UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD
School of Management
Programme title: BA (Hons) Legal Studies
Final award and interim awards: / BA (Honours)
[Framework for Higher Education Qualifications level 6]
Diploma of Higher Education [Framework for Higher Education Qualifications level 5]
Certificate of Higher Education[Framework for Higher Education Qualifications level 4]
Programme title:
Programme accredited by: / BA (Honours) Legal Studies
N/A
Duration: / 3 year full time
UCAS code: / N/A
Subject benchmark statement: / Law
Date produced: / July2005
Last updated / Nov 2013
Introduction
The BA Honours in Legal Studies has been designed to enable you to study all the seven Foundations of Legal Knowledge subject areas and receive training in the skill of legal research but this programme is not a Qualifying Law Degree (“QLD). You will be transferred on to this programme from the LLB Honours programme which is a QLD if you fail to meet the progression or award criteria for the LLB but do meet the award and progression criteria of the University. Students are not recruited to this programme but may be transferred on to it at stage 2 or 3.Study of thisapproved legal framework is further enhanced through appropriate learning opportunities which will enable you to develop a clear understanding of the context within which diverse legal practices operate in society. In particular, you will appreciate the important interface between business activities and legal processeswhich aim to develop and deepen your knowledge and understanding of Law.
Programme aims
The programme is intended to ensure that you will have demonstrated:
- An understanding of the fundamental doctrines and principles which underpin the law of England and Wales and Europe;
- A basic knowledge of the sources of that law, and how it is made and developed; of the institutions within which that law is administered and the personnel who practise that law;
- An appreciation of the social and other pressures that shape the development of the law of England and Wales and Europe;
- The intellectual and practical skills needed to research the law on specific matters and to analyse both statute and case law, to apply it in the solution of legalproblems and to communicate – both in writing and orally – the results of such work; and
- The ability to reflect on the fundamental social concepts such as justice, liberty and rights, and the contributions that the law makes to the advancement of those principles
Programme Learning outcomes
When you have completed Level 4 of the programme you will be able to:
LO 1use knowledge of a wide range of legal frameworks, concepts, principles and rules governing British and European legal institutions and processes;
LO 2apply legal skills and principles to practical scenarios in order to inform reasoned judgement and discriminate between the legally relevant and irrelevant;
LO 3communicate effectively with others both orally and in writing through group discussions to develop negotiation and interviewing skills and use of a wide range of ICT applications;
LO 4identify, develop and reflect on your personal and professional development skills to improve your performance as a learner.
When you have completed Level 5 of the programme you will be able to:
LO 5apply that knowledge to contrasting legal perspectives and complexities in order to provide relevant and appropriate conclusions;
LO 6communicate effectively with others both orally and in writing through group discussions to develop negotiation and interviewing skills and use of a wide range of ICT applications;
LO 7handle and solve legal problems through the analysis and integration of legal knowledge and understanding within rapidly changing legal circumstances.
When you have completed Level 6 of the programme you will be able to:
LO 8understand the role that law plays in society and recognise the relationships between legal professional requirements and business or civil activities and agreements;
LO 9use legal language, identify, research and gather the latest legal information using a variety of primary and secondary sources in order to evaluate and synthesise arguments and evidence;
LO 10act independently, to learn and apply critical thought and awareness though self management and reflection;
LO 11develop and value professional competences in order to make a significant future contribution to the advancement of society and citizenship.
A Bachelor’s degree (ordinary) may be awarded to students who have demonstrated:
- a systematic understanding of key aspects of their field of study, including acquisition of coherent and detailed knowledge informed by aspects of a law.
- an ability to deploy accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within general business and management.
- conceptual understanding that enables the student:
- to devise and sustain arguments, and/or to solve problems, using ideas and techniques.
- to describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or equivalent scholarship, or practice in law.
- an appreciation of the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge.
- the ability to manage their own learning, and to make use of primary sources.
Typically, holders of the qualification will be able to:
- apply the methods and techniques that they have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding.
- communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non specialist audiences.
And holders will have:
- the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring:
- the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility
- the learning ability needed to undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature.
The holders of a Bachelor’s degree (ordinary) will meet the above learning outcomes, but undertake fewer credit requirements as per the University regulations.
From day one you will be expected to start to gain a basic knowledge and understanding of the underlying legal theories and principles and their application in a primary business context. As you progress throughout the programme, you will be expected to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes through assessment and legal training aimed to help you improve your performance and broaden and deepen your in-depth learning. Law has an increasing influence over many aspects of business and sociological activities and you should be able to demonstrate critical, analytical skills to respect law in a business and societal context.
Curriculum
Within your programme structure you are obliged to study specific law core modules including research skills. Optional modulesare also available to you during your period of study. The programme has been designed to enable you to further develop your learning in areas of particular interest, subject to timetabling restrictions being met.Students not achieving the correct number of credits for progression on the honours programme are eligible to progress to the ordinary programme under the University Regulations provided they achieve the required number of credits for progression and award for progression on an ordinary programme.
FHEQ Level 4
Module Code / Module Title / Type / Credits / Level / Study periodMAN1051L / English Legal Systems 1/2 / Core* / 20 / 4 / 1&2
MAN1053L / Public Law 1/2 / Core* / 20 / 4 / 1&2
MAN1056M / Public Law 3 / Core* / 10 / 4 / 2
MAN1057M / An Introduction to English Legal History / Core / 10 / 4 / 1
MAN1058M / Introduction to European Union Law / Core* / 10 / 4 / 1
MAN1063M / Contract Law 1 / Core* / 10 / 4 / 1
MAN1063D / Contract Law 2/3 / Core* / 20 / 4 / 2
MAN1064L / Legal Skills 1/2 / Core / 20 / 4 / 1&2
Students who have achieved at least 120 credit points at Level 4 may exit the programme and are eligible for the award of Certificate of Higher Education.
FHEQ Level 5
Module Code / Module Title / Type / Credits / Level / Study periodMAN2000L / Criminal Law 1/2 / Core* / 20 / 5 / 1&2
MAN2001L / Land Law 1/2 / Core* / 20 / 5 / 1&2
MAN2002L / Law of Tort 1/2 / Core* / 20 / 5 / 1&2
LSS2000M / Career & Personal Development (Law) / Core / 10 / 5 / 1
MAN2003M / Legal Research / Core / 10 / 5 / 2
MAN2010L / The Substantive Law of the European Union 1/2 / Core* / 20 / 5 / 1&2
MAN2007L / International Law 1/2 / Core / 20 / 5 / 1&2
Students who have achieved at least 120 credit points at Level 5 may exit the programme and are eligible for the award of Diploma of Higher Education.
FHEQ Level 6
Module Code / Module Title / Type / Credits / Level / Study periodMAN3000L / Equity and Trusts 1/2 / Core* / 20 / 6 / 1&2
MAN3009M / Legal Theory / Core / 10 / 6 / 1
MAN3035L / Commercial Law 1/2 / Option / 20 / 6 / 1&2
MAN3036L / Family Law 1/2 / Option / 20 / 6 / 1&2
MAN3037L / Company Law 1/2 / Option / 20 / 6 / 1&2
MAN3003L / Dissertation 1/2 / Option / 20 / 6 / 1&2
MAN3004L / Law of Evidence 1/2 / Option / 20 / 6 / 1&2
MAN3005L / Intellectual Property Law 1/2 / Option / 20 / 6 / 1&2
MAN3006L / Employment Law 1/2 / Option / 20 / 6 / 1&2
MAN3007M / Law and the Internet / Option / 10 / 6 / 2
MAN3008M / Law and Literature / Option / 10 / 6 / 2
MAN3010M / Clinical Legal Education (Pro Bono) / Option / 10 / 6 / 2
MAN3011M / Environmental Law / Option / 10 / 6 / 1
MAN3021M / Immigration and Asylum Law / Option / 10 / 6 / 2
MAN3023M / Sport and the Law / Option / 10 / 6 / 1
MAN3025M / Legal Project / Option / 10 / 6 / 1or2
MAN3026M / Law and Terrorism / Option / 10 / 6 / 2
MAN3027M / Law and Society / Option / 10 / 6 / 2
MAN3028M / European Social Law and Policy / Option / 10 / 6 / 2
MAN3029M / European Competition Law / Option / 10 / 6 / 1
MAN3030M / Comparative Sharia Law / Option / 10 / 6 / 1
MAN3032M / Medical Law / Option / 10 / 6 / 2
MAN3038M / The Innocence Project / Option / 20 / 6 / 1&2
MAN3906M / Planning Law / Option / 10 / 6 / 1
The curriculum may change, subject to the University's programme approval, monitoring and review procedures.
Learning, Teaching and Assessment strategies
You will experience a wide range of teaching and assessment methodologies designed to support your learning and achieve the learning outcomes of the programme. These include a mix of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical sessions, case studies and scenarios, group discussions, guest speakers, mooting sessions and role play. Assessment is integrated with teaching to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes. They will include seen and unseen examinations, essays, programme work (group and individual) portfolios and presentations (group and individual).
Emphasis is placed on the feedback function of formative assessment as part of the learning, teaching and assessment strategy as a whole with all modules containing opportunities for formative assessment. Tutorials on the LLB encourage student involvement in the learning process and are designed to encourage participation, discussion and reflection. The tutorial sessions are designed to provide a forum for both student input and a measurement of progression.
In addition you will be provided with opportunities to develop both personal and specificlegal skills at each stage of the programme. Legal Skills in Stage One introduces you to everyday working practices to acquire a broad knowledge base of legal contexts and develop and reflect on your skills as a learnerand Legal Researchin Stage Two enables you to generate ideas through the analysis of legal concepts and case studies. The Dissertation and other optional modules in Stage Three provide you with an opportunity to transfer and apply research and autonomy through critical study.
Assessment Regulations
This Programme conforms to the standard University Regulations which are available at the following link:
Admission Requirements
Students are not recruited to this programme but may be transferred on to it at stage 2 or 3 from the LLB Programme.
Learning Resources
The JB Priestley Library on the city campus and our specialist library in the School of Management provide a wide range of printed and electronic resources to support your studies. We offer quiet study space if you want to work on your own, and group study areas for the times when you need to discuss work with fellow students. Subject librarians for each School provide training sessions and individual guidance in finding the information you need for your assignment, and will help you organise your references properly.
Student PC clusters can be found in both our libraries and elsewhere on the campus. Many of these are open 24/7. You can also use the University's wireless network to access the internet from your own laptop. Most of our journals are available online (both on and off campus), and you can also access your University email account, personal information and programme-related materials this way.
Staff are on hand during the daytime to help you if you get stuck, and there is a 24/7 IT helpline available.
The School of Management has excellent facilities on site at our Emm Lane location. These include dedicated PC clusters, new social spaces and a food court, 3 lecture theatres and numerous teaching and meeting rooms. The library holds management and law texts, as well as many relevant business, marketing and law journals. Many of these are available on-line and there are dedicated library staff to help you find what you need. There is an inter-library book service and many of the core texts are also available at the city campus library.
The Law Library is well stocked with primary and secondary printed legal resources which range from law reports and statutes to journals and textbooks. You will also have access to a wide range of electronic legal resources including the two main subscription databases, Westlaw and Lexis Library, which provide online access to case-law, statutes, journal articles and commentary. These electronic resources are available for students both on and off campus as is access to the University’s virtual learning environment.
Within the Management & Law Library there are 85 formal study spaces, plus a further 65 “soft study” spaces with casual seating and tables suitable for journal browsing and group work, plus 10 “laptop bar” study spaces. Adjacent to the Library, in the PC cluster area (Room 1.15), there are a further 32 computer work/study places. All students are supplied with a computer username and password which enables them to access these PCs. There are a further six computer work/study places in the Library itself and the entire building is wireless-enabled, allowing students to login to the University network wherever students choose to work with their own laptop computers.
The Management and Law Librarian provides support to all BA Honours in Legal Studiesstudents through an introduction to the library resources at induction, and other sessions which focus on legal research using the library and electronic databases. The Management and Law Librarian is available to assist and guide students in the use of paper and electronic law materials and he is supported by a team of colleagues. The SOM’s Computing and Audiovisual team, based in the Cartwright Building, not only provide support for the extensive array of teaching technology on the SOM campus at Emm lane, but also provide friendly IT support for students as well as academic staff.
Student Support and Guidance
Programme Team
Support for you personally and in your programme of study, will be provided both by the University and the Programme Team. You will be allocated a personal tutor who is someone with whom you will be able to talk about any academic or personal concerns. The School will ensure that there is someone available with whom you feel comfortable to help and support you. You will be provided with a comprehensive series of handbooks that you can consult on a range of learning issues and your programme tutors will be available to consult on subject specific queries.
Students are partner institutions are given a student handbook with local adaptations and the full range of module handbooks
Students’ Union
We value the feedback provided by students and collaborate with the Students’ Union, through a system of Student representatives and formal staff student liaison committees, so that any issues you wish to raise are addressed rapidly.
The Students’ Union provide professional academic representation and advice. The Students’ Union and the University of Bradford work in partnership to provide confidential counselling and welfare services where you can get help with any aspect of your personal or academic life. Student Financial and Information Services (based in the Hub) will provide you with information about a diverse range of issues such as council tax, personal safety and tourist information. International Students can access a range of additional advice and support services through the Student’s Union.
Employability and Career Development
The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance their employability profile and capabilities through learning opportunities embedded within the curriculum.
Furthermore, the University is committed to supporting students to develop their commitment towards a career pathway(s) and to implementing a career plan. Professional career guidance and development support is available throughout your time as a student and as a graduate from Career Development Services. The support available from Career Development Services includes a wide range of information resources, one to one appointments, a weekly workshop programme, a mentoring programme, graduate recruitment and careers fairs, plus information and help to you find part time work, summer work placements, graduate internship programmes and graduate entry vacancies.In addition, some students as part of their programme of study may have the opportunity to complete a Career & Personal Development accredited module delivered by the Career Development Service.
All students are encouraged to access Career Development Services at an early stage during their studies and to use the extensive resources available on their web site