Module Catalogue 2026/27

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The Legal Institutions and Method module has three inter-related principal aims:
(i) To provide an introduction to the legal system of England and Wales;
(ii) To help you develop and practice fundamental critical, transferable and legal skills for use in the
other subjects that you will study at Newcastle; and
(iii) To engage you in critical reflection about the law.

Outline Of Syllabus

The English Legal System module is structured around two main areas:

(i) Legal Sources of the English Legal System;
• An overview of legal institutions including an introduction to the statutory law and the common law;
• The structure and functions of courts;
• The theory and practice of judicial precedent;
• Legislation and statutory interpretation;
• The European Convention on Human Rights with respect to precedent
and statutory interpretation;
• An introduction to the sources of international law and how they relate to the English Legal System

(ii) The civil and criminal justice systems;
• Trials and Appeals;
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

At the end of the module students will have knowledge and understanding of:
The institutions and structures of the English Legal System.
The principle sources and key doctrines of English Law.
The structure of the criminal justice system.
The structure of the civil justice system.

Intended Skill Outcomes

At the end of the module students will be able to demonstrate an ability to:
Manage time efficiently in preparing for scheduled learning activities and assessment.
Identify, retrieve and use efficiently a range of library-based and electronic resources.
Summarise and draw upon legal rules, principles and arguments from primary and secondary legal sources.
Communicate in an effective and accurate manner, orally and in writing, information and arguments on the English Legal System.
Begin to understand how to interact effectively in a learning group to share information and ideas, give feedback and begin to learn how to reflect on peer feedback to positively develop and improve their skills.
Become a reflective learner.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures: there will be 26 hours of lectures and these are used to provide a general introduction to the English Legal System, the four topic areas (Precedent, Statutory Interpretation, Criminal Justice System and Civil Justice System). The lectures will also provide guidance on reflective learning, answering MCQs and assessment feedforward and preparation as well as assessment feedback. Alongside the lecture materials, students will be directed towards relevant online materials such as videos and podcasts.

Seminars: There will be four one-hour seminars which provide the opportunity to develop oral, interpretation and evaluative skills. Seminars will include student activity such as group work to discuss seminar preparation questions and provide formative practice opportunities of competing seminar questions ahead of the summative portfolio submission. All seminars will be synchronous events.
Academic Skills Activities: students will have the ability to complete practice MCQs ahead of the summative assessment.

Independent Study: independent study time includes time to read materials on the lecture and seminar reading lists and write up lecture notes.

'Drop-in/surgery' contact time is reserved so students can ask specific questions about the module content or any of its assessments.

Assessment preparation and completion: as the summative assessment comprises MCQs and a portfolio of two written submissions, students will need sufficient time to prepare for the assessments.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

MCQs: Students will sit a 5% MCQ test on each of the four topics (20% total) to assess their knowledge and understanding of foundational issues in the English Legal System.

Portfolio Assessment: Students will submit a portfolio consisting of two completed seminar worksheets which will include a reflective commentary in respect of the skills that they have explored and developed on the module. This element of the assessment will be worth 80% of the overall grade.

General Notes

N/A