LW513-7-AT-CO:
Legal Research and the English Legal System

The details
2023/24
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Autumn Special
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 15 December 2023
20
19 October 2023

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

MSC L30812 Criminology and Socio-Legal Research

Module description

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.

Module aims

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.

Module learning outcomes

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.

Module information

The three elements of the module are:
1 - The courst system and the law making process in the United Kingdom
2 - An introduction to the UK's legal system in its international context
3 - Doctrinal and Socio-legal research methods

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be taught via weekly 2-hour seminars. The module teaching team will upload all relevant teaching materials on Moodle. You will find reading lists, the textbook, weekly handouts or PPS notes on Moodle. The materials in question are designed both to help you navigate the material to be covered in the seminars and to equip you to analyse the required readings. You will be expected to have completed the required readings in advance of your seminars.

Bibliography

This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Essay (LW513 Legal Research and the English Legal System)    100% 

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

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Maurice Sunkin, email: maurice.sunkin@essex.ac.uk.
Law Education Office, pgtlawqueries@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

Mr George Ellison
Derby Unioversity
Senior Lecturer in Law
Prof Richard Grimes
University of Edinburgh
Visiting Professor
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 20 hours, 8 (40%) hours available to students:
12 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Essex Law School

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