School of Law  
 
 
LAW-20038 Law and ethics  
Co-ordinator: Mr John Danaher   Tel:34360  
Teaching Team: Ms Margaret  Moyden, Dr Sotirios  Santatzoglou, Dr Sorcha  Ui Chonnachtaigh  
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

None

Prerequisites

None

Description

Cynics may suggest that the words 'ethics' and 'lawyers' are not commonly seen together. This module will ask you to cast aside such cliched prejudice and misunderstanding, and to examine the important role of ethics within the
law. This examination will include both abstract consideration of "ethics" and ethical argumentation from a strict philosophical viewpoint, but also how ethics dictates the behaviour of lawyers and law-makers in practice. Topics covered in previous ears have included issues relating to punishment, decriminalisation, autonomy at the end of life, and abortion and reproductive rights. Ethical engagement and the ability to draw on ethical reasoning is increasingly signalled as a key area of concern for the legal profession by its regulators and as a key attribute for future lawyers. This module enables you to develop these skills and attributes, in advance of it being required as a formal part of a Qualifying Law Degree.



Aims

To introduce students to the major structures required to understand and reflect on the relationship of ethics and law.


Intended Learning Outcomes

Recognise and evaluate the major philosophical traditions underlying the structure of ethical thinking and understand and assess the new challenges that are being offered to these traditions in the twenty-first century. will be achieved by assessments: 1 and 2
Understand and critically appraise those ethical principles and their development and offer a reasoned analysis of the nature of their application to the law and the legal system in Britain will be achieved by assessments: 1 and 2
Recognise and explore the particular ethical problems arising in the context of legal professional practice and critically assess the professions&© response to those problems will be achieved by assessments: 1 and 2


Study hours

Seminar attendance 18 hours
Seminar preparation 36 hours
Additional reading 36 hours
Assignment preparation 60 hours

Total = 150 hours




Description of Module Assessment

01: Group Presentation weighted 15%
A series of oral presentations
In or about weeks 5/6/7, an oral group presentation by teams of approx 6 students based on consideration of a book or film to be assessed by the module leader. Students will be assessed on both their individual contribution to the presentation and the team's effort. Clear guidelines will be given to students ahead of the presentation as to how marks will be awarded. The presentation topics will relate loosely to the titles set for the summative essay.

02: Essay weighted 85%
3000 word research essay



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

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