LL6068 - Civil Liberties and Human Rights (2023/24)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2023/24 | ||||||||||
| Module title | Civil Liberties and Human Rights | ||||||||||
| Module level | Honours (06) | ||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||||
| School | Guildhall School of Business and Law | ||||||||||
| Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2023/24(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
Civil Liberties and Human Rights gives a clear, coherent and up to date account of the law of human rights and civil liberties, concentrating on the position of civil liberties and human rights protection in the light of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the standards of human rights protection laid down in the European Convention on Human Rights
It introduces and builds up critical understanding of the legal concepts which govern individual and collective rights and responsibilities, including the constraints the state may place on the citizen’s exercise of his or her human rights.
The module aims to develop several key transferable skills including independent research, critical analysis, legal drafting and academic writing in the context of the law of civil liberties and human rights, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources of law. It will encourage and enable students to develop a sophisticated understanding of the relationship that exists - in terms of specific individual rights and freedoms - between the State and the citizen in the UK today and how the legal, social and political conflicts and tensions which are intrinsic to that relationship influence policy, decision-making and legislation.
Student employability will be enhanced by the development both of these skills and by
the practising of written and oral communication skills and group participation skills.
Syllabus
1. Introduction LO1, LO2 and LO3
The scope of civil liberties and human rights
The machinery to redress breaches of those rights
The relationship between the individual and the state in terms of specific individual rights and freedoms.
2. Enforcement of Human Rights and Civil Liberties LO1, LO2 and LO3
Definition of civil liberties,
The protection of civil liberties in both domestic and international law, The European Convention on Human Rights
3. Areas of Civil Liberties LO1, LO2 and LO3
Freedom of expression
Freedom of assembly
Police powers
Terrorism
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
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 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.
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.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Independently research the development of UK civil liberties law and human rights culture.
2. Synthesise diverse points of view by using appropriate techniques of interpretation and argumentation.
3. Critically analysis civil liberties and human rights principles by reference to specific scenarios.
Assessment strategy
Written examination (2 hours)
This will assess the ability cogently to discuss and critically analyse legal case studies and/or contemporary legal issues within the context of civil liberties and human rights.