LW513-7-AU-CO:
Legal Research and the English Legal System
2020/21
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 08 October 2020
Friday 18 December 2020
15
20 August 2020
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
This module is designed to give students new to studying the English Legal System an introduction to law and to develop their essential post-graduate research skills. The module will provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to undertake legal research at the postgraduate level using the essential sources of law applicable within the UK and international law.
This module aims to introduce the principal sources of law operating within the UK system (statute, caselaw, as well as the key sources of international law) and the relationship between these sources, including the principles relating to legislative interpretation. The module will develop students interpretative and critical reading skills, as well as their essential research skills.
Once you have successfully completed the module, you will be able to:
• demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the nature of the institutions of the English legal system, the sources of law, and the roles of actors within the system;
• read, analyse and employ legal cases and statutes;
• plan and execute legal research using a variety of research techniques including library and IT sources.
The three elements of the module are:
1 - The courst system and the law making process in the United Kingdom
2 - An introduction to teh UK's legal system in its international context
3 - Doctrinal and Socio-legal research methods
9 weeks at 2 hrs per week: Lectures and seminars
- Maranlou, Sahar. (2015) Access to Justice in Iran: Women, Perceptions, and Reality, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Creutzfeldt, Naomi; Mason, Marc; McConnachie, Kirsten. (2019) Routledge handbook of socio-legal theory and methods, Harlow, United Kingdom: Pearson.
- Pleasence, Pascoe; Alexy, Buck; Marisol, Smith. (2004) Needs Assessment and the Community Legal Service in England and Wales.
- Finch, Emily; Fafinski, Stefan. (2019-06-17) '7. Using cases', in Legal Skills: Oxford University Press., pp.128-156
- Fagan, Andrew. (2019) Human Rights.
- (2000) 'Nothing New in 2000--Comparative Law in 1900 and Today Centennial World Congress on Comparative Law', in Tulane Law Review. vol. 75 (4) , pp.871-912
- (2018) Research methods in law, Abingdon: Routledge.
- Reimann, Mathias; Zimmermann, Reinhard. (2019) The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Law, London: Routledge.
- Finch, Emily; Fafinski, Stefan. (2019-06-17) '5. Case law', in Legal Skills: Oxford University Press., pp.85-103
- Finch, Emily; Fafinski, Stefan. (2019-06-17) '12. Legal reasoning and ethics', in Legal Skills: Oxford University Press., pp.253-270
- Finch, Emily; Fafinski, Stefan. (2019-06-17) '4. Using legislation', in Legal Skills: Oxford University Press., pp.56-84
- Hoecke, Mark van; Conference on Epistemology and Methodology of Comparative Law. (2004) Epistemology and methodology of comparative law, Oxford: Hart.
- Finch, Emily; Fafinski, Stefan. (2019-06-17) '8. Books, journals, and official publications', in Legal Skills: Oxford University Press., pp.157-168
- Slorach, Scott; Embley, Judith; Goodchild, Peter; Shephard, Catherine. (2020-06-11) '2. Legal systems and sources of law', in Legal Systems & Skills: Oxford University Press., pp.35-70
- Moorhead, Richard. (2004) Access to Justice after Universalism: Introduction.
- Fredman, Sandra. (2018) Comparative Human Rights Law: Oxford University Press.
- Horder, Jeremy. (2019-05-02) '4. Criminal law fabric', in Ashworth's Principles of Criminal Law: Oxford University Press., pp.56-97
- Slorach, Scott; Embley, Judith; Goodchild, Peter; Shephard, Catherine. (2020-06-11) '3. The court system of England & Wales', in Legal Systems & Skills: Oxford University Press., pp.71-101
- Horder, Jeremy. (2019-05-02) '1. Criminal law process', in Ashworth's Principles of Criminal Law: Oxford University Press., pp.1-22
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
LW513 Mid-Term Assessment |
|
20% |
| Coursework |
LW513 Summative Essay |
|
80% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
lawpgtadmin@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
Mr George Ellison
Derby Unioversity
Senior Lecturer in Law
Available via Moodle
Of 817 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
817 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Essex Law School
Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can
be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist
of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules.
The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.