Criminal and Civil Courts 

PART TWO:
THE SOURCES OF ENGLISH LAW

5 Statute Law      
6 The Common Law: Introduction  
7 The Common Law: The Operation of Judicial Precedent    
8 The Doctrine of Equity
9 European Union Law      
10 Subsidiary Sources of Law   
11 Statutory Interpretation: The General Rules  
12  Statutory Interpretation: Human Rights

PART THREE:
INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE

13 Sources of Criminal Law   
14 Categories of Crime      
15 The Police and the Crown Prosecution Service    
16 The Magistrates’ Courts   
17 The Crown Court
18 The Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
19 The Supreme Court
20 Appeals by way of Case Stated
21 Elements of Criminal Procedure
  
PART FOUR:

INTRODUCTION TO CIVIL LAW AND PROCEDURE

22 Categories of Civil Law
24 Civil Litigation: Introduction
25 Civil Litigation: Alternative Dispute Resolution
26 Civil Litigation: Arbitration
27 Civil Litigation: Mediation and Conciliation
28 Civil Litigation: Going to Court

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 Plus, 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 do the following:

1. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the key elements of the English Legal System.
2. Demonstrate a working knowledge of primary and secondary source legal materials.
3. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the elements of criminal and civil litigation.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/73805DE1-EE99-685E-4AD4-F8744179D6BD.html

Slapper and Kelly's The English legal system

by David Kelly

2024, 20th edition

Elliott and Quinn's English legal system

by Emily Allbon; Sanmeet Kaur Dua; Emily Allbon; Catherine Elliott

2024, 22nd edition

English legal system

by Helen Rutherford; Birju Kotecha; Angela Macfarlane

2024, 6th edition

Legal skills

by Emily Finch; Stefan Fafinski

2023, 9th edition

How to write law essays & exams

by S. I. Strong

2022, 6th edition

DATABASES
Westlaw Edge UK
Lexis+ UK