LW1LAS-Law and Society

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Frances Hamilton
Email: f.r.hamilton@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This first year option is designed to help you with gaining knowledge and understanding around the role law plays in modern society. You will examine the interrelationship between law and the other social, cultural and political elements that make up the society in which we live.

 You will consider some profound changes that have taken place in society over the last 200 years and critically analyse how the law has evolved to meet the changing needs and values of that society. You will consider the relationship of law to those changes and assess whether the law has been successful in keeping pace.

Specific topics may change on a yearly basis but we intend to pursue themes including law and gender, law and scientific developments, law and morality and current issues in criminal law.

Aims:

What will I learn on this module?

Aims:

• To provide students with an understanding of the relationship between Law and Society and current themes which we intend to pursue on this course (including law and gender, law and scientific developments, law and morality and current issues in criminal law).  


• To provide students with an introduction to the foundations of English law and a prevailing theme of human rights throughout the course.


• To provide an opportunity to practice working and presenting within groups, a key employability skill.


• Students will also develop research and analytical skills, very useful for courses focusing on research skills later on in the degree.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of this module it is expected that the student will be able to:

• Evaluate current issues involving changes in society and the response of the law


• Analyse current issues in relation to the specific topics studied under the broader themes of law and gender, law and scientific developments, law and humanities and current issues in criminal law


• Describe and analyse the impact of social media in the legal system


• Identify some fundamental legal rules and apply these rules in considering legal issues


• Formulate and evaluate simple legal arguments

Additional outcomes:

• Students will develop research skills and technology skills in preparing for and completing these exercises


• Students will improve their presentation, communication and debating skills


• Students will be required to work in groups during seminars, so will improve their teamwork skills.

Outline content:

Specific topics may change on a yearly basis but we intend to pursue themes including:

• Law and gender


• Law and scientific developments


• Law and Morality


• Current issues in criminal law 

Global context:

Analysis and understanding of European Court of Human rights case law will be prevalent throughout the course.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

We will offer a mix of lectures and seminars covering the 4 main themes, with 10 hours of lectures per term, one per week (20 hours total) and 4 x 2 hourly seminars per term (in total 8 or 16 hours). 

There will be focus formative activities (for example including debates, group presentation and poster) which the students will need to prepare in advance and bring to the relevant seminar to present to the group. We will be encouraging questions and peer review from the observing students. There is an expectation of whole-class participation.

Students will also get the chance to complete a practice essay question which will receive formative feedback from tutors.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	10	10
Seminars	8	8
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	21	21
Wider reading (directed)	20	20
Preparation for tutorials	11	11
Preparation for presentations	10
Completion of formative assessment tasks		10
Carry-out research project			40
Total hours by term	80	80	40
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	80
Set exercise	20

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

• Summative essay of not more than 5 pages formatted in accordance with the School of Law’s Assessed Work Rules submitted in the Summer term (80%)


• A Book Review-Style Review of a Legal Article on a Journal Article from the Reading List Related to the Themes Covered in the Module of not more than 2 Pages formatted in accordance with the School of Law’s Assessed Work Rules and Submitted at the End of Autumn Term (20%)

Formative assessment methods:

Students have the opportunity for 3 formative tasks throughout the year including in Autumn term:

1. Poster– feedback provided in class


2. Group presentation– in groups of 4 – 20 minutes per group – feedback provided in class


3. Individual practice essay which will be marked and feedback given.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

40%

Reassessment arrangements:

See School Guide (Programme Assessment). Only a failed element need be re-taken; the mark for a passed element can be carried forward.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 30 March 2023