The Law of England and Wales: An Introduction

A Certificate of Participation is awarded to participants who contribute constructively to weekly discussions and exercises/learning activities for the duration of the course. This tutor-led, cohort-based online course is 7-weeks in duration and is made up of 5 teaching units. Unit 1 - How law cements society To enlighten non lawyers and those who have just embarked on a law course how the rule of law arose in medieval Britain to restrain the powers of the ruler in respect of the citizen. How private law was essential for the maintenance of justice between citizens, so that a wrong perpetrated by one citizen against another is compensated/punished, depending whether it is civil of criminal. Learning objectives: - To provide a thorough understanding about why and how the rule of law underlies the maintenance of a civil and peaceful society. - To look at the different types of law: legislation, common law and equity. Unit 2 - Criminal Law vs Civil Law Learning objectives: - To provide an understanding about the divide between a civil wrong, which usually leads to an award of compensation to the victim from the wrongdoer, and a criminal act, which does not necessarily result in a monetary award but some sort of punishment for the wrongdoer. - To question why this difference is so important: the distinction between negligence and intention to do harm. Unit 3 - Tools and resources The use of materials in law is quite different from other disciplines. This unit is designed to teach students how to handle legal materials, rather than passing exams. Learning objectives: - To provide an appreciation of the importance of primary sources. - To provide an understanding of why it is so important to find a relevant precedent in the law reports. - To appreciate the significance of being able to read statutes and judicial decisions, over second hand textbook analyses. - To understanding the structure of a law report and statute books. Unit 4 - Who's to judge? To explain the structure of the English court system, and the dual professions of barristers and solicitors. Learning objectives: - To provide an understanding of the doctrine of precedent. - To explore the practical difference between levels of court: the High Court, the Crown Court, the Court of Appeal, the Court of Criminal Appeal, Magistrates’ Courts, County Courts etc. To provide an appreciation of the rulings of the various International Courts and their effect on domestic law. Unit 5 - Civil rights and wrongs To acquaint participants with the range of civil actions available to the individual: breach of contract, tort, breach of trust. Civil rights enjoyed by the individual against the state enforceable by judicial review. The post-Brexit future of European Union law (Brussels) and the rights set out in the European Convention of Human Rights (Strasbourg). Learning objectives: - To understand the difference between actions between citizens (“private law”) and actions against the state (“public law”). - To provide an appreciation of why there is so much controversy about the proposed repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 under the present government.