Undergraduate Module Descriptor

LAW3213: Criminal Evidence

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

The aims of the module are:

To provide you with a structure to enable you to critically examine rules of criminal evidence in England and Wales.
To enable you to understand a variety of theoretical approaches to the study of criminal evidence law and to make judgements about the ethical issues and values involved.
To instil an appreciation of the variety of issues raised by the study of criminal evidence law, and the complexity of those issues particularly in respect of the extent to which they may interrelate.
To develop your ability to understand both the variety of principles applicable to criminal evidence law, and to be able to critically assess both existing rules and proposals for change, having regard to existing knowledge and research findings.

To provide you with a variety of opportunities to fulfil the above aims, and to demonstrate knowledge of relevant theoretical approaches, principles and laws and the ability to apply them to particular aspects of criminal evidence law.

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 Skills	1. Demonstrate a sound knowledge of the selected rules of evidence 2. Critically evaluate the selected rules of evidence effectively and independently, both as they exist and in relation to proposals for reform
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. Demonstrate ability to apply legal knowledge to a problem / case study and to suggest a conclusion supported by relevant arguments 4. Demonstrate ability to integrate and assess information from primary and secondary legal sources using appropriate interpretative techniques
Personal and Key Skills	5. Conduct appropriate research in relation to specific evidence law issues 6. Produce a structured, coherent and concise argument, using communication methods appropriate to the discipline

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Prosecution and defence disclosure
Summary justice
Jury trial
Burden of proof
Examination in chief and cross-examination
Hearsay
Character
Corroboration
Sentencing and appeals from the Crown Court
Miscarriages of justice
Abuse of process, civil remedies and CCRC

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

...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 Activities	22	11 x 2 hour lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	4.5	3 x 1.5 hour workshops
Guided Independent Study	59	Individual reading and lecture preparation
Guided Independent Study	17	Workshop preparation
Guided Independent Study	47.5	Assessment preparation

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

ELE – College to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages