Law (with International Relations)LLB (Hons)

Administrative Law

Administrative Law is a core module for the LL.B. courses and the B.A. Law. It provides a contextual introduction to some of the central areas of UK public law. It provides a detailed examination of the principles of administrative law with particular emphasis on the procedure and substantive grounds for judicial review in English law.

The aims of this module are to provide students with a working knowledge and
understanding of administrative law, and to develop several key transferable skills in this
context, including:

A critical understanding of the extent and efficiency of control on governmental
bodies;

An ability to apply legal principles to theoretical examples in order to draw
conclusions and give advice to the citizen;

To engage in independent research, analysis and academic writing, using both primary and secondary sources of law.

The different learning styles of students will be accommodated by the incorporation of a variety of assessment methods in seminars. This is in accordance with the inclusive assessment aims of the ESJ framework.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

Constitutional Law

Constitutional Law provides a contextual introduction to some of the central areas of UK public law. It provides a detailed examination of the principles of constitutional law with particular emphasis on constitutional principles; the rule of law; the sovereignty of Parliament and the UK state post-Brexit.

The aims of this module are to provide students with a working knowledge and
understanding of constitutional law, and to develop several key transferable skills in this
context, including:

1. An understanding of the UK constitution, its unwritten nature, key UK constitutional concepts, parliamentary sovereignty and the position post-BREXIT;

2. An ability to apply legal principles to theoretical examples in order to draw
conclusions and give advice to the citizen;

3. To engage in independent research, basic analysis and academic writing, using both primary and secondary sources of law.

The different learning styles of students would be accommodated by the incorporation of a variety of assessment methods in seminars. This is in accordance with the inclusive assessment aims of the ESJ framework.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

Contract I

The Law of Contract I is one of the foundation subjects of English Law, as identified by the professional legal bodies, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board.
Students will study the principles of contractual formation and contents, including offer, acceptance, consideration, third party rights, terms and exemption clauses.

In its use of experiential workshops, the module will place students at the heart of their learning experience, allowing them to develop both personally and academically. This is in accordance with the Identity, Personalisation and Reflection aims of the ESJ Framework.

The aims of the module are as follows:

1. You will acquire knowledge of the basic precepts of contractual formation and construction;
2. You will develop your skills in finding, reading and understanding sources of law;
3. You will practise the practical and professional skills of legal research, legal analysis and legal writing.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

Criminal Law I

Criminal Law I introduces you to the key principles of Criminal Law, one of the foundation subjects of English Law, as identified by the professional legal bodies, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board.

The module provides an academic introduction to the fundamental rules of criminal law, including the key principles of a number of criminal offences involving homicide. Criminal law affects many aspects of human behaviour and interaction but has complex definitions.

The aims of this module are as follows:
1. To help you to understand the changing landscape of criminal law as well as some of the major debates in the subject.

2. To teach and assess key skills of analysis, academic writing and legal research in the context of criminal law. It does this by emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources of criminal law, including court judgments, Acts of Parliament, Parliamentary Papers and academic journal articles.

3. You will enhance your employability by the development of these skills, and by the practice of written communication activities (including summative) and oral communication activities (formative only).

4. You will gain increasing confidence, self-efficacy and emotional resilience as a result of sharing your opinions and research with other students in tutorial activities and group work. This is in accordance with the Identity, Personalisation and Reflection aims of the ESJ.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

English Legal System

English Legal System introduces you to the workings of the English Legal System in its historical, contemporary and international context. It includes the study of the sources of law; the law-making process; the institutional and court structure; and basic issues of procedure within the English Legal system.

It also enables you to start to acquire the fundamental academic and professional skills necessary for the undergraduate study of law. In this way, it provides a solid support both for the other Level 4 modules, and also for the remainder of the degree course and beyond into professional practice.
This module will give you the opportunity to choose a subject of assessment within the syllabus according to their own particular interests, in accordance with the Inclusive Assessment aims of the ESJ Framework.

The aims of the module are to introduce you to the following:

1. Reflective thinking in the context of contemporary legal issues.
2. A working knowledge of legal language, sources of English law and legal procedure;
3. How to locate legal material;
4. How to read and understand primary and secondary sources of law (paper based and electronic);
5. How to recognise and develop at an introductory level the practical and professional legal skills of advocacy, legal research and legal writing.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

Land Law I

Land Law I is a core module for the LL.B. courses, which introduces students to the key principles of the law relating to real property, one of the foundation subjects of English Law, as identified by the professional legal bodies, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board.

It introduces and builds up a critical understanding of the legal concepts regarding the ownership and co-ownership of land in England and Wales and the control of assets. Students study the system of registered and unregistered land; the rules relating to the transfer of title; and the controls on land use. Leases, licences, mortgages, easements, restrictive freehold covenants and conveyancing will likewise be introduced and analysed. The topics of adverse possession, human rights and torts relating to property provide students with the opportunity to engage with critical enquiry into the experiences of some of society’s disadvantaged groups, clearly facilitating improvement in social justice by education.

Each week the module will focus on a specific aspect of land law that will be taught via an explanation and analysis of the relevant legal principles and statutory rules. This is supplemented by a weekly seminar which requires application of the relevant law to problem-solving questions and essay topics. (LO1, LO2, LO3)

Outside the classroom, it is essential that students study independently by reading the core texts from the reading list. They should also continue to participate on Weblearn via discussion boards and a wider range of activities, including reading of current literature and updates in the law. (LO1, LO2)

Some seminar sessions will also involve group research presentation tasks, which requires peer review. This improves written and oral communication skills and fosters a sense of community in the classroom, alongside developing critical thinking and reflective learning. (LO1, LO2)

Students must produce both formative and summative assessments to deadlines set during the course to be successful. This also encourages students to learn professional practice in meeting deadlines on time. (LO1, LO3)

The module aims are:

1. You will develop several key transferable skills including independent research, basic analysis and academic writing in the context of land law, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources of land law.
2. You will experience enhanced student employability through the practice of written (including summative and formative) and oral communication skills (seminar) activities.
3. You will be immersed in an accessible curriculum that places students at the heart of the learning experience.
4. You will see yourself reflected in the curriculum by embracing and developing diverse perspectives.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

Law of Tort I

Law of Tort 1 is a core module for the LL.B. courses, which introduces students to some of the key principles of the Law of Tort, which is one of the foundation subjects of English Law, as identified by the professional legal bodies, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board.

You will study the principles of the tort of negligence, by far the most significant of the torts in terms of legal practice. These principles include the duty of care, breach of duty, causation and remoteness.

The aims of the module are as follows:
1. You will acquire knowledge of the basic precepts of the tort of negligence;
2. You will develop skills in finding, reading and understanding primary sources of law;
3. You will develop skills in finding, reading and understanding secondary sources of law;
4. You will practise the practical and professional skills of legal research, legal analysis and legal writing.
5. This module will give you the opportunity to experience a relatable curriculum, with case studies, where possible, selected to underscore diversity and inclusion, in accordance with the Identity, Personalisation and Reflection aims of the ESJ Framework.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

Legal Method

Legal Method introduces you to methods of legal research, analysis and logic; to a practical knowledge of the legal profession and careers; and to issues of judicial ethics.

You will learn about legal method, in particular about legal practice, legal scholarship and legal research methods. They also explore issues around legal reasoning and analysis. These skills are be applied in the context of primary legal materials used in their other modules.

In its use of experiential workshops, the module will place you at the heart of their learning experience, allowing them to develop both personally and professionally within their chosen employment sector. This is in accordance with the Identity, Personalisation and Reflection aims of the ESJ Framework.

The aims of the module are as follows:

1. To introduce you to reflective thinking in the context of contemporary issues of legal method.
2. To enable you to continue to acquire the fundamental academic and professional skills necessary for the undergraduate study of law;
3. To provide a solid support both for the other Level 4 modules, and also for the remainder of the degree course and beyond into professional practice;
4. To begin to develop employability skills specific to work within the legal sector and related professions.
5. To begin to develop commercial awareness within the context of the legal sector

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of how to make successful applications within the legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

Contract Law II

The Law of Contract II builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in the study of the LL4050, the Law of Contract I. You will study further key principles of the law of contract, which is one of the foundation subjects of English law, as identified by the professional legal bodies, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board.

This module provides you with the opportunity to engage in an assessment topic of your choosing, selected from within the prescribed syllabus, thereby supporting individuals academic interest in alignment with the Inclusive Assessment objectives of the ESJ framework.

The aims of the module are as follows:

1. You will acquire knowledge of the basic principles of the vitiating factors which might affect the validity and/or enforceability of a contract; and the remedies available for breach of contract.

2. You will develop several key transferable skills, including independent research, critical analysis and cogent academic writing in the context of contract law, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources.

3. You will enhance your employability by the development both of these skills, and by the practice of written communication activities (including summative) and oral communication activities (formative only).

Criminal Law II

Criminal Law II builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in the study of the LL4057, Criminal Law I. Students study further key principles of criminal law, which is one of the foundation subjects of English law, as identified by the Bar Standards Board.

The aims of the module are as follows:

1. You will acquire knowledge of the basic principles of defences; violent offences; and property offences in criminal law.
2. You will develop several key transferable skills, including independent research, critical analysis and cogent academic writing in the context of criminal law, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources.
3. You will enhance your employability by the development of these skills, and by the practice of written communication activities (including summative) and oral communication activities (formative only).
4. You will gain increasing confidence, self-efficacy and emotional resilience as a result of sharing your opinions and research with other students in tutorial activities and group work. This is in accordance with the Identity, Personalisation and Reflection aims of the ESJ.

Land Law II

Land Law II is a core module for the LL.B. and BA Law courses, which builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in the study of the LL4052, Land Law I. Students study further key principles of land law, which is one of the foundation subjects of English law, as identified by the professional legal bodies, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board.

The module continues building on the critical understanding of legal concepts introduced in LL4052 Land Law I. Students study the distinction between a joint tenancy and tenancy in common and the different types of trusts of the family home; the distinction between a lease and licence; leasehold covenants; easements and freehold covenants. The module syllabus provides students with the opportunity to engage with critical enquiry into the experiences of some of society’s disadvantaged groups, clearly facilitating improvement in social justice by education.

The module aims for students are:

1. You will acquire knowledge of the basic principles of leases; the family home; and controls of land use in private law.
2. You will develop several key transferable skills including independent research, critical analysis and cogent academic writing in the context of land law, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources of land law.
3. You will experience enhanced student employability through the practice of written (including summative and formative) and oral communication skills (seminar) activities.
4. You will be immersed in an accessible curriculum that places students at the heart of the learning experience.
5. You will see yourself reflected in the curriculum by embracing and developing diverse perspectives.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

Law of Equity and Trusts I

The Law of Equity and Trusts I is a core module for the LL.B. courses, which introduces students to the key principles of the law relating to equity, trusts and the administration of estates. It is one of the foundation subjects of English Law, as identified by the professional legal bodies, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board.

It introduces and builds up a critical understanding of the legal concepts regarding the resolution of issues of property ownership.

Trusts, including settlements, charities and pension funds, play a vital part in the economic life of the country and are increasingly recognised as indispensable modes of wealth protection or asset mobilisation throughout the world.

The aims of the module are as follows:
1. Students will acquire knowledge of the basic principles of the basic principles of equity and trusts.
2. Students will develop several key transferable skills, including independent research, critical analysis and cogent academic writing in the context of the law of trusts, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources.
3. Students will enhance their employability by the development both of these skills, and by the practice of written communication activities (including summative) and oral communication activities (formative only).
4. An accessible curriculum, that places students at the heart of the learning experience
5. Enabling students to see themselves reflected in the curriculum by embracing and developing diverse perspectives.
6. Empowering the students as change-makers by equipping them with skills to contribute positively to a global and diverse world

Law of Tort II

Law of Tort II is a core module for the LL.B. courses. It builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in the study of Law of Tort I. You will study further key principles of the law of tort, which is one of the foundation subjects of English law, as identified by the professional legal bodies, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board.

The aims of the module are as follows:
1. You will acquire knowledge of the basic principles of the torts of private nuisance, trespass, defamation, and passing off, as well as studying the principles of vicarious liability.
2. You will develop several key transferable skills, including independent research, critical analysis and cogent academic writing in the context of the law of tort, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources.
3. You will enhance your employability by the development of these skills, and by the practice of written and oral communication activities.
4. In accordance with ESJ Framework’s aim to decolonise the curriculum, you will have the opportunity to reflect critically on the purpose and history of legal rules that protect certain groups but leave others marginalised, and to consider alternative perspectives.

Law of the European Union I

Law of the European Union I provides a detailed understanding of the underlying concepts of European Union Law and its topical relationship to domestic law of Member States.

It considers the law-making powers of the EU institutions; the constitutional principles of the EU; the direct effect of EU law; indirect effect and the principle of State Liability; and the key role of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in relation to preliminary references from domestic courts, enforcement actions against Member States, judicial review of EU law and its development of human rights.

The module provides a sound understanding of the key features of the EU legal order, its main institutions, the law-making processes and the legal control of administrative powers in the EU and within EU Member States.

It will provide a sound understanding of the relationship between history, politics, law and economics in the development of the EU.

The aims of the module are as follows:

1. You will acquire knowledge of the institutions of the European Union; the constitutional principles of the EU; the direct and indirect effect of EU law; principle of State Liability; and the key role of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

2. You will develop several key transferable skills, including independent research, critical analysis and cogent academic writing in the context of EU law, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources.

3. You will enhance their employability by the development both of these skills, and by the practice of written communication activities (including summative) and oral communication activities (formative only).

The different learning styles of students will be accommodated by the incorporation of a variety of assessment methods in seminars. This is in accordance with the inclusive assessment aims of the ESJ framework.

Modern Diplomacy: Communication, Representation, Negotiation

On this module you will explore the practice of modern diplomacy. We will explore the historical emergence and evolution of diplomacy and the classic texts of diplomatic theory, before going on to concentrate on the roles and functions of traditional diplomatic institutions, systems and processes, such as embassies, foreign ministries, diplomatic services and international organisations.

This is a highly practical module. You will have opportunities to develop your abilities to write reports and negotiate, and interact with practitioners through visits to relevant institutions and/or practitioner classes.

Peace and Conflict: Practice and Approaches

This module will provide students with an overview of the issues and challenges faced by organisations seeking to build peace in the 21st-century. In doing so, it will explore the roles of international, state and non-state actors, and their relative strengths and weaknesses, including the United Nations, regional organisations such as the European Union and African Union, and NGOs. A crucial element will be exploring the political, economic and ethical dilemmas faced by such actors. It is a core module for the BA International Relations with Peace and Conflict Studies pathway.

Its aims are to examine:

• Some of the main institutions and organisations that work in conflict situations
• The varied objectives and methods of such organisations
• The differences between types of peace actors, including state and non-state
• Introduce some of the core practical skills for working in relevant peace and conflict fields, thus enhancing employability

The New Diplomacy

On this module you will explore the practice of modern diplomacy. You will explore the main challenges posed to diplomatic practice by global change in recent decades: the rise of inclusive multilateral diplomacy in the UN and other fora; the increasing importance of non-state actors in contemporary diplomacy; the impact of faster air travel enabling leaders to conduct their own diplomacy; the revolution in information and communications technology; and innovations in diplomatic institutions (such as the emergence of the European External Action Service).

A key theme running through the module is the evolving nature of international negotiation, which will be illustrated through detailed case studies of environmental and trade diplomacy.

This is a highly practical module. You will have opportunities to develop your abilities to blog and use social media and interact with practitioners through visits to relevant institutions.

Consumer Rights Law

Consumer Rights Law is a 15-credit module which will enable you to develop a comprehensive understanding of modern consumer rights and responsibilities in relation to goods, services and digital content. This module is relevant to a range of careers in law, retailing, consumer advice and marketing of goods and services.

As well as studying the traditional requirements of a sale of goods contract, you will also examine the law on statutory liability for dangerous and defective products, the law regarding the unfair trading practices and the principles and responsibility for regulation of the consumer market.

In this module you will be able to develop a detailed, critical and evaluative knowledge of laws which regulate modern commerce and appreciate the regulation of the consumer market. You will also be able to develop several key transferable skills including independent research, critical analysis and academic writing in the context of the Consumer Rights Law and how to use primary and secondary sources of law.

This module will provide you with the opportunity to choose a subject of assessment within the syllabus according to your own particular interests, in accordance with the Inclusive Assessment aims of the ESJ Framework.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

Employment Law

Employment and Equality Law will focus on the legal relationship between employers and workers as well as the law relating to the prohibition of discrimination both within and outside the employment context. The module examines the diverse nature of individual employment relationships, the content of the contract of employment and the remedies available to the parties on its termination. It outlines the domestic statutory and common law provisions which govern the employment relationship between employers and employees and employers and workers.

The aims of the module are as follows:
1. You will be given opportunities for critical examination of domestic statute and case law related to the prohibition of discrimination.
2. You will develop your practical knowledge of employment and equality law through independent research and application to hypothetical problem questions.
3. You will develop a critical understanding of employment and equality law through analysis of the social and economic context in which the law has developed.
4. You will develop your oral presentation skills in a supportive atmosphere in seminars.
5. You will develop your professional skills through observation of tribunal proceedings.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

Immigrants and Nativists

The course offers students the opportunity to engage with a range of debates surrounding the politics of migration and diaspora studies in a variety of manifestations prevalent in the world in 20th and 21st centuries, combined with the rise of Nativist/Populist movements within the age of post-truth politics.

It looks at the present situation through a historical perspective, taking the current ‘refugee and migration crisis’ as a point of departure, and placing it in a global context. The module specifically focuses on the migration journey from departure to the country of residence, therefore from decision to migrate to diasporisation. The module will also scrutinise the rise of nativism in the shape of the populist far right promoting the interests of native inhabitants against diaspora groups, new citizens and cultural diversity.

Furthermore, the module will inform the students about large-scale refugee and diaspora population movements, and how such movements speak to issues of social justice, global inequalities, human and minority rights. Moreover, the social and economic consequences of migration on sending and receiving societies, as well as the different shapes of nativist opposition to migration and diasporas, will be discussed with different examples in various regions of the world.

The module is intentionally multidisciplinary and incorporates debates from international relations, history, sociology, anthropology, political science and geography. It seeks to answer a number of questions, including:

1. What are the effects of migration on both the states that receive immigrants and the states that send emigrants;
2. How policy-makers respond to these effects and why these responses vary from one country to another;
3. Are there similarities and differences between Nativist/Populist movements?

Students who wish to graduate with BA International Relations with Global Studies must take this module.

Law of Advocacy and Mooting

Advocacy is a key skill for lawyers, diplomats and anyone else in a management position where powers of persuasion – especially of contentious issues – are fundamental to success.

Mooting is the time-honoured method of teaching practical advocacy to lawyers who hope to make a career out of representing clients in the appellate courts.

Even lawyers who do not engage in the dramatics of court-work need to be able to use their advocacy skills in conferences with clients and their opponents, which is why advocacy training is key to most vocational law courses.

This module analyses the traditional tenets of Aristotelian teaching on advocacy, and then applies them to realistic case-study situations where the students are placed in the position of the counsel in various appeal cases, and must demonstrate both their written and oral skills of persuasion to convince the judge of the merits of their case.

Through a series of practical and group exercises, the module aims to teach and develop several key transferable skills including independent research, critical analysis, synthesis of legal material, legal drafting, oral communication and group teamwork.

Students will learn to present oral submissions in the style of a barrister in the appellate court, with the ability to act in accordance with their client’s specific instructions; to distinguish and debate opposing views; and to respond in a professional manner to judicial intervention.

The aims of the module are as follows:

1. Students will acquire knowledge of the basic tenets of successful advocacy.

2. Students will develop several key transferable skills, including independent research; critical analysis; and oral and written contentious debate and presentation, in the context of various areas of law, emphasising the use of primary sources.

3. Student employability will be enhanced by the development of these skills, especially in relation to students who wish to pursue a career involving contentious litigation, court advocacy or diplomacy.

Law of Evidence

The Law of Evidence is a core module for the LL.B. Criminal Law (Hons). It is an optional module for the other LL.B. courses; the B.A. Criminology and Law;
and the B.A. in Law.

The Law of Evidence concerns the information which it is permitted to use to enable the claimant or prosecution to establish their case against a defendant, or to enable the defendant to refute the allegations made against him.

It is not every supposed fact that may be brought in evidence in a trial, as the court has limited time and resources to hear everything – however trivial – that the parties might wish to throw into the debate, and there are a host of issues relating to such matters as unfairness or undue prejudice (especially to the defendant in a criminal case), mistakes, unreliability of witnesses, human rights and public policy which might impact on the propriety of permitting certain statements or documents to be admitted as evidence.

This module examines the rules and ethics of the law of evidence, which have arisen both at common law and under statute, and invites to students critically to analyse these principles both in a theoretical context, and by practical application to realistic case-studies.

The aims of the module are as follows:

1. Students will acquire knowledge of the rules and ethics of the law of evidence, which have arisen both at common law and under statute.

2. Students will develop several key transferable skills, including independent research, critical analysis and cogent academic writing in the context of land law, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources;

3. Students will enhance their employability by the development both of these skills, and by the practice of written communication activities (including summative) and oral communication activities (formative only).

Legal Research Methods

Legal Research Methods, which is offered in both the autumn and spring semesters, provides a detailed understanding of how to prepare for writing a dissertation or thesis on a legal topic.
You will be given practical guidance on:
• how to conduct advanced legal research from both primary and secondary sources;
• how to choose a viable research topic;
• how to write a research proposal;
• how to conduct a literature review; and
• how to choose the right methods and methodology for the dissertation.
In doing this, you will be preparing yourself for conducting legal research in both an academic and professional field, as well as for writing a research dissertation at Level 6.
The aims of the module are as follows:
1. You will acquire advanced knowledge of how to conduct independent legal research and how to organise, assemble and synthesise large amounts of legal material in order to identify legal problems.

2. You will develop several key transferable skills, including independent research, critical analysis and cogent academic writing in the context of writing a research dissertation, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources.

3. You will enhance your employability by the development both of these skills, and by the practice of written communication activities (including summative) and oral communication activities (formative only).

Medical Law

In modern times, the public are increasingly aware of their rights in respect of medical treatment, including the right to be informed of the potential consequences of any treatment, and the right to question the competence and expertise of medical professionals.

This is a dynamic, contemporary subject, which forms the basis of several successful legal practices, and so may have a tangible career benefit for students interested in this sector of law.

The aims of this optional module are as follows:
1. You will acquire knowledge of the basic principles of tort, criminal law and human rights law which balance the relationship between patients and healthcare workers, studying such matters as consent, patient confidentiality, mental capacity, the right to live and the right to die.

2. You will develop several key transferable skills, including independent research, critical analysis and cogent academic writing in the context of medical law, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources.

3. You will enhance your employability by the development of these skills, and by the practice of written and oral communication activities.

4. This module will give you the opportunity to choose a subject of assessment within the syllabus according to your own particular interests and experiences, in accordance with the Inclusive Assessment aims of the ESJ Framework.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

Politics of the Middle East

On this module, you will develop your understanding of politics in the Middle East. We will focus on developments across the region and place them in the context of contemporary international relations. In particular, the module aims to: explain the processes by which the states and societies of the contemporary Middle East were formed; explore the main ideological currents that have influenced the political development of the Middle East, particularly those inspired by religion and nationalism; and examine the international relations of the region, focusing on the sources of conflicts and the difficult relationship between the West and the Middle East.

The module is required for students following the Global South pathway on the BA International Relations.

Sustainability and Environmental Justice

In this module you will have a broad introduction to sustainability, while:

1. Investigating environmental threats including the climate crisis, pollution, and the global biodiversity crisis;

2. Exploring political, social, technological and economic solutions to these problems;

3. Considering systemic environmental inequality along the lines of social class, race/ethnicity, gender and Intergenerationally.

The Politics of the European Union

This module has three principal aims:
1. It will explore the historical origins of the EU and its predecessor bodies in the first two decades after WWII.
2. What agents and factors facilitated such a innovative development in European political history?
3. It will explore the political character of the Union. What sort of organisation is it in political terms? How democratic is it?
4. It will examine its principal policy outputs, including economic, monetary, social and foreign policies

The purpose is for students to gain a better understanding of the nature, inner workings, development, objectives and impact of a major regional organization which, since Brexit, is the biggest political, economic and military neighbour of the UK. This module thus not only helps students get a better sense of the EU, but also will allow them to understand better domestic political developments and the future course of economic and strategic policy of the UK, since these inevitably respond to developments in the EU.

In terms of applied policies, and especially the EU’s place in the world, the module will introduce students to critical perspectives concerning the rooting of European integration in post-imperial and post-colonial dynamics in European history after World War II, and invite them to reflect whether these still inform the EU’s actions and self-perception.

This is a module with a major professional payoff, not only in terms of developing crucial professional skills (research, writing etc.), but also in terms of introducing students to the workings of an expansive organization that provides many professional opportunities for politics graduates, whether in Brussels (for EU citizens) or in the UK for those analysing EU policies for government, think tanks, the private sector and universities.

Theories of International Relations: Discipline and Diversity

International Relations theory holds a central place in the discipline of International Relations. On this module, you will explore in depth and detail some of the most significant theories of world politics, which can be used to explain, understand or critique the nature and dynamics of the international system and how they condition the behaviour of states and other actors. You will explore both explanatory and critical approaches, the former seeking to explain how the international system operates, while the latter seek to transform the nature of world politics in one way or another.

A key theme running through the module is the tension between discipline and diversity. We will interrogate the theories on how open they are to alternative perspectives, interests and voices.

Civil Law and Practice

Civil Law and Practice provides students with an understanding of civil law in a legal practice context. The course introduces students to the civil law process, including the civil court system; alternative dispute resolution; the Civil Procedure Rules; and strategic issues related to settling civil disputes. The module also introduces students to professional conduct rules in a legal practice context.

The module aims to develop several key transferable skills including independent research, critical analysis and written and oral presentation skills in the context of a practical legal subject. It also aims to give students an insight into the practical aspects of law which is particularly valuable if they are contemplating a career in legal practice.

Student employability will be enhanced by the development both of these skills and also by the experiential learning involved in the practical exercises and the pro bono work which is integral both to the study and assessment of this module. The knowledge and skills gained on this module will also assist students who wish to go on to the admission courses set by the professional legal bodies, such as the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board.

Criminal Litigation

Criminal Litigation provides students with an understanding of criminal litigation in a legal practice context. The course introduces students to the criminal litigation process, including the role and powers of the police in relation to stop and search and arrest, the role of the CPS in charging and prosecuting an offender and the structure and jurisdiction of the criminal courts. The module also introduces students to professional conduct rules in a legal practice context.

The module aims to develop several key transferable skills including independent research, critical analysis and written and oral presentation skills in the context of a practical legal subject. It also aims to give students an insight into the practical aspects of law which is particularly valuable if they are contemplating a career in legal practice.

Student employability will be enhanced by the development both of these skills and also by gaining expertise in answering situational judgment, multiple-choice questions, such as are typical in professional legal assessments such as the Solicitors Qualifying Examination and some Bar Practice courses.

AIMS OF THE MODULE:

• This module enables students to see themselves reflected in the curriculum by embracing and developing diverse perspectives.

• This module Empowers all students as change-makers, by equipping them with skills to contribute positively to a global and diverse world.

• In its use of experiential workshops, the module will place students at the heart of their learning experience, allowing them to develop both personally and professionally within their chosen employment sector. This is in accordance with the Identity, Personalisation and Reflection aims of the ESJ Framework.

• This module allows students to engage in formative assessments following every three student led sessions. The assessments incorporate situational judgement and MCQs, and students receive direct feedback. This allows space for continued revision, and for all students to be given the chance to catch-up in their studies and be allocated fairness and inclusivity.

Law of Equity and Trusts II

The Law of Equity and Trusts II is a core module for the LL.B. courses, which introduces students to further key principles of the law relating to equity, trusts and the administration of estates and building upon the knowledge gained from the Law of Equity and Trusts I module. It is one of the foundation subjects of English Law, as identified by the professional legal bodies, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board.

It introduces and builds up a critical understanding of the legal concepts regarding the various obligations and entitlements in the context of the law of trusts.
Trusts, including settlements, charities and pension funds, play a vital part in the economic life of the country and are increasingly recognised as indispensable modes of wealth protection or asset mobilisation throughout the world.

The aims of the module are as follows:
1. To enable you to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the issues indicated in the syllabus.
2. To help you develop several key transferable skills, including independent research, critical analysis and cogent academic writing in the context of the law of trusts, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources.
3. To enhance your employability by the development both of these skills, and by the practice of written communication activities (including summative) and oral communication activities (formative only)
• An accessible curriculum, that places students at the heart of the learning experience
• Enabling students to see themselves reflected in the curriculum by embracing and developing diverse perspectives.
• Empowering the students as change-makers by equipping them with skills to contribute positively to a global and diverse world

Law of the European Union II

This core LLB module builds on the knowledge gained in the Law of the European Union I and provides you with a detailed understanding of the underlying concepts of European Union Law and its relationship to domestic law of the Member States.

In this module you will be able to develop a sound understanding of the key areas of EU law such as EU citizenship; the rights of EU workers; free movement of goods; and competition law.

You will develop several key transferable skills including independent research, critical analysis and academic writing in the context of the Law of the European Union and how to use primary and secondary sources of law.

This module will provide you with the opportunity to choose a subject of assessment within the syllabus according to your own particular interests, in accordance with the Inclusive Assessment aims of the ESJ Framework.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

Action and Identity: Gender and Political Participation

The module introduces you to issues of diversity, equality and rights; it is designed to broaden your knowledge of political practice (parties, elections, systems of government and law-making) and to add to your understanding of how international governmental and non-governmental organisations work.
You will be introduced to the concepts of gender and patriarchy, and to feminist political and IR theories; it will encourage you to develop informed criticisms of mainstream political and IR theories and practice.

International Security Studies: Issues and Challenges

Violence, civil wars, failed states, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, terrorism, climate change, mass migration, military invasions, cyber warfare, poverty and many other such words are rarely absent from the global media landscape. These phrases also seem to be a reflection of the world we inhabit today. They hint at the view that the use of force continues to be a key component of global politics but they are also an indication that non-military threats are increasingly challenging states and individuals. This increasingly broad range of threats has also challenged traditional theories and concepts of international security, and highlighted how this and the multifaceted structures of the international system are interlinked.

The module explores the conceptual and empirical meaning of security through a wide range of issues and topics ranging from the globalisation of crime, the impact of small arms, the role of intelligence to the impact of new technologies such as drones, the role that international collective defence organisations such as NATO play in global security, the challenges raised by mass migration, climate change and postcolonial ideas relevant to security.

The purpose is to investigate what these (and other) issues mean for security. It is clear that these problems must be solved by a means of a different set of policies, but the one thing they all have in common is that they are now all a function of security and therefore cannot be ignored.

The module will also encourage students to develop a range of important Generic Skills.

• The ability to communicate effectively in speech (the ability to work under pressure in seminars, where students must demonstrate the ability to respond to questions orally) and writing (writing an Essay using commonly accepted standards of definition, analysis, grammatical prose, and documentation);

• The ability to work under pressure within specified time constraints, e.g., during seminar discussions and deadlines for all assessments.

• Research skills, including the ability to synthesise and analyse arguments, to read and understand texts on international relations, and to exercise critical judgement;

• The capacity to work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time-management, as well as co-operating with other students to achieve common goals such as is achieved through group work during seminars.

International Security Studies: Theories and Challenges

Security Studies is a crucial discipline that examines the causes and consequences of threats to national and international security. Theories play an essential role in this field as they provide a framework for understanding security issues, assessing threats, and developing strategies to prevent or manage them. Security Studies theories provide a conceptual framework for identifying the root causes of security threats, analyzing their impact, and devising appropriate responses. They also help policymakers and practitioners to prioritize security challenges and allocate resources effectively. In essence, theories are the building blocks of security studies, helping to bridge the gap between academic research and practical policymaking. Without a solid theoretical foundation, security studies would be reduced to a collection of ad hoc responses to security challenges, lacking coherence and direction. Therefore, the study of security theories is crucial for anyone seeking to understand security challenges and contribute to their resolution.

A consideration of the wide range of threats that face states and individuals is a difficult task. The module, therefore, engages with how theoretical understanding of security has evolved in the past decades beginning with an emphasis on traditional state-military centric approaches to showcasing the critical, feminist, constructivist and postcolonial turn within the discipline.

These theoretical developments are illustrated by additional analysis of key themes including the role of international organisations responsible with stabilising the international system along with an analysis of key issues affecting humanity – such as climate change, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and why war and the use of force continue to be a key feature of global politics.

The module will also encourage students to develop a range of important Generic Skills.

• The ability to communicate effectively in speech (the ability to work under pressure in seminars, where students must demonstrate the ability to respond to questions orally) and writing (writing a Regional Report using commonly accepted standards of definition, analysis, grammatical prose, and documentation).

• The ability to work under pressure within specified time constraints, e.g., during seminar discussions and deadlines for all assessments.

• Research skills, including the ability to synthesise and analyse arguments, to read and understand texts on international relations, and to exercise critical judgement.

• The capacity to work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time-management, as well as co-operating with other students to achieve common goals such as is achieved through group work during seminars.

Law Dissertation

The Law Dissertation requires you to undertake detailed, critical research into a law topic of your choice and write an essay of up to 8,000 words.

You will be assigned a supervisor based on your updated research proposal.

The module is structured so that you are required to present a summative research proposal, which then provides the infrastructure for your dissertation. You are expected to engage with regular supervision throughout the process.

You will develop an advanced understanding of your chosen specialist area of law.

This module will give you the opportunity to choose a topic of research/assessment within the syllabus according to your own particular interests, in accordance with the Inclusive Assessment aims of the ESJ Framework.

The aims of the module are to:

• allow you independently to research and develop an expert understanding of an area of law of your choice;

• improve both your research and independent study skills;

• enhance your ability to develop critical arguments

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

Law Research Essay

The Law Research Essay module requires the students to undertake detailed, critical research into a law topic of their choice and to write a research proposal (500 words) and a research-based essay (1,500 words).

Students are assigned a supervisor based on their choice of topic.

The module is structured so that students are required to present an assessed research plan, which then provides the infrastructure for their extended essay. Students are expected to engage with regular supervision throughout the process.

Students will develop an advanced understanding of their chosen specialist area of law.
The aims of the module are to:
• allow students independently to research and develop an expert understanding of an area of law of their choice;
• improve both the research and independent study skills of the students;
• enhance the ability of students to develop critical arguments
By researching their chosen area of law, students will be equipped with specialist skills and knowledge, to help them stand out in the job market.

Child Law

This module aims to provide students with knowledge of the legal rules and principles relating to Child Law and proposed reforms and to encourage critical analysis of the law in context.

In Child Law module, the topics covered in the module are private law disputes concerning children, local authorities and families, assisted reproduction and parenthood.
cogent academic writing in the context of criminal law, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

Civil Liberties and Human Rights

Civil Liberties and Human Rights gives a clear, coherent and up to date account of the law of human rights and civil liberties, concentrating on the position of civil liberties and human rights protection in the light of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the standards of human rights protection laid down in the European Convention on Human Rights

It introduces and builds up critical understanding of the legal concepts which govern individual and collective rights and responsibilities, including the constraints the state may place on the citizen’s exercise of his or her human rights.

The module aims to develop several key transferable skills including independent research, critical analysis, legal drafting and academic writing in the context of the law of civil liberties and human rights, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources of law. It will encourage and enable you to develop a sophisticated understanding of the relationship that exists - in terms of specific individual rights and freedoms - between the State and the citizen in the UK today and how the legal, social and political conflicts and tensions which are intrinsic to that relationship influence policy, decision-making and legislation.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

Company Law

This module examines the legal framework within which companies operate in the United Kingdom. The module aims to provide you with in-depth knowledge of the fundamental rules and principles governing the operation and regulation of companies in the United Kingdom from the time that a company is formed to the time that it goes into liquidation. Company law is a vital and dynamic topic for anyone interested in working in the corporate sector, and anyone who needs to know how businesses operate.

The module aims to develop several key transferable skills including independent research, critical analysis and academic writing in the context of company law, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources of law.

The aims of the module are as follows:

1. You will acquire knowledge of the rules and regulations of company law, which have arisen both at common law and under statute.
2. You will develop several key transferable skills, including independent research, critical analysis and cogent academic writing in the context of company law, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources;
3. You will enhance your employability by the development both of these skills, and by the practice of written communication activities (including summative) and oral communication activities (formative only).

Conflict Resolution: Building Sustainable Peace

This module will provide students with an overview of both the theory and practice of contemporary conflict resolution. It examines an array of conflict resolution mechanisms and strategies, including conflict prevention, negotiation, mediation, arbitration, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. It also explores a variety of concrete cases relating to modern, post-Cold War conflicts. This is a core module for the BA International Relations with Peace and Conflict Studies pathway.

Its aims are to:

• Examine a range of approaches to the cessation of contemporary conflicts and the conditions that may be necessary for peace
• Explore the differing mechanisms and strategies for securing peace, including negotiation, mediation and arbitration
• Focus upon both the domestic and international actors involved in these processes
• Provide students with an understanding of relevant theories and empirical material for comparative analysis

Conflict Resolution: Concepts and Strategies

This module will provide students with an overview of both the theory and practice of contemporary conflict resolution. It examines an array of conflict resolution mechanisms and strategies, including conflict prevention, negotiation, mediation, arbitration, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. It also explores a variety of concrete cases relating to modern, post-Cold War conflicts. This is a core module for the BA International Relations with Peace and Conflict Studies pathway.

Its aims are to:

• Examine a range of approaches to the cessation of contemporary conflicts and the conditions that may be necessary for peace
• Explore the differing mechanisms and strategies for securing peace, including negotiation, mediation and arbitration
• Focus upon both the domestic and international actors involved in these processes
• Provide students with an understanding of relevant theories and empirical material for comparative analysis

Entertainment Law

Entertainment Law explores how key areas of the entertainment industries operate, and evaluates the impact of the law upon them. This module provides the key skills necessary to understand the legal concepts, cases and contracts underpinning a career in entertainment law.

Module aims:

1. To provide an understanding of the core concepts of copyright and certain related intellectual property rights
2. To provide an understanding of key contracts and concepts shaping the Entertainment industry
3. To provide students with an opportunity for analysis and application of the law to factual circumstances which occur in the entertainment industries
4. To understand the business obligations and expectations created by various forms of contractual relations within the sector
5. To develop a student’s ability to undertake study and research both individually and as part of a group
6. To develop a student’s ability to use a range of legal sources applicable to Entertainment Law

Environmental Law

Environmental Law covers a wide range of concepts. It includes a consideration of the protection of natural resources through the traditional aspects of law but also through a range of principles and policy considerations.

Increasingly, the effectiveness of environmental protection requires a consideration of the impact of business, not only as part of the problem of environmental degradation, but also as part of the solution to the future protection of exhaustible natural resources.

Students will be able to explore a range of selected contemporary environmental issues including climate change and renewable energy. Issues of sustainable development are underpinned by aspects of environmental justice and will be considered from domestic and global perspectives.

Overall, the module will aim to contextualise environmental law within the wider constructs of socio-economic and ethical considerations.

This module aims to facilitate a critical approach to an understanding of environmental regulation and the policy through the exploration of contemporary issues at all levels of law and policy making (including the domestic, European and international).
There are many career opportunities within the environmental field including work as an environmental lawyer (public or private practice), public policy advisor, working within government agencies e.g. DEFRA or the Environmental Agency or for NGO’s such as Friends of the Earth.

Family Law

Family Law aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of key legal rules and principles of family law and develop in students a critical perspective of contemporary issues and proposed law reforms.

The topics covered are: nullity of marriage, ending marriage by divorce, financial remedies on divorce, protection through the courts against from domestic violence, and comparison of legal remedies of married couples and cohabiting couples. [Civil partnership and dissolution of partnership will be referred to in outline only.]

The aims of the module are:

1. To facilitate students’ acquisition of a sound knowledge and understanding of some of the key rules and principles of family law and their development through statute and case law.

2. To promote the development of students’ transferable skills of legal problem solving, independent legal research using primary and secondary sources, critical analysis of contemporary issues, and cogent academic writing in the context of family law.

3. To enhance students’ employability by the development of these skills and by the practice of both oral and written communication throughout the module.

International Trade Law

International Trade Law concerns shipping and cross-border trade, which are interrelated in both pragmatic and legal terms.

This module enables you to obtain a deep understanding of the context and characteristics of international sale contracts concluded on shipment terms. You will learn about the importance of English law in international commercial contracts. You will also be able to distinguish between the physical and documentary duties of the trade protagonists under a sale contract, understand the cardinal role of the bill of lading in shipping and commerce, and the importance of the proper drafting of the sale contract.

The aim of this module is to enable you to identify, decipher and debate relevant legal issues arising from international commercial law disputes. You will have the expertise to scrutinise sale contracts on shipment terms and advise the buyer and seller as to their respective rights and liabilities, with reference to English law.

This module will give you the opportunity to choose a subject of assessment within the syllabus according to your own particular interests, in accordance with the Inclusive Assessment aims of the ESJ Framework.

It will be of particular interest to you, if you are considering a career in commercial law in general.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

Jurisprudence

Jurisprudence provides an introduction to legal theory, covering basic theoretical and ethical perspectives on the law. You will receive a sound understanding of the theories of different jurisprudential schools of thought and the contributions made to legal thinking by leading jurists from the Ancient Greeks to contemporary thinkers. The aim is to provide you with background knowledge of the science or philosophy of law.

You will learn how jurisprudence has contributed to the development of modern political, economic and legal systems. In addition, the course is placed in a modern setting and aims to raise contemporary ethical debates in order to raise awareness of the ethical background against which the law and legal practice needs to be understood.

The study of jurisprudence permits a fuller understanding of the rational and ethical values that underpin the law and systems of justice.

The aims of this module include:

1. To provide you with an understanding of legal ideologies which have contributed to the development of legal, political and socio-economic systems in the world.

2. To explore philosophical questions relevant to legal systems, particularly concerning the relationship between law and morality.

3. To encourage you to recognize the ethical issues inherent in legal thinking and practice and to examine and articulate their own arguments in respect of such issues.

4. To develop your powers of reasoning and critical thinking and to increase your awareness of the relevance of theoretical issues to practical problems.

5. To enable you to increase your capacity to work in teams cooperatively and effectively through participation in topical debates and to take initiative and responsibility in the context of such group work, so increasing competence in discussion and oral presentation.

6. To develop your ability to organise and synthesise large amounts of information in order to present key issues at an early stage in their research.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

Law of Evidence

The Law of Evidence is a core module for the LL.B. Criminal Law (Hons). It is an optional module for the other LL.B. courses; the B.A. Criminology and Law;
and the B.A. in Law.

The Law of Evidence concerns the information which it is permitted to use to enable the claimant or prosecution to establish their case against a defendant, or to enable the defendant to refute the allegations made against him.

It is not every supposed fact that may be brought in evidence in a trial, as the court has limited time and resources to hear everything – however trivial – that the parties might wish to throw into the debate, and there are a host of issues relating to such matters as unfairness or undue prejudice (especially to the defendant in a criminal case), mistakes, unreliability of witnesses, human rights and public policy which might impact on the propriety of permitting certain statements or documents to be admitted as evidence.

This module examines the rules and ethics of the law of evidence, which have arisen both at common law and under statute, and invites to students critically to analyse these principles both in a theoretical context, and by practical application to realistic case-studies.

The aims of the module are as follows:

1. Students will acquire knowledge of the rules and ethics of the law of evidence, which have arisen both at common law and under statute.

2. Students will develop several key transferable skills, including independent research, critical analysis and cogent academic writing in the context of land law, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources;

3. Students will enhance their employability by the development both of these skills, and by the practice of written communication activities (including summative) and oral communication activities (formative only).

Law of Immigration and Asylum

The Law of Immigration and Asylum provides students with an understanding of the legal concepts of immigration and nationality. This will involve a study of the rules relating to temporary admissions, settlement, deportation, illegal entry, removal and asylum.

You will gain a critical appreciation of the rules, policies, Conventions and cases which are integral to this field of law and become aware of the variety of applications that may be made in the tribunals, both through independent research and by visits to the relevant tribunals. You will also develop an understanding of the ethical implications arising out of UK Immigration policy as evidenced in the most recent case law and legislation.

The module aims to develop several key transferable skills including independent research, critical analysis, legal drafting and academic writing in the context of the law of immigration and asylum, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources of law.
Student employability will be enhanced by the development both of these skills, and by
the practise of written and oral communication skills and group participation skills in class discussions.
• An accessible curriculum, that places students at the heart of the learning experience
• Enabling students to see themselves reflected in the curriculum by embracing and developing diverse perspectives.
• Empowering the students as change-makers by equipping them with skills to contribute positively to a global and diverse world

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

Penal Policy

This module provides an introduction to theories of punishment from a criminological and sociological standpoint. It also deals with aspects of sentencing practice and procedure and allows students to participate in sentencing simulation exercises and debates. Certain categories of offender (e.g. young offenders, women) are considered in depth. Finally, the issue of penal reform, including restorative justice, is addressed in the light of the most recent initiatives in the field.

The course includes:

• an introduction to theories of punishment and their historical roots with an emphasis upon critical discussion of the conceptual positions that underscore the system.

• an introduction to the range of sentencing options available to the courts and an awareness of the considerations that confront sentencers in making sentencing decisions.

• techniques for the presentation of arguments relating to sentencing

• a discussion of the institutional experiences of different categories of offenders in a range of penal institutions

a general discussion of the possibilities for reform of the penal system

Public Diplomacy and Global Influence

As public opinion has been seen as increasingly influential and important in world politics, states and other international non-state actors have rediscovered public and cultural diplomacy, a form of diplomatic practice in which states engage with publics both abroad and at home. Due to changes in global information services, these forms of public diplomacy and statecraft are undergoing rapid change.

The module examines the changing nature of public and cultural diplomacy in the context of the evolution of global political communications. It explores competing definitions and interpretations of public and cultural diplomacy, along with how their practices have changed in recent decades, especially since the end of the Cold War.

The module employs a constructivist approach to facilitate student learning with a focus on authentic, context specific forms of engagement. Therefore, thematic topics will include an analysis of empathetic forms of communication along with matters of trust, cultural awareness, collective memory, and mutual forms of foreign policy making.

In studying this module, you will be encouraged in the classroom to use social media, multimedia and internet resources. This is complimented by students gaining experience of the nature of contemporary public diplomacy. You will attain knowledge of international political communication.

Public International Law

This module introduces you to the legal rules, principles, and institutions governing the conduct of states in their relations with each other. Against a backdrop of increasing global interconnection and conflict, public international law represents a continuous effort to manage world affairs and address shared problems.

You will study how international law is created, interpreted, and enforced, examining its sources, the central role of the United Nations, and the limits placed upon state conduct. The module covers foundational topics, including sovereignty, treaties, jurisdiction, and state responsibility, alongside the key actors such as states, international organisations, and individuals. We then explore significant sub-fields including the law of armed conflict, human rights, and the emerging legal regimes for climate change and outer space.

The aims of the module are as follows:

• You will develop a comprehensive understanding of the foundational principles, sources, and institutional structures of the public international law system.

• You will learn to analyse critically the role and limitations of international law in addressing contemporary global challenges, including armed conflict, climate change, and human rights violations.

• You will critically evaluate the traditional, West-centric foundations of international law, exploring alternative perspectives and silenced voices, in accordance with the Decolonising the Curriculum principles of the ESJ Framework.

• You will be empowered to see law as a potential instrument for social change by engaging with critical legal theories and examining how legal structures can challenge or perpetuate inequality, reflecting the Critical Theory and Pedagogy aims of the ESJ Framework.

• You will build confidence in articulating your own perspective on complex legal and political issues through an interactive learning environment and a choice of assessment topics, in line with the Identity, Personalisation and Reflection and Inclusive Assessment aims of the ESJ Framework.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

Strategic Communications and Global Media

As public opinion has become increasingly influential and important in world politics, states and other international non-state actors have engaged with publics both abroad and at home. Due to changes in global information services, these forms of strategic communication are undergoing rapid reforms in structure and content.

The module examines the on-going evolution of global political communications. It explores the nature of international political communication, evaluating key concepts such as propaganda, place branding, soft power and strategic communications, and the role of culture in world politics more broadly, including media such as film and the internet.

The module facilitates student learning through a constructivist approach with a focus on authentic, context specific forms of engagement. Through real-world scenarios, students will hone their skills as political communicators by cooperating with one another to address the complexities inherent in the international system. Therefore, thematic topics will include an analysis of empathetic forms of communication along with matters of trust, cultural awareness, collective memory, and mutual forms of foreign policy making.
In studying this module, you will attain knowledge of strategic international political communication.