module specification

This module provides students with an understanding of the legal concepts of immigration and nationality. This will involve a study of the rules relating to temporary admissions, settlement, deportation, illegal entry, removal and asylum.

Students will gain a critical appreciation of the rules, policies, Conventions and cases which are integral to this field of law, and become aware of the variety of applications that may be made in the tribunals, both through independent research and by visits to the relevant tribunals.

They will also develop an understanding of the ethical implications arising out of UK Immigration policy as evidenced in the most recent case law and legislation.

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 immigration and asylum, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources of law. The preparation and delivery of the assessed group oral presentation will also develop communication and team-working skills.

Student employability will be enhanced by the development both of these skills, and by
the practise of written and oral communication skills and group participation skills.

1. Introduction to the Concepts, Rules, Policies and Historical Development              LO 1 and 2

2. Affected and Interested Parties           LO 1 and 2

Spouses and Partners
Children and other family members
Visitors, students and other temporary visitors
Workers and business people
EEA Nationals and Families

3. Asylum and Human Rights                 LO 1 and 2

Deportation
Illegal entry
Removals  and Directions
Criminalisation and Immigration Law
Expulsions and anti-terrorism
Expulsions and Article 8

4. Tribunal Structure              LO 1 and 2

Structure and role of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal
Tribunal representation
Appeals
Judicial review

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 blackboard 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
Critical analysis
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.

On successful completion of this module, the students will be able to:

1. Operate as a team to assemble and evaluate information and research within a group; to organise and work to a tight schedule; and to design and make an effective oral presentation of their findings.

2. Demonstrate the ability to propose analytical solutions to legal problems and to assess, synthesise, appraise and critically analyse contemporary issues relating to the law of immigration and asylum.

Description of assessment items

1. Group Oral Presentation

The students will work together in allocated groups to prepare and deliver a presentation on a contemporary issue in asylum and immigration law.

The will be assessed on their ability to evaluate information and research in a group. Sharing and taking of responsibilities is important as this is what occurs in reality.

The students will also be assessed on their ability to work in accordance with a tight schedule and to provide accurate information to the rest of the group. The co-ordination of information is important.

Although they students will be assessed as a group, they will gain individual marks for the assessment to ensure that diligent students are not penalised for being placed with less active or less able students within their group.

2. Written Essay (2,500 – 3,000 words)

An essay of 2,500 words on a contemporary issue within the law of immigration and asylum.

This will demonstrate the ability to research independently, synthesise and analysis information, to identify issues and to provide critical evaluation.

Core Text:
Clayton, G, Textbook on Immigration and Asylum Law (OUP)

Other Texts:

Macdonald, IA and Webber, F, Immigration Law and Practice (Butterworths) 
Phelan, M, Immigration Law Handbook (OUP)

Journals:

Law Quarterly Review

Electronic Databases:

Westlaw and Lexis Library