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 EVIDENCE
Code LAW033
Coordinator Dr SR Waxman
Law
S.Waxman@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2021-22 Level 6 FHEQ First Semester 15

Aims

To cultivate a knowledge and understanding of the rationale and development of the law governing criminal evidence, specifically the operation and admissibility of evidence in criminal cases;
To foster an ability to appreciate the significance of those rules of evidence for defendants in criminal cases;
To develop competence in critically evaluating the law governing the admissibility of evidence in criminal cases;
To assist in the capacity to apply the law on criminal evidence to hypothetical situations in an effective manner;
To inculcate additional electronic and bibliographic research skills, particular the ability to research the law of evidence and the policies underlying specific rules of evidence;
To aid students in the presentation of legal and critical argument re: criminal evidence both orally and in writing.


Learning Outcomes

(LO1) Have a reasonably good theoretical and doctrinal appreciation of criminal evidence principles.

(LO2) Extract the relevant law on criminal evidence from legislation and case law.

(LO3) Trace the development of the law on criminal evidence through legislation and case law.

(LO4) Demonstrate orally and in writing a thorough knowledge and understanding of the general principles of criminal evidence.

(LO5) Apply their knowledge of the law on criminal evidence to hypothetical factualsituations.

(LO6) Identify gaps and ambiguities in the law on criminal evidence.

(LO7) Use traditional and electronic sources of material.

(LO8) Participate in group work.

(LO9) Reflection their understanding of the syllabus and use feedback to develop the quality of their work.

(LO10) Complete specified tasks with direction from academic staff.

(S1) Improving own learning/performance - Reflective practice

(S2) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Presentation skills – oral

(S3) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Presentation skills - written

(S4) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Influencing skills – argumentation

(S5) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Academic writing (inc. referencing skills)

(S6) Critical thinking and problem solving - Critical analysis

(S7) Critical thinking and problem solving - Problem identification

(S8) Working in groups and teams - Group action planning

(S9) Skills in using technology - Information accessing


Syllabus

 

Indicative Syllabus

The law referred to in this module is that of England and Wales. The indicative syllabus outlined below is necessarily not an exhaustive attempt to cover theentire scope of criminal evidence in this jurisdiction. Please also note that this module deals with criminal evidence and not civil evidence.

Introduction, general principles and terminology;
Functions of the court and discretion;
Burden and standard of proof;
Course of trial;
Competence and compellability;
Corroboration and identification evidence;
Forensic evidence (guest lecture);
Evidence of character;
Hearsay evidence;
Confessions.


Teaching and Learning Strategies

Teaching Pattern
Asynchronous materials will be used to deliver the ordinary lecture content – this will be by way of 30-minute recordings of smaller lectures, making up the equivalent of 22 hours.

There will also be 6 x 2 hour synchronous/asynchronous seminar sessions which will run fortnightly. Four seminars will mirror substantive topics on the module and each seminar will have allocated time for a skills element – e.g. legal approach, critical thinking and summative writing technique. The final seminar will focus on reflection and revision in a broader sense, including formative feedback/discussion/peer review of past papers and student scripts.

Module Delivery
This will be via combination of asynchronous and synchronous sessions for all UG modules i.e. Hybrid Active Learning

Some additional 15-minute podcasts on selected issues will be used throughout the semester that students will be required to engage with in the seminars, e.g. case commentary, discussion of a particular article or theory/approach in more detail.


Teaching Schedule

  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 22

12

        34
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 116
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
1. Component 1 – Attendance and engagement at seminars 5%           
3. Component 3 – an open book take home seen exam (85%) – with a word limit of 2,000 words. Students must answer one question out of a choice of three. The assessment component makes up 85% of the      85       
2. Component 2 – Formative diagnostic essay plan (10%) – students will have the opportunity to submit an essay plan up to a maximum of 700 words (on Character Evidence). It would be released at th      10       

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 G Firkins School of Law and Social Justice Grant.Firkins@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