LW3005 - Law in Action

This module is based on a blended approach of tutor-led and student-centred enquiry based learning. You will actively participate in your own learning, working individually, or as part of a group. You will learn through 24 hours of lectures, 24 hours of tutor supervised workshops and 24 hours of tutor guided workshops where you are guided by a member of academic staff, but where you and the rest of your group will be required to direct the learning activity. You will also have two ‘drop-in’ tutorial sessions with your tutor in each Semester.

Lectures introduce you to some key principles of criminal and civil law and practice and provide you with an appreciation of the legal services sector and the context within which the lawyer works. Through a series of guest lectures you will hear from skilled professionals working in the field of criminal and civil practice and you will explore the role of the the courts and other organisations and professionals typically encountered by the practising lawyer.

Workshop sessions introduce you to some key lawyering skills and you will begin to apply the legal principles and reflect on what you have learned to resolve problems arising in your criminal and civil case studies. Other guided exercises may build your awareness and recognition of other areas beyond the case scenario, to give you a broader overview of the role of practising lawyer and the legal services sector.

Tutor-led independent learning sessions will support your engagement in workshops and your asessments and enable you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of criminal and civil practice. Resources available from the dedicated module e-Learning Portal (eLP) include recorded lectures, guided reading using digital online reading lists and tools which will provide valuable feedback on your learning.

You will be supported throughout by the Module Tutor and the wider module teaching team who are available to answer your questions either in person or by email. You are encouraged to contact a member of the tutor team for additional support and guidance as necessary throughout the course, either individually or as part of your team. Due to the practical nature of the workshops the teaching team will be on hand to facilitate and provide regular formative feedback to ensure that you are making progress throughout.

Your module is supported by the e-learning portal, which includes lecture and seminar material as well as additional resources for independent study. Your lectures will be recorded and uploaded to the e-learning portal which you will be able to access to consolidate your knowledge and develop understanding. Your electronic reading list includes core material to support your lectures/seminars.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:

• You will begin to understand the laws and procedures associated with criminal and civil legal practice in England and Wales and how lawyers apply legal principles and procedures to resolve client problems and disputes. (LO1)

• You will begin to understand how different professionals and organisations work together to bring criminal and civil cases to a conclusion. (LO2)

• You will use the knowledge and skills from your lectures and workshops and independent learning to generate and present solutions to practical legal problems based on realistic case scenarios. (LO3)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

• You will begin to develop professional communication, case analysis and problem solving skills and an ability to locate and make effective use of legal source material. (LO4)

• You will work independently and/or collaboratively with others throughout the year to resolve problems in your client’s case.(LO5)

• You will reflect on your own performance and experience and that of your peers. (LO6)
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

• You will develop your enquiry and project management skills. (LO7)

• You will begin to develop an appreciation of legal professionalism and professional conduct. (LO8)

Formative Assessment
You will receive weekly formative feedback throughout the module from the teaching team both on an individual basis and as part of your team.

Summative Assessment
Semester 1
Criminal portfolio worth 50% of total module mark comprising: 300 word individual letter, 800-1,000 word group research report; 200 word Individual reflection. These elements are weighted equally and will comprise 100% of this component mark.
(LO1,LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6, LO7, LO8)6Semester 2
Civil Portfolio worth 50% of total module mark comprising: 800-1,000 word group researched memorandum to supervisor and a 200 word individual reflection. The group memorandum and individual reflection are weighted equally and will comprise 90% of this component mark.

The balance of 10% will be earned by attendance and engagement with taught sessions in Semester 2. Marks will be awarded for attending timetabled workshop sessions and evidence of engagement with 4 workshop tasks ((LO1,LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6, LO7, LO8).

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This year-long module is designed to introduce you to the real world of criminal and civil legal practice. Working within the Law School’s vibrant community of academic and legal practitioners, you will focus on two ficticious case scenarios of the kind that criminal and civil practitioners regularly encounter in practice. You will begin to develop key legal skills of oral and written communication, fact management, case analysis and legal research – skills that are central to the work of the practising lawyer. You will also begin to develop knowledge of crime and tort law as you start to address the legal issues in your case. The knowledge and skills you develop in this module will be invaluable to you in your later studies in law as well as in your future legal careers. You will become more confident when identifying solutions to legal problems and when communicating with the public and your peers. You will also begin to appreciate the challenges and opportunities faced by the legal services sector in Engalnd and Wales and the broader context within which the law operates.