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LAW-30128 - Module Specification
School of Law
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 18 April 2024

LAW-30128 - Contemporary Issues in Environmental Law
Coordinator: Emma Allen Room: CBC2.005 Tel: +44 1782 7 34512
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

N/A

Barred Combinations

N/A

Description for 2024/25


Aims
The aim of this module is to critically consider the role played by law in tackling some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Evaluate the operation of environmental law at the domestic, regional and international levels: 1,2
Critically appraise substantive topical issues of environmental law studied on the module: 1,2
Identify and explain the various successes and shortcomings of environmental law: 1,2
Anticipate future directions in environmental law: 1,2
Communicate in writing on environmental law in a clear, logically structured way that synthesises arguments from a range of primary and secondary sources: 1,2

Study hours

Seminars: 15 hours
Seminar Preparation: 65 hours
Online Test Preparation: 25 hours
Legal Policy Brief Preparation: 45 hours

School Rules

N/A

Description of Module Assessment

1: Online Tasks weighted 40%
Online Test
Students will be asked to complete an online test at the end of the semester (comprising multiple choice and short answer questions) on the module content. The expectation is that they will demonstrate a clear and critical understanding of the issues raised. The time available to complete the test and to submit it electronically is 28 hours ¿ from 9am (local time) on the first working day until 1pm (local time) on the second working day. However, students are not expected to invest more than 8 hours of active working time on the test. The word limit is 1000 words.

2: Assignment weighted 60%
Legal Policy Brief
Students will produce a legal policy brief (a key tool used to present research and recommendations to a non-specialised audience) on an environmental issue encountered in the module. Guidance for writing the brief will be provided and students will have the opportunity to read a couple of exemplars from previous years¿ cohorts, discussing them in class with their peers before drafting anything themselves. The word limit is 2000 words.

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: 18 April 2024