Module detail

SHE level	1
SCQF credit points	20.0
ECTS credit points	10.0
Module code	M1M125702
Module Leader	Nicholas McKerrell
School	Glasgow School for Business and Society
Subject	Law
Trimester	A (September start)

Summary of content

An Introduction to the Scottish Legal Environment - Legal Systems: Scottish Legal Institutions, UK Legal Institutions EU Institutions Council of Europe/European Convention of Human Rights
Scottish Courts & Procedure Legal Personnel. Legal Aid
Tribunals
ADR including arbitration
Introduction to Legal Study and how to think about Law
-Sourcing Legal Materials:
Statutes & Delegated Legislation, Precedent
Law Reports Journals Paper and Online databases
Legal Skills - identifying legal issues research skills - finding relevant law legal reading legal writing citation and referencing and how they relate to ethics and plagiarism
Advocacy and speech literacy legal argument - mooting

The role of lawyers in society is changing - lawyers are increasingly expected to be pro-active in the prediction and prevention of unethical as well as unlawful behaviour across all areas of society. The delivery of the module will embed PRME principles including: developing graduates who care about social responsibility developing learning and teaching which enables graduates to become responsible leaders and practitioners and developing graduates who will advise businesses and other stakeholders to explore mutually beneficial responses to social and legal challenges.

Module details

By the end of this module students will have gained competence in the following key areas: Subject specific:

Sources and Research

Differentiate between and use appropriately primary and secondary sources, and identify and retrieve up-to-date legal information using paper and electronic sources by:
Using sources that are up-to-date from paper and electronic repositories
Using sources (primary and secondary) that are appropriate to the context
Using recognised methods of citation and reference
Using sources that are current at the point of assessment
Using sources to support arguments and conclusions

Undertake independent research (both paper-based and electronic) in areas of law which he or she has not previously studied by:

Identifing accurately the issue(s) which require researching and formulate them clearly.

Sourcing and research skills are developed within this module through the following activities:
preparation for, presentation at and participation in researched seminar activity
preparation for and participation in workshop activity
preparation for, presentation at and participation in researched assessment activity
carrying out directed learning tasks
solving well defined ( typically hypothetical) problems through essays, seminars and group work

Communication and Literacy
The ability to communicate information, ideas, advice and choices in an effective and succinct manner and in plain English without losing focus on key issues. The ability to listen and question effectively, to give and receive feedback and to make presentations addressing an allocated topic within the prescribed time frame. The ability to communicate both orally and in writing (and, where appropriate, by the use of electronic means) using the English language accurately by creating work which is comprehensible to the intended audience. The ability to create documents which are analytical, descriptive and inquisitive using appropriate terminology and recognised methods of citation and reference. Such skills are developed within this module through the following activities:
creating work in a permanent format which is understandable by the intended audience
create documents which are analytical, descriptive and inquisitive.
using appropriate legal terminology in all work.
using recognised methods of citation and reference

Communication and literacy skills are developed within this module through the following activities:

Preparing for seminars
Engaging in group work in seminars
Undertaking an assessed group presentation in front of class
Lectures and Workshops on Legal Referencing and Citations.
Lectures and Workshops on Presentation skills and Mooting.
Preparing group project on specified legal case
Preparing a fully referenced skeleton legal argument with partner
Participate in assessed Moot (Mock legal argument) with partner in mock court room

Analysis, Synthesis, Critical Judgment and Evaluation

The ability to identify issues, assimilate, evaluate and analyse information to construct written or oral solutions to a problem by bringing together and integrating relevant information, and selecting key material, from a variety of different sources. The ability to present arguments for and against propositions, acknowledging ranking of sources and relative impact in context. Such skills are developed within this module through the following activities:

Lectures and Workshops on Problem solving
Managing, analysing and rating a large volume of legal sources in written and oral form
Acknowledging ranking of sources and relative impact in context.
Application of the law and problem-solving in a legal context.

Personal Management, Independence and Ability to Learn
The ability to organise and prioritise effectively the expenditure of time and effort in the performance of all aspects of student work. The ability to learn effectively and be aware of their own learning strategies to manage their own learning development and to reflect upon their learning, seeking and making use of feedback. Such skills are developed within this module through the following activities:

Meeting deadlines for assessments
Completion of preparatory work for seminars which will require students to identify and access primary and secondary source materials.
Complete on-line test independently in own time
Completion of tasks during the workshop time overseen by tutor

Numeracy, IT Skills and Teamwork

Where relevant and as the basis for an argument, the ability to present and evaluate information provided in numerical or statistical form. The ability to produce and present in an appropriate form a word-processed essayt. The ability to conduct efficient searches of websites to locate relevant information and exchange documents by E-mail. The ability to work productively and cooperatively in different kinds of groups to establish working relations with others, defining, sharing and delegating responsibilities within the group. Such skills are developed within this module through the following activities:

Word processed group project and skeleton argument
Workshop tasks requiring retrieval of information using electronic databases eg Westlaw and Library resources
Communication with module team via e-mail.
Send skeleton argument electronically
Complete and pass online assessment on the Legal System
Accessing materials on GCU Learn
Participation in seminar discussions and role play.
Undertake Group Project from Week 2 with 3 colleagues - to prepare a written project and group presentation
- Prepare a skeleton legal argument with partner
-Undertake a Speed Moot (Mock Legal Argument) with partner

Module structure

Activity	Total hours
Lectures	26.00
Tutorials	22.00
Independent Learning	120.00
Assessment	32.00

Assessment methods

Component	Weighting	Threshold	Description
Course Work001	50	35	Group presentation/Project on case
Course Work002	20	35	Moot skeleton written argument
Course Work003	30	35	Moot
Course Work004	0	35	Online MCQ on Scottish Legal System

Academic essentials

Introduction to Legal Systems and Study

Summary of content

Module details

Module structure

Assessment methods