LC3S327 - Legal Philosophy 01 Sep 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: LC3S327
Module Title: Legal Philosophy
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Law
Faculty Sub Group: Law
Module Leader: Clare Lewis
Module Team: Ayesha Fulat, Rob Wilks, Holly Evans
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:
HECOS Code Weighting:

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 jurisprudence and legal philosophy.

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

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the nature and role of law.
2. Assess a variety of theoretical perspectives and case studies.

Content Summary

The module will cover the following indicative content:
• The major schools of jurisprudence, beginning with the natural law theorists Aquinas, Locke, Rousseau, Fuller, Rawls, Dworkin and Finnis.
• Human rights arguments and theories
• The positivists Austin, Bentham, Hart, and Kelsen before dealing with the major proponents of utilitarianism – Bentham and Mill.
• Legal anthropology and legal realism
• The major Marxist theorists
• Contemporary case studies from within feminist jurisprudence and the Critical Legal Studies movement.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 20
Seminar 20
Project supervision 5
Independent Study 75
Directed Study 70
Groupwork 10
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Evidence detailed knowledge and understanding of the views of several important legal theorists on issues concerning the nature, role and definition of law and analyse the social and political context within which law functions;
LO2 Critically evaluate the views of the theorists studied and apply to case studies and dilemmas

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 Individual coursework on a key theory or issue within legal philosophy. 0 2000 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Case study 1 A concentrated inquiry into a single case or subject in a key area of legal philosophy. 0 2000 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Essay 1
Case study 1

Reading List

THERE IS NO PRESCRIBED TEXTBOOK for this module. Readings will be
suggested and made available where possible in an electronic format on BB.

Here is a list of books that will be helpful:
Wacks, R. Understanding Jurisprudence, Oxford University Press
Meyerson, D. Understanding Jurisprudence
Freeman, M D A, Lloyd’s Introduction to Jurisprudence, Sweet & Maxwell
Penner, McCoubrey & White’s Textbook on Jurisprudence, Oxford U P
Patterson, D. Philosophy of Law and Legal Theory: An Anthology Blackwell
Patterson, D. A Companion to Philosophy of Law and Legal Theory Blackwell
Golding, M.P. & Edmundson, W.A. The Blackwell Guide to Philosophy of Law and Legal Theory
Blackwell
Davies, M, Asking the law question The Law Book Company
Harris, J W, Legal Philosophies, Butterworths
Riddall, J G, Jurisprudence, Butterworths
Tebbit, M, Philosophy of Law: An Introduction, Routledge
Simmonds, N E, Central Issues in Jurisprudence, Sweet & Maxwell
Davies, H & Holdcroft, D, Jurisprudence: Texts & Commentary, Butterworths
Ward, I, An Introduction to Critical Legal Theory, Cavendish
Cotterrell, R, The Politics of Jurisprudence: A Critical Introduction to Legal Philosophy, Butterworths