Law School Module Details
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title Criminal Law (McMaster Only)
Code LAW007
Coordinator Dr MJR Gibson
Law
M.J.R.Gibson@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2021-22 Level 4 FHEQ First Semester 15

Aims

To introduce students to the fundamental concepts of criminal law;
To introduce students to the most important specific offences and defences in the criminal law of England and Wales;
To enhance students' acquisition of key skills in the study of law;
To develop students' understand how the study of law differs from practising law;
To equip students to carry out independent tasks and research to a reasonable level as a basis for further development in subsequent study.

Learning Outcomes

(LO1) Ability to attain a reasonable theoretical and doctrinal understanding of the criminal law.

(LO2) Ability to extract the law from legislation and cases.

(LO3) Ability to trace the development of the law through legislation and case law.

(LO4) Ability to critically analyse and assess the law.

(LO5) Ability to apply their knowledge of the law to hypothetical factual situations.

(LO6) Ability to use traditional and electronic sources of material.

(LO7) Ability to complete specified tasks with direction from academic staff.

(S1) Communication (oral, written and visual)

(S2) Critical thinking and problem solving

(S3) Working in groups and teams

(S4) Skills in using technology

(S5) Reflection on performance, including the use of feedback to develop the quality of work produced and to self-assess work.

Syllabus
 

Indicative Syllabus (final syllabus to be made available to students ahead of each academic year via Canvas)

Introduction to the criminal courts, criminal law theory/principles and structure of criminal offences;
Actus Reus;
Mens Rea;
Homicide;
Sexual offences;
Non-fatal, non-sexual offences against the person;
revision lecture(s);

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Teaching Patterns

Learning and teaching on this module will be structured in accordance with the principles of Hybrid Active Learning with asynchronous materials and synchronous seminar sessions. Asynchronous recordings provide material previously addressed in physical lectures, suitably broken down (‘chunking’) and augmented (e.g. quizzes etc) so as to enhance student engagement. Synchronous sessions will run on a fortnightly pattern across the semester (i.e. 6 in total) and will each have a duration of 2 hours.

Contact Hours

Asynchronous Recorded lectures and Activities 12 x 2hr – 24 hr

Synchronous Seminars 6 x 2hr – 12 hr

Module Delivery

This will be via combination of asynchronous and synchronous sessions as above

Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 24

 12

         36
Timetable (if known) 60 mins X 2 totaling 24
  		120 mins X 1 totaling 12
  		         
Private Study 114
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
MCQ Test MCQs covering asynchronous topics as end-of-semester-1 exercise: to contribute 10% to overall summative mark      10       
Coursework to contribute remaining 90% of summative mark. 2500 word limit. Assessment Schedule (When) :Semester 1  -2500 words    90       

Recommended Texts
Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.

Other Staff Teaching on this Module
Mr KJ Melling School of Law and Social Justice K.J.Melling@liverpool.ac.uk

Modules for which this module is a pre-requisite:
 

Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements):
 

Co-requisite modules:
 

Programme(s) (including Year of Study) to which this module is available on a required basis:
 

Programme(s) (including Year of Study) to which this module is available on an optional basis:
 

Additional Programme Information