LL4051 - Administrative Law (2026/27)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2026/27 | ||||||||||
| Module title | Administrative Law | ||||||||||
| Module level | Certificate (04) | ||||||||||
| 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 2026/27(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
Administrative Law is a core module for the LL.B. courses and the B.A. Law. It 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:
A critical understanding of the extent and efficiency of control on governmental
bodies;
An ability to apply legal principles to theoretical examples in order to draw
conclusions and give advice to the citizen;
To engage in independent research, analysis and academic writing, using both primary and secondary sources of law.
The different learning styles of students will be accommodated by the incorporation of a variety of assessment methods in seminars. This is in accordance with the inclusive assessment aims of the ESJ framework.
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 to Administrative Law
2. The modern Administrative State
3. Judicial Review
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.
All these subjects pervade each of the Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3.
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 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.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, you 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. Discuss case study problems relating to judicial review.
Bibliography
https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/A07AD4DF-32D6-4A94-C7A3-8965370AA595.html
CORE
Constitutional and Administrative Law. by Hilaire Barnett, 16th edition, 2025
Constitutional and Administrative Law, by Neil Parpworth, 12th edition, 2025
OPTIONAL
Public Law and the UK Supreme Court: Key Cases and Decisions by Lewis Graham and Jenny Russell, 4th edition, 2025
DATABASES
Westlaw Edge UK
Lexis+ UK