LC4S136 - Legal Sources and Systems 01 Sep 2019 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 2

Associated Module Information

Module Code: LC4S136
Module Title: Legal Sources and Systems
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Law
Faculty Sub Group: Law
Module Leader: Brian Dowrick
Module Team: Holly Evans
First Intended Intake: SEP 2013 Final Year of Intake: 2017
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100485 - law
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 2
Valid From 01 Sep 2019
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

  • To develop knowledge of the variety of legal systems both national and European, which provide for or influence the nature of law making and legal provision within the United Kingdom.
  • To provide for an understanding and analysis of the law making institutions, the personnel and their relationship to each other, within the Anglo-Welsh Legal System.
  • To develop knowledge and evaluation of the legal aspects of Constitutional Law and the student’s ability to analyse how the fundamental concepts and principles affect intellectual property law.

Content Summary

The syllabus comprises the following in relation to the UK constitution and the Anglo-Welsh Legal system;
  • The constituent elements of, to provide a cohesive overview, the structure of the legal system, its personnel and its functions.
  • Examination of the law making institutions, focussing on the court structure including the Patent Courts and the role of UK legislatures.
  • A consideration of external law making bodies as they affect or influence UK law.
  • A critical examination of the methods by which laws are created including examination of legislative bodies and law making processes; a critical exploration of the role of judges in creating laws via the use of the rules governing statutory interpretation, precedent and relevant legal method.
  • Consideration of dispute resolution including patent adjudication hearings and patent court trials.
  • Critical consideration of key constitutional concepts including Parliamentary Sovereignty; the Rule of Law and state powers; governmental powers and responsibilities; devolution, the UK’s relationship with the international bodies, powers, processes and mechanisms for accountability within the constitution.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 5
Seminar 35
Independent Study 140
Directed Study 20
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Explain and analyse the structure, personnel and law making process of the English legal system;
LO2 Demonstrate a critical evaluation of the legal and non-legal rules and powers that give effect to and shape the United Kingdom’s constitutional arrangements.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Online Assessment Time-constrained assessment (Online) 1 A test, administered within the timetabled teaching period, which is not time constrained. 0 24000 40 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 n/a 0 3600 60 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Time-constrained assessment (Online) 1
Essay 1

Reading List

English Legal System: Kelly, D.

English Legal System: Ellitott, C & Quinn, F.

Learning Legal Rules: Holland, J & Webb, J.

Public Law: Elliott, M. & Thomas, R.

Public Law, Text Cases & Materials; Le Sueur, A, Sunkin, M & Merkens, J.

Understanding Public Law: Barnett, H.

Journals

Public Law

Legal Studies

Statute Law Review

Law Quarterly Review