Law LLB

This module examines the conceptual context of trusts, and the requirements for the creation and validity of express private trusts and charitable trusts. This module also examines resulting and constructive trusts, the duties of trustees and the imposition of fiduciary liability, together with associated remedies.

Building on existing foundational knowledge (Foundations of Criminal Evidence), this module will provide opportunities for more specialist, advanced studies in criminal trial procedure and evidence, involving in-depth analysis of key topics with major theoretical, policy and practical significance, and drawing out interdisciplinary links to, eg, psychology, philosophy, criminology, forensic science and socio-legal studies.

Particular topics may include:

• Common sense inferential reasoning
• Covert evidence, entrapment and PII (including CHIS; special counsel)
• Testimonial witness evidence
• Identification evidence 
• Principles of examination-in-chief and cross-examination
• Hearsay and the right to confrontation
• Vulnerable witnesses ‘special measures’
• Previous sexual history evidence
• Bad character evidence
• Forensic science evidence and expert witness testimony 
• DNA profiling evidence and probabilities

The course is divided into four sections:

1. Basic Concepts and Guiding Principles: What are the principles which guide the courts in making decisions about children? What are the legal consequences of being a parent? Do parents have rights? Do children have rights?
2. Children and their Biological Parents: What are the consequences of parenthood outside marriage? What happens if parents cannot agree about how their children should be brought up? Where do the children live if their parents separate? How is the decision made? What is the position of the non-residential parent? 
3. Children and Third Parties – Guardians, Step-parents, Relatives, Foster parents and Adoptive parents: How can non-parents obtain parental responsibility for – or even become the legal parent of - someone else’s child? 
4. Children and the State: What state assistance is available to parents temporarily unable to care for their children? When can the state take children away from their parents?

You will explore a topic of your choice under the supervision of a member of staff. The nature and topic of the dissertation will be decided by you and the proposed supervisor. The dissertation will normally be an essay of 46 pages, exclusive of bibliography.

The module examines the rationale for intellectual property rights and their commercial importance; the national, European and wider international dimensions of the legal regulation of intellectual property rights; and the law governing the acquisition, exploitation and infringement of copyright and allied rights, including the application of copyright law in the context of modern information technology developments.

Given the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services’ finding that approximately 1 million species of animals and plants are threatened with extinction, and given that a decline in abundance of native species around the globe of 20% has taken place since 1900, biological diversity is seriously in decline.

This decline is unprecedented, linked to anthropogenic threats, and driving ever more vocal public protests and direct action by groups like Extinction Rebellion. It is also taking place and continuing despite there being many international treaties in place to tackle the threats and problem.

This module sets out to examine the problem, and the legal response under the principal global treaties that are in place to protect wildlife and habitats.

This module seeks to deal with fundamental and complex issues of corporate law. In the beginning we will set 'the scene' by looking at various business mediums available while focusing on the distinction between private and public companies. 

We will examine how companies are formed, and the consequences of formation - discussing concepts such as the corporate legal personality and the corporate 'veil', and the phenomenon of the corporate group. We will also examine contractual and non-contractual liability of companies and those dealing with them; and finally we will consider various issues relating to shareholding and the share capital of companies.

The module considers what role, if any, law can play in improving the material existence of the poorest on this planet.

You will examine the role of international institutions and national governments in the promotion of social and human development. Along with investigating the role played by specific development instruments, such as development aid and blended finance in the fight against poverty.

Through the module, you’ll consider how the concept of development has changed over time and look at the history and theories around development. The module also examines specific issues such as access to health and access to food, gender equality, and food security.

As a whole, the module offers students a critical insight into law's possibilities and its limitations as it relates to international development.

You will arrange and complete a 50-hour law related activity placement (approved by the module convener) to take place after the end of your second year of studies. Law-related activities, include, but are not limited to: work experience with a solicitor’s firm or barristers chambers or work as a paralegal, volunteering for a not for profit organisation such as Citizens Advice or a law centre,  or gaining pro bono experience in a legal context, including delivering public legal education presentations to the local community (for example, streetlaw sessions); working in-house in a legal department of a company, or trade union or other organisation,  advising individuals or groups on bringing and defending legal claims, or on non-contentious legal matters, providing advice and assistance on an area of law, including virtual internships.  

You are then required to produce a critical reflective report (and deliver an oral presentation) on the legal and professional skills developed, observed and acquired during the experience, together with a critical evaluation of the legal and wider contextual issues encountered on the experience).  

This module concerns the law relating to people in the psychiatric system. Issues - including hospital admissions, treatment, competency and guardianship, and advocacy on behalf of the mad - are discussed from a variety of perspectives including patient rights, social control, and medical humanitarianism. 

Underlying the module is the question of what madness is, how it is to be responded to, and whether the existing legal provisions are sufficient or appropriate. 

The module builds on a your knowledge and understanding of Public Law, Criminal Law and Public International Law to apply it, along with Military Law, within the military context.

Focusing mainly on the status, internal and external deployment of British armed forces, the module draws on a variety of materials and case studies to examine the domestic and international legal frameworks within which the military operate.

From public inquiries into the Bloody Sunday killings in Northern Ireland, the court martial of soldiers for crimes committed in Iraq and Afghanistan, to the extension of human rights protection to soldiers as well as civilians, and the on-going debate about the prosecution of British soldiers, the module considers whether the scales of military justice are in balance.

Corporate insolvency gives rise to a number of fascinating and complex questions. Which assets can be claimed by the company's creditors? What should be done with them? How should the proceeds raised be distributed amongst the creditors? How should those responsible for the losses be dealt with? 

The module seeks to develop an understanding of the ways these issues are resolved by the current law. You will be expected to analyse and evaluate the law, and consideration will be paid to the real-world context in which insolvency disputes arise.