LC3S325 - Legal History 01 Sep 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: LC3S325
Module Title: Legal History
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Law
Faculty Sub Group: Law
Module Leader: Karen Counsell, Hannah Coburn
Module Team: Holly Evans, Clare Lewis, Anssa Amin
First Intended Intake: SEP 2022 Final Year of Intake: 2027
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 6
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 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

The module will provide students with an introduction to the historical context of the development of Anglo/Welsh law.

The module will provide a basis for study for students to;

1. Demonstrate understanding of the historical context of the development of Anglo/Welsh law through the sources of Roman Law, Canon law, common law which influence our legal system today.

2. Discuss contextual issues which shape legal development such as political and social change.

Content Summary

The module will cover the following indicative content;

• The influence of Roman Law on the legal system, including medieval canon law and the present-day legal system.
• A detailed examination of the law and its development within Medieval England
• The wider influence of the Roman Catholic Church and the development of canon law at this time.
• Legal education, its origins and development up until the 1600s.
• Developments in contract and tort.
• Welsh legal history along with an assessment of its impact on the modern-day legal system within Wales.
• Inclusion of wider legal historical development beyond England and Wales.
• The importance and impact of the Reformation on the legal system and its study, including the cessation of the teaching of canon law.
• The development of the civil courts and reforms in important areas of law such as those relating to marriage and divorce
• The development of the place of women within the legal system, particularly women and their experience of working within the legal profession over the last 100 years.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 20
Seminar 20
Independent Study 88
Directed Study 72
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Evidence detailed knowledge and understanding of key events and issues in the development of the English Legal System.
LO2 Critically analyse and evaluate the implications of these key developments and the impact on legal systems today.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 2 An individual coursework on a key issue or development in legal history. 0 2000 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 An individual coursework on a key issue or development in legal history. 0 2000 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Essay 2
Essay 1

Reading List

Core Text Introduction to Legal History John Baker OUP
Learned articles from leading legal history journals – Legal History Review, Journal of Legal History
The Oxford Handbook of Legal History OUP
English Legal History and its Sources David Ibbotson CUP