Aims of the course
- To help those who have decided to commit themselves to a degree in law in this country;
- To enlighten non-lawyers who need to know how the law works (journalists, social workers, etc.);
- Anyone interested in how legal systems hold societies together.
Target audience
This course is open to anyone with an interest in the field: potential law students; anyone interested in the law, and people with an interest in how politicians have to engage with legal constraints.
Course content overview
Teaching week 1 - How law cements society
To enlighten non lawyers and those who have just embarked on a law course how the rule of law arose in medieval Britain to restrain the powers of the ruler in respect of the citizen. How private law was essential for the maintenance of justice between citizens, so that a wrong perpetrated by one citizen against another is compensated/punished, depending whether it is civil of criminal.
Learning outcomes
- A thorough understanding about why and how the rule of law underlies the maintenance of a civil and peaceful society
- The different types of law: legislation, common law and equity
Teaching week 2 - Criminal Law vs Civil Law
Learning outcomes
- An understanding about the divide between a civil wrong, which usually leads to an award of compensation to the victim from the wrongdoer, and a criminal act, which does not necessarily result in a monetary award but some sort of punishment for the wrongdoer
- Why this difference is so important: the distinction between negligence and intention to do harm
Teaching week 3 - Tools and resources
The use of materials in law is quite different from other disciplines. This unit is designed to teach students how to handle legal materials, rather than passing exams.
Learning outcomes
- An appreciation of the importance of primary sources
- Understanding why it is so important to find a relevant precedent in the law reports
- To appreciate the significance of being able to read statutes and judicial decisions, over second hand textbook analyses
- Understanding the structure of a law report and statute books
Teaching week 4 - Who's to judge?
To explain the structure of the English court system, and the dual professions of barristers and solicitors.
Learning outcomes
- An understanding of the doctrine of precedent
- The practical difference between levels of court: the High Court, the Crown Court, the Court of Appeal, the Court of Criminal Appeal, Magistrates’ Courts, County Courts etc.
- An appreciation of the rulings of the various International Courts and their effect on domestic law
Teaching week 5 - Civil rights and wrongs
To acquaint participants with the range of civil actions available to the individual: breach of contract, tort, breach of trust. Civil rights enjoyed by the individual against the state enforceable by judicial review.
The post-Brexit future of European Union law (Brussels) and the rights set out in the European Convention of Human Rights (Strasbourg).
Learning outcomes
- Understanding of the difference between actions between citizens (“private law”) and actions against the state (“public law”)
- An appreciation of why there is so much controversy about the proposed repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 under the present government
Schedule (this course is completed entirely online)
Orientation Week: 8-14 January 2024
Teaching Weeks: 15 January-18 February 2024
Feedback Week: 19-25 February 2024
Each week of an online course is roughly equivalent to 2-3 hours of classroom time. On top of this, participants should expect to spend roughly 2-3 hours reading material, etc., although this will vary from person to person.
While they have a specific start and end date and will follow a weekly schedule (for example, week 1 will cover topic A, week 2 will cover topic B), our tutor-led online courses are designed to be flexible and as such would normally not require participants to be online for a specific day of the week or time of the day (although some tutors may try to schedule times where participants can be online together for web seminars, which will be recorded so that those who are unable to be online at certain times are able to access material).
Virtual Learning Environment
Unless otherwise stated, all course material will be posted on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) so that they can be accessed at any time throughout the duration of the course and interaction with your tutor and fellow participants will take place through a variety of different ways which will allow for both synchronous and asynchronous learning (discussion boards etc).
Certificate of participation
A Certificate of Participation will be awarded to participants who contribute constructively to weekly discussions and exercises/assignments for the duration of the course.
What our students say:
"Very well presented material and so available English, which is reflected not only as legal language, but also in comprehensibility for a person who is not fluent in English."
"The lectures that Rosalind English gave were excellent. The course developed week by week just as the legal system had evolved over the centuries. I have been through each lecture more than once. I did enjoy writing essays in response to the course work."
