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LAW-30062 - Module Specification
School of Law
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 25 April 2024

LAW-30062 - Evidence
Coordinator: Lisa Mountford Tel: +44 1782 7 34363
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733218

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

LAW-10039 (Legal Essentials)

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

The law of evidence is the study of rules designed to ensure that the guilty are convicted and the innocent are acquitted. It is a system of balances and checks that is the ultimate protection of individual liberty. In this module you can decide for yourself just how important the law of evidence is in the criminal justice system. This module is an intellectually stimulating study of a complex legal topic but is also of particular interest to those intending to enter legal practice. It is taught by lecturers who themselves hold judicial positions in the criminal courts.

Aims
By building on knowledge acquired in foundational modules of Law or Criminology, this module will allow students to develop further their knowledge of the operation of legal rules as they are applied in the context of criminal trials in England and Wales. The law of evidence offers students the opportunity to explore a range of practical situations in which trial courts manage statutory legal rules and exceptions, codes of practice and case-law. Students will gain a fuller appreciation of the appropriate exercise of judicial case management skills, and judicial discretion, in the efficient management of trials within the context of human rights, especially the fair trial provisions of the ECHR.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/law-30062/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the rules of criminal evidence which regulate the admission of evidence at criminal trials in England and Wales: 1
Confidently apply the rules of criminal evidence to a factual scenario when considering the admissibility of certain types of evidence: 1
Critically analyse the rules of criminal evidence across a range of contextual themes and policy considerations: 1

Study hours

Lectures (24 hours)
Seminars (12 hours (6 x 2))
Preparation for lectures and seminars (50 hours)
Revision and examination preparation (64 hours)

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Open Book Examination weighted 100%
28-hour online exam (Active working time for completion 4 hours)
The word limit for the assessment is 3,000 words. Students must answer the compulsory problem question (the factual scenario for the problem question will be pre-seen but NOT the related assessment tasks) and one unseen essay question from a choice of two or three (topics indicated in advance). The questions carry equal weight. The paper will be released on the KLE at 9am on the morning of the exam. Students will have 28 hours to submit their answers. 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.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and 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/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 25 April 2024