HU0S034 - Law in Context 01 Sep 2021 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: HU0S034
Module Title: Law in Context
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Culture and Animation
Faculty Sub Group: Culture
Module Leader: Joanne Bates
Module Team: Hannah Coburn, Emma Wheeler
First Intended Intake: SEP 2021 Final Year of Intake: 2026
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 3
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100485 - law
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2021
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

To develop an understanding of contemporary issues with regard to the law (on a domestic and international level) in the UK, and the interrelationship between the law, devolution and the media, and the social and economic context in which these issues sit.
Students will be encouraged to discuss and debate topical areas of interest that currently affect society such as terrorism, Brexit, immigration, the NHS and crime.

Content Summary

What is law?
An overview covering fundamental topics such as: structures and institutions of the English and Welsh Legal System; sources of law; impact of Brexit; the importance of international law; the role of the law in public affairs.

The impact of devolution
An examination of devolution with reference to Wales; Scotland; Northern Ireland; directly elected mayors in England and Wales.

Law and media
Introduction to themes relevant to current cases and debates, such as: media and moral panics; suspect communities; ideal victims; crime and victims; sentencing and legal actors; policing.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Practical classes and workshops 36
Independent Study 64
Directed Study 100
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Evidence a general knowledge and understanding of the operation of the law in Britain
LO2 Connect legal problems to their contexts in policy, media and public opinion

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Oral Assessment Oral Assessment (Externally assessed, Onsite) 1 Deliver a lecture from a list of topics to demonstrate understanding of a particular area of interest 15 N/A 60 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 Critical essay providing students with an opportunity to critique one of the topics 0 1200 40 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Oral Assessment (Externally assessed, Onsite) 1
Essay 1

Reading List

Latest editions of:
Alisdair Gillespie, The English Legal System OUP
Elliot and Quinn, The English Legal System OUP
G Slapper and D Kelly, The English Legal System (Routledge)
Philippe Sands, Pierre Klein, D. W. Bowett, Bowett's law of international institutions, Sweet & Maxwell
L.Friedman, Law and Society
P. Mason, Criminal Visions: Representations of Crime and Justice, Willian Publishing
C. Greer, Crime and Media: A Reader, Routledge