LAW3032 : Legal Theory
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Emilia Mickiewicz
- Owning School: Newcastle Law School
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To provide an understanding of the leading schools of legal theory, and to appreciate their understanding within wider intellectual movements. To develop the particular theoretical, critical and interdisciplinary skills that are appropriate to legal study. To develop the various skills listed below. To encourage students to contemplate post-graduate work in this field. This aim reflects the fact that, over many years, students taking this course have gone on to study legal theory as post-graduates.
Outline Of Syllabus
Introduction to Legal Theory.
Natural Law (the Classical Tradition and Procedural Natural Law)
Legal Positivism
American Legal Realism
Ronald Dworkin
Alan Gewirth’s Contribution to Secular Natural Law and its Practical Applications
Law, Power, and Political Philosophy (examining John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Carl Schmitt, and Michel Foucault)
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 68 | 1:00 | 68:00 | N/A |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | Two recorded lectures and accompanying lecture material (text) published on Canvas |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 5 | 1:00 | 5:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Q&A on Zoom. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 97:00 | 97:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | Guided Film Screening |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The use of lecturing as the principle teaching method is justified in terms of providing an overarching narrative coherence to the course. It is necessary in order to secure the requisite knowledge base needed in order to underpin stated learning outcomes. Seminars are used in order to effect the development of a critical and contextual understanding of the various theories of law covered in the lectures. Private study is directed so as to supplement the development of seminar skill, to confirm the establishment of the basic knowledge base, and to concentrate research skills in particular areas of individual study.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 2 | M | 100 | 2500 words |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Prior to the submission of the summative essay, there will be a formative self-assessment (with academic oversight). Students will prepare a plan (on one piece of A4 paper) of the (summative) essay they aim to submit. Following the date by which this plan has to be completed, generally applicable assessment criteria (aligned with the law School’s marking criteria) will be made available to students taking the course. They will then self-assess their respective plans by reference to the assessment criteria made available to them. This self-assessment exercise will be followed by an online question-and-answer session. This self-assessment exercise has the following purposes: (i) to provide opportunities to seek clarification on the guidance given, (ii) to spur further critical reflection relevant to the delivery of the summative essay, (iii) to encourage engagement with the Law School’s marking criteria (a source of guidance that few students attend to closely, if at all), and (iv) to build resilience in students as they wrestle with the exacting task of composition.
A research-based essay assignment is the most appropriate means by which to assess the development skills (in the areas of analysis, argument, research), whilst also making it possible for students to demonstrate the development of necessary subject-specific knowledge bases.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- LAW3032's Timetable