School of Law  
 
 
LAW-20030 Lawyers in Society  
Co-ordinator: Prof Andrew Francis    Room: CBC1.033, Tel:33222  
Teaching Team: Ms Margaret  Moyden, Miss Diane  Atherton,  Anthony  Arnull  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 2 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office: Tel: 01782 733218
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for

Law Dual Honours (Level 2)
Law Minor (Level 2)
Law Single Honours (Level 2)

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Barred Combinations

N/A

Prerequisites

Successful completion of LAW-10021 Legal Systems

Description

The legal profession in England and Wales currently faces unprecedented changes, with firms facing increasing pressure to ensure diversity in their recruitment practices and the Legal Services Act introducing new regulatory and competitive challenges, including the possibility of non-lawyers owning and managing firms which deliver legal services. This module aims to introduce students to the sociological theories of the professions in order to equip students with a theoretical framework to examine both the historical and contemporary challenges faced by the legal profession. It seeks to encourage students' analysis of the complex claims and structures of the legal profession through different perspectives (empirical data, cultural analysis etc) and to enhance students' understandings of contemporary legal practice through, placing the practice of law within a social and political context.

Aims

This course aims to introduce students to the sociological theories of the professions in order to equip students with a theoretical framework to examine both the historical and contemporary challenges faced by the legal profession. It seeks to encourage students&© analysis of the complex claims and structures of the legal profession through different perspectives (empirical data, cultural analysis etc) and to enhance students&© understandings of contemporary legal practice through, placing the practice of law within a social and political context.


Intended Learning Outcomes

· Know and critically understand the main theories of the professions, drawing on a range of inter-disciplinary approaches, sociological, historical etc. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3, 4
- Apply these theoretical approaches to specific case studies within the legal profession, reflecting critically upon claims made by lawyers will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3, 4
- Analyse contemporary changes in legal practice and critically evaluate the challenges they represent to existing theories. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3, 4
- Construct a coherent argument (written) drawing on theoretical material and contemporary examples will be achieved by assessments: 3







Study hours

18 hours of Contact Teaching
Weeks 1-2: Four one hour lectures: $ùThinking and Researching about the Legal
Profession&©
Weeks 3-8: 5 X 1 hour lectures linked to seminar topics
Weeks 4-10: 6 X 1.5 hour small group seminars (NB: Seminars 3 &4 involves small group work conducting research into law firms ahead of Seminars)
18 hours contact time
8 hours reading to support Intro material lectures
40 hours preparation for first 5 Seminars
9 hours work on Formative Reflective Learning Log to be submitted at the end of Workshop 5
5 hours completion of On-line Formative Assessments
70 hours essay research, tutor meetings and completion



Description of Module Assessment

01: Essay weighted 100%
Research Essay: 3000 words



Version: (1.05A) Created: 01/Oct/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.