Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
LAW-10039 (Legal Essentials)
Students will gain an in-depth insight into the role of a lawyer working in the field of criminal litigation. Students will have an opportunity to apply their knowledge of criminal procedure/law and evidence to problems and realistic scenarios and to advise 'clients' in a variety of settings including the police station and at court.
Aims
To provide a practitioner focused insight into the practice of criminal litigation, from the point of giving advice at the police station through to a consideration of evidential issues, sentence upon conviction and appeal. The content of this module broadly aligns with the SRA's SQE Assessment Specifications.
Talis Aspire Reading ListAny reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/law-30118/lists
Intended Learning Outcomes
Explain the various procedural stages of a criminal case and advise a client accordingly: 2Evaluate the tactical and legal considerations in advising at the Police Station and be able to apply the Code for Crown Prosecutors to a charging decision in relation to adults and youths: 2Identify and deal with professional conduct issues if they arise and be able to offer advice on the availability of public funding: 2Apply the rules of criminal evidence to a factual scenario: 2Demonstrate effective oral advocacy skills by for example, making or opposing an application for bail; making a plea in mitigation or delivering an evidential submission to have evidence excluded: 1Explain and apply the principles of sentencing: 2
Lectures 12 x 1 hourWorkshops 9 x 2 hoursIndependent study including preparation for workshops totals 120 hours
Description of Module Assessment
1: Presentation weighted 30%Oral advocacy presentationAn oral advocacy application in the context of a criminal law exercise for example a bail application/ plea in mitigation exceeding no more than 15 minutes duration.
2: Open Book Examination weighted 70%28-hour, online open book examA problem based open book exam.
Although 28 hours has been allocated as the time frame within which answers must be submitted, we expect that most students will take no more than 2-3 hours to complete their answers. Answers must be completed and submitted in accordance with the Law School approved rubric for 28-hour online assessments. The maximum word limit for this practice-based module is 3000 words.