LL6068 - Civil Liberties and Human Rights (2026/27)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2026/27 | ||||||||
| 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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| Running in 2026/27(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) | No instances running in the year |
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 you 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.
This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.
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 & 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.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
1, Demonstrate a systematic understanding of key aspects of the syllabus.
2. Demonstrate the ability critically to discuss case study problems relating to the syllabus, devising and sustaining arguments, and showing appreciation of uncertainties and ambiguities in legal principles and policy.
3. Demonstrate the ability to write critical, discursive essays relating to the topics covered in the syllabus, commenting on current research and primary sources.
Bibliography
https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/56AAC8FD-843D-E826-0A73-1B22AF33A426.html
CORE
Human rights law, by Merris Amos, 2021, 3rd edition
Human rights and civil liberties, by Steve Foster, 2011, 3rd ed
Civil liberties & human rights, by Ruth Costigan; Richard Stone, 2017, 11th edition
Blackstone's statutes on public law & human rights: [2025-2026] edited by John Stanton, 2025
ADDITIONAL
Lester, Pannick and Herberg: human rights law and practice, by Bonita Meyersfeld, 2009, 3rd edition
DATABASES
Westlaw Edge UK
Lexis+ UK