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LAW-20124 - Module Specification
School of Law
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

LAW-20124 - Law, Society and Policy
Coordinator: Fabienne Emmerich Tel: +44 1782 7 33139
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733218

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

The module invites you to engage critically with the hidden barriers that certain groups may encounter when dealing with legal and social systems and how the law can either cause or remedy this. You will identify and engage with relevant policy concerns. You will use your academic skills to compose a policy brief that sets out the current policy environment and to contribute possible solutions. The module will equip you with transferable and employability skills and a broad theoretical understanding that is important for your Level 6 modules.

Aims
The module invites you to engage critically with the hidden barriers that certain groups may encounter when dealing with legal and social systems and how the law can either cause or remedy this.
The module has the following aims:
- to introduce you to the relationship between law, society and policy;
- to contextualize these issues through various theoretical approaches;
- to link policy issues to academic research;
- to identify policy concerns and consider possible solutions;
- to provide you with a sound theoretical footing on which to explore your own research project.
The module focuses on the development of the following Graduate Attributes and Curriculum Expectations:
Social and ethical responsibility and external engagement.
Ultimately, the aim is to support students to develop transferable and employability skills in policy work beyond legal practice.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Identify a relevant policy concern.: 1
Summarise relevant academic research and sources.: 1
Synthesise the relevant academic research and sources that you have identified to address the policy concern.: 2
Produce a policy brief in response to the area of concern based on your literature review findings.: 2

Study hours

Here is a detailed breakdown of the expected hours for preparation for learning and completion of assessed work.
Lectures: 10 x 1
Workshops: 7 x 2h
Assessment consultation timetable in workshop groups: 1h
Researching and writing Literature Review: 40h
- researching: 25h
- writing: 15h
Researching and writing and Policy Brief: 50h
- researching: 22h
- writing: 28h
Independent Reading and Workshop Preparation: 35h
7 x 5 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Literature Review weighted 40%
Literature Review
Compose a literature review 1000 words in which you explore the theoretical lens that will underpin the writing of your policy brief.

2: Assignment weighted 60%
Policy Brief
Compose a policy brief 1,500 words on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, drawing on relevant academic research and sources, discussing existing policies and alternatives and making recommendations.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 17 March 2026