Introduction To Criminology

This Unit provides you with an introduction to the discipline of Criminology. It is expected that you will be new to the subject and the Unit traces the development of Criminology as a distinct discipline, highlighting the theoretical approaches that have been forwarded to explain crime, deviance and offending behaviour. Each of the theoretical positions is examined in outline, and introduces you to the language and terminology of the discipline together with examples of the research frameworks used. Having established the principles behind theoretical explanations the Unit begins to explore the responses society makes to offending behaviour through an evaluation of the Criminal Justice System. Thus the development of the main controlling mechanisms – courts, police, prisons and government agencies, such as probation and Youth Offending Panels – will be introduced and explained. Current and future development will also be highlighted towards the end of the Unit. The main themes of this unit will be explored in greater detail at Level Five and so should be considered as a starting point to the study of Criminology.

Criminal Law

Criminal Law is a core subject for the Qualifying Law Degree. Criminal Law identifies and analyses the circumstances in which individuals can be prosecuted and sanctioned for behaviour that is considered harmful to society, as well as circumstances in which these persons can plead particular defences that either excuse this criminal responsibility, or reduce it.

This unit provides you with an overview of the criminal process in England and Wales, the sources of criminal law, and provides you with a detailed understanding of the component elements of different crimes and the rules or principles that govern criminal liability of individuals and corporate entities. Throughout the unit, you will be exploring what forms of behaviour are to be determined as criminal, i.e. conduct that is subject to prosecution and sanction by the law, and the reasons for the legislature or criminal courts labelling this form of behaviour as “criminal.” These areas of inquiry are relevant as they allow you to understand the underpinning principles, core norms and social function of the criminal law, and to further situate this subject-specific knowledge into the wider social context by critically evaluating the wider influences shaping and developing the criminal law including the role of the legislature, judges and judicial policy. The unit maintains social currency as it enables you to gain practical insight into issues that relate the different areas of inquiry on this course to wider social concerns for maintenance of a rule of law that is fair to all who come before Criminal Courts.

Contract Law

We enter into agreements with other parties - individuals, businesses and other organisations - on a daily basis. Contract law is the basis of many other legal subjects and, although those subjects have developed specific rules, the law of contract nevertheless provides a background for them. It is therefore imperative for any Law student to understand not only how contracts are formed and regulated, but also the legal issues that may arise when contractual relationships break down and the remedies available to a claimant for breach of contract.

Through this unit, you will explore the underlying principles of contract law and the manner in which those principles operate to protect both businesses and consumers. You will learn how to apply abstract legal concepts to practical situations and how to research and analyse primary legal sources, case law and academic writing.

Contract law is a core subject required for the Qualifying Law Degree. 

English Legal System

This unit aims to:

1.       Provide students with a solid understanding of the working of the English Legal System, the concepts of statutory interpretation and judicial precedent and the roles of those who play a part in the legal system.

2.       Provide students with the ability to use primary and secondary legal sources, including some electronic retrieval systems.

3.       Provide students with the ability to evaluate the law whilst developing their skills of legal research, oral and written communication, group work, statistical analysis, reflective learning and study skills. 

4.       Students should also acquire a willingness to accept responsibility for their own learning and enable them to learn independently using their initiative and self-discipline.

Gangs And Serious Youth Violence

This unit examines and critically evaluates research evidence and sociological and criminological theory to explore the nature, extent and impact of gang offending and serious youth violence and how we might respond effectively to it. In doing so, the unit examines the historical, social, economic, political and cultural forces that have shaped both violent group offending and gang proliferation in the UK and elsewhere and considers the evidence base of current practice to address questions of policy, strategy and intervention.  

The unit will provide students with the opportunity to analyse the implications and complexities of researching ‘gangs’ and serious youth violence. It also equips students with the conceptual tools and knowledge base to critically assess policy and practice in relation to youth offending, particularly amongst culturally, economically, socially and politically marginalised young people and will enable students to link the study of youth group violence to broader themes explored in the core units.  

Rehabilitation Of The Offender: Probation, Restoration And Social Justice

This unit aims to achieve in students’ knowledge and understanding of rehabilitative practice within the 21st Century.  Rehabilitative practice is focused upon the promotion of desistance, deterrence and reducing recidivism within offenders.   Current practices within both the national and international framework are considered, in addition to the links between and comparisons of private, state, voluntary and third sector provision of rehabilitative practice.  Therefore, this unit aims to focus upon the identification of the complex needs of offenders, how these are managed effectively and how desistance and rehabilitation work to prevent reoffending. The unit is informed by a social justice narrative because it is focused on the social inclusion and rehabilitation of those in conflict with the law, and thus aims to reflect diversity and inclusion in the curriculum. 

Land Law

Land law is a core subject for a Qualifying Law Degree. The key themes running through this unit involve an exploration of the nature of property and ownership and the range of rights which might exist in relation to land, how such rights are created and transferred and the impact these rights have upon third parties.

On this unit you will examine the concept of land, fixtures and fittings and things lost and found. There will be an introduction to Equity’s pervasive influence and the concept of the Trust. There will then follow a detailed examination of registered and unregistered land. The key theme here will be to establish if the current system of landholding gives effect to the traditional policy impetus of enabling the free alienability of land, or if this is hindered, the extent to which such obstacles are justified on grounds of protection of entrenched rights.

The unit will explore how Land Law is concerned not only with the physical but also the invisible but valuable rights which one person can enjoy over land which “belongs” to another. This will lead you to examine how these invisible rights such as easements, covenants, leases and mortgages are created and enforced.  You will explore how the law has sought to strike a balance between the interests of the “owners” of these rights and the interests of the land which bears the burden of these interests.  Finally, you will undertake a study of adverse possession both to establish how land might be acquired in this way, but also as an example of the historical nature of land law and that the very fundamentals of the subject appear to be undergoing a seismic change after the Land Registration Act 2002. The new system of adverse possession will be examined as an indicator of a change from possession to ownership and a fundamental change in the building blocks of this area of law. Thus you will gain an understanding of the key legal areas of land law and the technical requirements in these areas. In addition, the unit will explore the subject as a subject that is seeking to escape the shackles of its history and hence a broader understanding of the nature of legal change and the reasons for it will be presented as of central importance to this unit.

Law Of Tort

This unit is a core unit essential for a Qualifying Law Degree and aims to acquaint you with a broad critical knowledge of the nature and role of the Law of Tort and a consideration of those rights that Tort protects.

The Law of Tort is highly relevant to you, whether simply as a member of society (understanding your civil rights and liabilities) or as a solicitor or barrister specialising in personal injury and/or other civil law matters. The Law of Tort provides a remedy for social wrongs setting minimum standards of social conduct and protects your personal security, physical health, finances, reputation, land and property from unjust injury or interference by others.

Tort is a word derived from the Latin word “Tortus” which literally means twisted but came to refer to civil wrongs, as distinct from criminal wrongs. Hence, Tort includes claims arising in Negligence, Nuisance, Trespass, and Defamation to name a few. Winfield and Jolowicz on Tort state that “Tortious liability arises from a breach of a duty primarily fixed by law; this duty is towards persons generally and its breach is redressible by an action for unliquidated damages”. 

You will be engaged with common law principles and will develop skills in critically analysing and evaluating case law and some statutes e.g. the Occupier’s Liability Acts 1957 and 1984.  You will also explore your understanding of the role of Tort in its societal context in shifting the burden of losses from the victim to the tortfeasor or through insurance to the wider society and through a consideration of the public policy issues underpinning case law.  The impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 in freeing the courts from the historical common law restrictions on developing the protection of interests will be integral to this study.

Constitutional And Administrative Law

Constitutional and Administrative Law is a core subject for the Qualifying Law Degree.

Constitutional law relates to the legal and political framework that establishes the state’s principal institutions responsible for running the country and defines the powers of these institutions. Administrative law refers to the legal powers and duties of public bodies, including the lawfulness of decisions made by public bodies about the rights and entitlements of individuals. Thus, as Webley and Samuels summarise, “constitutional law is the law that establishes the state and its institutions; administrative law is the law that these institutions use to run the country.”

The Constitutional and Administrative Law unit will provide you with a thorough grounding in both constitutional and administrative dimensions of Public Law. Under the constitutional law dimension of the topic, you will be introduced to constitutional principles and theories, the special nature of the UK constitution and the historical development that gives understanding to the UK’s constitution. The structure of government will be considered and the judicial system set out. The unit will also show how membership of the European Union and the Council of Europe impact on the UK’s constitution. Human rights and their relationship to the constitution will also be covered. Under the administrative law dimension, students will learn about the process of judicial review, the roles of administrative tribunals, inquiries, ombudsmen, and the way that human rights relates to administrative law. Throughout the study, relevant case law will be drawn on.

The unit aims to introduce you to the fundamental principles necessary to understand the foundations of Constitutional and Administrative Law at the theoretical level and bring that into today’s context. Historical, philosophical and political developments will be drawn on to this end. From this basic foundational platform, the unit will shift to the application of key Constitutional Law principles within the UK. The largest part of this unit will focus on the practical application of administrative law and its interaction with human rights law.

This unit will provide opportunities for you to both explore and engage with the norms and principles of Constitutional and Administrative Law as they apply to contemporary practical scenarios, and to develop a number of skills relevant to your future employability in the legal professions.

Youth Justice: Models And Approaches

The Unit seeks to compare a wide range of practice and policies, primarily from the United Kingdom, Europe and North America, to examine which approaches to youth justice best meet the needs of young people and wider society through a best practice approach. 

The Unit will start by focusing upon the establishment of a separate youth justice system in the early 1900s to the present day, and will identify the political ideologies and criminal justice and social policies which have shaped the contemporary youth justice system within England and Wales. Within this framework, you will analyse the relationship between the changing knowledge base of youth justice and the ebb and flow of political and professional power. You will consider the impact of these developments on the evolution of professional practice within youth justice and, in particular, the factors which led to the reforms of the youth justice system in the late 1990s and subsequent developments. The Unit will introduce you to the legal and administrative framework of the contemporary youth justice system, the mechanisms for delivery of youth justice services and current debates surrounding policy and practice. Having established the basis of practice within the United Kingdom, the Unit will provide you with knowledge of alternative and complementary youth justice practice from a range of settings from both the developed and developing worlds which will enable you to engage with postcolonial and post disciplinary critiques of Western perspectives of youth and youth offending and perceptions of justice.   

The Unit will be of particular interest to you if you have experience of, or an interest in, youth justice, probation, crime prevention, policing, education and youth work.

Violence In Modern Society

This unit offers a critical examination of violence as a social and cultural phenomenon. It will take into consideration legal definitions of violent crime and examine violence in its different forms, incorporating those forms which are less likely to be perceived as crime, such as consensual sexual violence, violence against children, violence as entertainment and violence as rite and ritual.

To understand the complex issues surrounding violence, culture and society, it is necessary to explore a variety of theoretical and disciplinary approaches used by social scientists in order to both explain violence and understand the contexts in which forms of violence occurs, including gaining an understanding of how violence constructs and is constructed by
the socio-cultural context in which it occurs.

Political violence in the case of terrorism and the states responses will be considered alongside violence against specific groups or individuals - for example, racial or homophobic violence. The history of violence as a component of society will also be considered as will the willingness of ‘the public’ to participate in violent acts of torture, execution and humiliation as public spectacle. In particular these representations of violence have strongly featured in ‘entertainment’ and this will form a focus of study through the analysis of a variety of media forms.

Equity And Trusts

This unit is core subject for a Qualifying Law Degree and aims to introduce you to the study of the nature and the function of the equitable jurisdiction with particular emphasis upon the nature, creation, purpose and enforcement of trusts.

In Land Law (Law001-2) you will have received a brief introduction to the nature of the equitable jurisdiction and the importance of distinguishing between legal and equitable rights. Here you will examine the origins of the equitable jurisdiction, how the jurisdiction differs from the common law system, and the historical and contemporary interaction between the two. You will gain an appreciation of the different guiding philosophy behind the equitable jurisdiction and hence will encounter a different mode of reasoning from the common law.

The key themes running through this unit are to explore the fundamental differences between common law and equity, the changing perspectives on these differences, the more flexible approach adopted by equity, and the need for any lawyer to understand the systemic totality of the outcome of the operation of both these systems of rules. To do this you will have to obtain a working knowledge of the technical language and concepts in this area. These key themes will be explored via practical and primary materials and a keen understanding that equity is a system which is constantly responding to societal change and the demands thereof.

International Human Rights Law

International human rights law (IHRL) is a specialist branch of public international law which is designed to promote and protect the fundamental rights and human dignity of all individuals, without discrimination. Although the initial aim of IHRL was to protect individuals against abuses by the State, in its contemporary form IHRL requires States to take action to protect individuals from abuses committed by private parties and to adopt positive measures aimed at ensuring the effective enjoyment of rights.

Through international action and incorporation in the domestic legal systems of States, international human rights standards inform almost every aspect of everyday life. IHRL is relevant to an ever-increasing range of situations, spacing from the protection of life during law-enforcement operations, to prevention of discrimination, the right to family life, education, working conditions, freedom of expression and religious manifestation.

The IHRL unit covers all of these aspects, with the aim of equipping you with a solid working knowledge of the fundamental principles and mechanisms for the protection and promotion of human rights.

The unit is divided into two parts: Part I addresses the theoretical debate on the nature of human rights, the historical development of IHRL and the institutional framework for the protection of human rights at the global and at the regional level. Part II examines in detail some of the most important human rights and their application in practice. We will not cover all of the fundamental rights which are guaranteed by international human rights law; rather, we will analyse in-depth selected rights and freedoms which illustrate theories, principles, law and practice.

The unit will provide you with a solid grounding in the key principles and norms of IHRL. In addition, by developing your knowledge of the practical application of the international legal protections for fundamental rights and freedoms, the unit aims to enable you to make full use, in your future career, of the potential of IHRL in litigation and advocacy, both at the domestic and the international level.

Dissertation

Independent study and learning and the ability to provide informed critical analysis of complex practical issues are essential requirements for a Law graduate.

The dissertation unit offers you the opportunity to independently identify a current issue of public interest which you feel is deserving of in-depth legal analysis and to produce a substantial piece of legal writing which critically analyses and discusses that topic.

In order to produce a sound piece of legal research on your chosen topic, you will be required to analyse, synthesise and evaluate different primary sources, such as statutes, treaties, regulations, as well as to engage with relevant policy documents and academic literature.

The precise title of the dissertation will be negotiated between you and your supervisor, who will advise and guide you through the planning stage and throughout the various stages to completion of the final thesis.

Fundamentals Of Eu Law

This unit aims to:

• Provide students with a detailed and coherent understanding of the main foundational legal principles pertaining to the law of the European Union and its impact;
• Familiarise students with the institutions, terminology, and fundamental ideas behind the EU project and encourage a critical reflection on the role of the EU in the wider political and socio-economic context.
• Provide students with a systematic understanding of the nature of the relationship between EU law and domestic law (including UK domestic law) and between the European Court of Justice and national courts.
• Introduce students to major areas of substantive EU law and fundamental rights.