Public Law seeks to:

- explore the nature and functions of constitutional and administrative law;
- provide students with a knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles and institutions of the UK constitution;
- identify and analyse selected key issues that are of critical importance to the UK’s system of public law;
- enable students to develop a range of core legal and transferable skills, and become effective independent learners.

(LO1) Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of, and the ability to analyse critically, the law, practice, principles, institutions, and theory of the UK constitution

(LO2) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of, and the ability to analyse critically, the laws, policies and theories relating administrative law and human rights in the UK

(LO3) Engage in debate and in written argument regarding contentious legal and political issues

(LO4) Demonstrate the ability to consult, engage with, and respond to feedback

(LO5) Appreciate the wider political significance of Public Law

(LO6) Apply their knowledge to hypothetical situations

(S1) Critical thinking and problem solving - Critical analysis

(S2) Critical thinking and problem solving - Evaluation

(S3) Critical thinking and problem solving - Problem identification

(S4) Critical thinking and problem solving - Synthesis

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

(S6) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Presentation skills – oral

(S7) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Presentation skills - written

(S8) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Influencing skills – argumentation

(S9) Information skills - Evaluation

(S10) Research skills - All Information skills

(S11) Improving own learning/performance - Reflective practice

1. Law and Government: Sources and Institutions of Public Law
2. Characteristics of the UK Constitution
3. Parliamentary Sovereignty
4. Constitutional Reform
5. Judicial Review 1 (eg purpose and process)
6. Judicial Review 2 (eg grounds and remedies)
7. Human Rights
8. Political Accountability

*We envisage having one seminar on each of these topics, along with associated lectures – topics 1-4 would provisionally be covered in semester 1, topics 5-8 would provisionally be covered in semester 2.

We plan to rationalise the curriculum by combining topics across Public Law I and II – eg rule of law can be taught in connection with JR/HRs, ombudsmen can be taught in a slimmed down political accountability. We will remove other standalone topics like separation of powers (Public I) and tribunals (Public II).

Summary-

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.

E-lecture recordings provide material previously addressed in physical lectures, suitably broken down and augmented (so as to enhance student engagement.

Seminar sessions will run on a fortnightly pattern across the semester between week 2 and week 12 (6 in total) and will each have a duration of 2 hours.

Contact Hours

E-lecture material equivalent to 24 hours of lecture coverage per semester, 48 hours in total across the year

Seminars of 2 hr duration, 6 times per semester – 12 seminar hours per semester, 24 across the year

Module Delivery

This will be via combination of asynchronous and synchronous sessions for i.e. Hybrid Active Learning as outlined in the teaching pattern section above

Teaching Method 1: E-lectu res

Scheduled Directed Student Hours: 48

Unscheduled Directed Student Hours:

Description: Lecture recordings covering the core topics in the module syllabus, released on an ongoing basis in line with the seminar schedule.

Attendance Recorded: No

Teaching Method 2: Seminars

Scheduled Directed Student Hours: 16

Unscheduled Directed Student Hours:

Description: Two hour seminars focused on group discussion of pre-assigned reading and questions covering core topics in the module syllabus.

Attendance Recorded: Yes