Module LAW3160 for 2019/0
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
LAW3160: Family Law: Child Law
This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.
Module Aims
- This module aims to provide both research-enriched learning and teaching by academics actively engaged in research which has been used by family law policy makers and links to family law practice, where members of the teaching team practise as and/or engage regularly with family practitioners. Where possible the module includes judges as visiting speakers and judge shadowing opportunities.
- It aims to enable you to analyse critically the legal and policy framework for family law and to engage in an assessment of the effectiveness of the current family justice system.
- It aims to facilitate debate on proposals for reform of the law regarding the regulation of parenting at a time when the traditional family is in decline and out of court resolution of family law disputes is being invested in by government.
- It aims to encourage you to explore socio-legal research in this area, undertaken by family law specialist academics at Exeter and elsewhere.
- It aims to help you develop your oral and negotiation skills in workshops and to expose them to mediation and other styles of conflict resolution procedures
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. describe in detail and evaluate the legal framework and central principles governing adult couple/domestic relationships and parent/child relationships within English family law. 2. demonstrate knowledge of current developments in law, policy and human rights involved in family regulation within national and international legal frameworks and the impact of socio-legal research in this area 3. demonstrate comprehensive understanding of how the family law and family justice system operates both for adult family relationships and parent/child relationships. |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. apply legal knowledge to a problem/ case study and to discuss it 5. demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of a range of legal concepts, values, principles, institutions and procedures, and the ability to explain the relationships among them 6. select and present in a coherent way, orally and in writing, relevant law and legal/theoretical arguments |
| Personal and Key Skills | 7. effectively use both written and oral communication skills in assessed work and workshops. 8. confidently tackle legal problems by means of a practical problem solving approach in role-play situations, demonstrating effective debating and negotiating skills. 9. demonstrate excellent library-based and internet-based research skills. |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
It is envisaged that the syllabus will include the following topics in the following order although precise content and order may vary. Lectures on the topics below are complemented by workshops on topics covered scheduled over the two weeks following the lecture:
Block 1: Parentage
Block 2: Parental Responsibility
Block 3: Private Law Children Disputes
Block 4: Public Law and Child Protection
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 26.5 | 123.5 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 22 | 11x 2 hour Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 4.5 | 3 x 1.5 hour Workshops |
| Guided Independent Study | 60 | Individual reading and lecture preparation |
| Guided Independent Study | 18 | Workshop preparation |
| Guided Independent Study | 35.5 | Assessment preparation |
| Guided Independent Study | 10 | Preparation of formative assignment |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| One essay/assignment to be handed in by week 8 | 1,000 words | 1-7, 9 | Written |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 100 | 3,750 words | 1-7, 9 | Written and oral |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (3,750 words) | 1-7, 9 | August/September reassessment period |
