Undergraduate Module Descriptor

LAW3155: Law, Politics and Power

This module descriptor refers to the 2024/5 academic year.

Module Aims

The aim of the module is to give you the opportunity to question the nature of law and its place in society through active discussion of a range of historical and theoretical perspectives. Drawing on the teaching team’s research expertise, the module aims to enable you to develop your own critical, research-based interpretations and to provide you with unique interdisciplinary learning opportunities that stimulate reflection and discussion. Focusing on the development of your independent research skills and critical thinking, the module aims to give you the chance to develop capacities that are particularly valued by employers.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. demonstrate a thorough and critical knowledge and understanding of various theories and ideologies of the state and lawthe connections between law, politics and state power, using a wide range of appropriate theories and concepts, historical and current examples, and interpretative techniques and terminology;
2. research a legal question independently and demonstrate competence in applyingusing relevant theories and examples selectively and critically in order to formulate and evaluate a response to it;
3. demonstrate detailed and accurate understanding of some of the relevant legal, social, economic, political, historical, philosophical, and legalcultural contexts within which theories and ideologies of the state and law, politics and the state have been developed and operate.
Discipline-Specific Skills4. make an independent and effective critical judgement about the merits and relevance of particular information and make reasoned choices between alternative solutions or arguments;
5. communicate technical legal information and argument effectively, concisely and reflectively, orally and in writing, in an appropriate manner and in task-specific ways.
Personal and Key Skills6. identify, retrieve and use, independently and efficiently, a range of appropriate resources with minimum guidance;
7. manage time independently and efficiently in preparing for learning activities, to be proactive in developing own learning, and to work independently within a limited time frame to complete a specified task.