English Legal System

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 1

This module covers use of the library and electronic resources, and reading cases, statutes and academic literature. You will learn how to produce fully-referenced academic work provide you with the necessary skills to help you study law. You will learn about the doctrine of judicial precedent and the principles involved in drafting and interpreting legislation. This module gives you the opportunity to specialise as well as to consider the English legal system in a broad context, by critically examining its structures, process and personnel.

Justice, Equality and Society

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 1

In this module, special attention is given to justice, equality and rights. You are introduced to theory which is then explored through a number of case studies focusing in particular on the development of non-discrimination and equality law in the English Legal System. The module will encourage you to think about contemporary issues from the perspectives of justice, equality and rights.

The Law of Contract

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 1

This module explores the legal rules and principles related to the formation, enforcement and vitiation of contractual promises. In particular, you will consider ideas of offer and acceptance. You will study the legal doctrine of consideration and the equitable doctrine of promissory estoppel. You will consider rights of enforceability under the doctrine of privity and then go on to consider the classification and substance of particular terms in a contract, eg implied terms or exemption clauses. The module goes on to look at factors which may vitiate or void agreement, such as misrepresentation, mistake, frusration, duress and undue influence.

The Law of Tort

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 1

In broad terms, the law of tort is the area of civil law primarily concerned with providing a remedy to persons who have been wrongfully harmed by the conduct of others. This module explores a number of the most important areas of tort law, for example negligence, nuisance, trespass to the person, liability for dangerous premises, liability for psychiatric harm and employers' liability. You will consider these and other areas as they are approached by the courts in England and Wales, to some extent the approach of other legal jurisdictions and also the social and political context of tort law.

British Political History

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 1

This module provides an overview of the major developments in British political history since 1900, focusing mainly (but not exclusively) on the post-war period. You focus on the major challenges domestic and international which have confronted political elites and masses during the period. It provides a critical understanding of some of the major debates between and within the UK's major political parties, and introduces some of the academic arguments generated by them. Politicians, and indeed political scientists, often make use of particular versions of history in order to persuade people that what they are offering is either tried and trusted or, on the other hand, new and improved. Pundits are also fond of making casual allusions to political events of the past in order to illustrate or support their arguments about the present often based on little more than second-hand knowledge and outdated received wisdom. This module provides a firm foundation of knowledge on which to build the more advanced understanding promoted by more advanced modules. And, by subjecting to critical analysis what is often taken for granted, it encourages a degree of healthy scepticism towards any references to politics in the past made in both public and academic discourse.

Explanatory Concepts in Political Science

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 1

This module aims to provide you with firm understanding of some of the basic theories of the state including pluralism, elite theory, Marxism and public choice theory. You will apply these theories to British politics in order to gain a better understanding of particular political issues and interests, for example, the Constitutions, political parties, voting, interest groups and globalisation. This will enable you to engage in a dialogue that confronts established theories concerning the changing reality of British politics.

Foundations of Politics

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 1

This module provides an introduction to some of the central concepts and issues in political theory. It offers you an opportunity to think not just about the way politics is, but also about the way it ought to be. We will ask questions such as ‘why should we obey the state?’, ‘is democracy the best form of government?’ and ‘what makes a just society?’ By the end of the module you should have acquired a basic understanding of the central questions that political theorists spend their time thinking and writing about, and you should have begun to develop some of your own answers to these questions.

Research Skills and Methods in Political Science

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 1

This module is designed to introduce you to some of the fundamental issues faced by scholars as they try to analyse the political world around them.  We begin by examining the discipline of political science, what 'studying politics', and introduce some of the key terms such as epistemology, behaviouralism, quantitative methods.

You will be introduced to the basics of quantitative methods and the advantages and disadvantages of using surveys, questionnaires and statistical packages to analyse real world political activity. 

The next set of lectures analyse a completely different mode of enquiry; those based on interpretist understandings of political affairs. There are, obviously, all sorts of ways of collecting evidence to support your case/answer a question, and some of the most popular involve doing interviews, focus groups, simple participation etc. We discuss some of the strengths and weaknesses of using these methods, analysing why they are chosen in the first place and how they link with more quantitative approaches. 

By the end of the module, you should have an enhanced understanding of what the political science discipline is, how political scholars conduct their research and how they reach the conclusions that they do. You should also be able to critically interpret many of the claims and counter-claims, often based on statistical indicators, that are a feature of contemporary political debate.

Most of the lectures will necessarily focus on presenting various, often rather abstract, concepts and procedures. However, the relevance of these in modern political analysis will be demonstrated by incorporating practical exercises in which the concepts and methods learnt will be applied in seminars and computer workshops.

Equity and Trusts

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 2

This module consists of two related parts: key principles and concepts of equity and equitable remedies; and the institution of the trust. The module aims to set Equity and Trusts in its social, economic and political contexts. You will consider the historical development of equity and the use of particular equitable remedies. We will look at the institution of the trust, it's formation and constitution, moving on to regard the idea of beneficial ownership. The nature of private and public purpose trusts and implied trusts is considered. Further, we look at the duties, responsibilities and rights of the personnel involved in a trust relationship; finally moving on to look at the liability for strangers to a trust. Within this framework, the basic principles and theoretical underpinnings of the subject will be analysed.

Land Law

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 2

This module explores the legal rules determining what it means to own land and/or other rights that relate to land. Specific topics may include: the doctrines of estates and tenure; the meaning of land (fixtures); and the distinction between personal and property rights; the role of equity and the trust and the doctrine of proprietary estoppel; the contractual formalities for buying an interest or estate in land; acquiring ownership rights, including the rules of adverse possession; unregistered and registered title; mortgages; leases (and licences); co-ownership; trusts of land; freehold covenants; and easements.

Public Law I: Constitutional and Administrative Law

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 2

The module considers the nature and structure of the British Constitution. It addresses some of the core theoretical principles of the Constitution and examine how those principles are applied in the institutional arrangements of government in the UK. The relationship between the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government will be considered, and the allocation of power between them is analysed in terms of both constitutional theory and political practice. The module also considers the extent to which state power is subject to control and restraint. The mechanisms that are used to control the exercises of state power are examined in some detail; the principles of Judicial Review, as well as the alternative mechanisms for holding the institutions of the state to account, are considered.

Canadian Constitutional Law in Comparative Perspective

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

The distinctive nature and history of the Canadian state and Canadian constitutional arrangements make it an interesting study in its own right and a useful comparator at a time of growing discussion and interest in the field of constitutionalism. The Canadian model with its Charter of Rights and Freedoms provides a source of influence and inspiration to the UK and other Commonwealth countries and is frequently used as a comparator particularly because of the multi-faceted nature of the Canadian state and the commitment of the Canadian Constitution to multi-culturalism. Canadian constitutional law is examined in comparative perspective.

This module introduces you to the history, structures, sources and nature of the Canadian Constitution. In particular the module examines the distinctive history of the Canadian constitutional arrangements and the development of a rich Canadian constitutional literature which has made a major contribution to discussions of constitutionalism and difference. The context of multi-national Canadian democracy provides a particularly interesting case study for an examination of Constitutional contestation and the course examines how this context has influenced the structure of the Canadian state, including Canadian federalism, constitutional change in Canada and the adjudication of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms 1982 through the courts.

European Politics

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 2

The political map of contemporary Europe is changing fundamentally and rapidly, as the traditional boundaries between East and West and – between domestic and international governance – break down. This module provides a pan­-European introduction to the continent's politics,­ taking a comparative rather than country­-by-­country approach.

After setting the historical and socio­economic context, the module tackles not only institutions (the nation-­state, government and policy­making, legislatures, parties, pressure groups and the media) but also issues of ­participation, immigration, the supposed blurring of the left-­right divide, and Europe's role in the world.

Modern Political Thought

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 2

This module addresses some of the most important texts in the history of western political philosophy. It covers the work of seven major political thinkers and aims to provide you with knowledge of the broad contours of modern political thought from the 17th to the 20th century. You will develop your ability to analyse philosophical arguments and to situate the texts studied in the appropriate historical contexts. Throughout, the aim will be to encourage close textual reading whilst developing an awareness of the wider themes and concepts that inform modern political thought.

Politics of Governance: Eastern Europe

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

The module begins by examining the kind of legacies that the communist period left in these countries before moving on to consider their institutional structures and party and electoral politics of the new post-communist democracies. You then considers some of the major issues raised by the process of post-communist democratisation. These include: how to deal with functionaries of the previous non-democratic regime, how to introduce radical economic reform, and how to accommodate the existence of the numerous ethnic minorities that most of these states encompass? The impact of attempts to integrate into Euro-Atlantic international structures (the EU and NATO) on Central and East European domestic politics is considered before a final session that attempts to evaluate the nature of the regimes that are emerging in the region.

Politics of Governance: France

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

Democracy in France has a troubled history, which continues to impact on contemporary politics in significant ways that have contributed to the representation of France as being in many ways 'exceptional'. This idea of 'the French Exception' will serve as a context for this module, which aims to give you a basic understanding of the institutions, policies and issues which dominate political life in France today. The module uses current affairs in France as its starting point in order to encourage engagement, and will use this to build up a grasp of the institutional framework in which political power operates. Important themes to be analysed will be: institutional and constitutional change, party dynamics, and policy reforms.

Politics of Governance: Germany

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

The overall intellectual aim of this module is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the structure and norms of governance in the Federal Republic of Germany. The module examines the structure of German governance post-1945, looking at the formal codified arrangements of German federalism and the relationship between the constitution, parties and the wider polity. Particular emphasis is placed on Germany's role within the broader international community and the effects that unification has had on the structures and practices of German governance. We will also look at two particular policy fields (foreign policy, asylum and immigration policy) in order to see how the structures of governance affect policy making and policy development in individual policy areas. Learning objectives are specified by week for each topic. You should use these to think about when reading the material and preparing for each seminar.

Politics of Governance: India

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

Politics of Governance: International Institutions and Issues

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

This module critically analyses the evolution of the international institutional order since World War II up to contemporary times. It examines the emergence and transformations of these bodies in the face of evolving and emerging issues and challenges. You will focus on institutions such as the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organisation, as well as non-state actors and then gauge and assess their response to the issues and challenges in their respective fields of competence (for example, the environment, global ethics, intervention, failing states, self-determination, the changing nature of war and global governance).

Politics of Governance: The European Union

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

This module treats the EU as a system of governance and examines it on that basis looking at the nature of executive, legislative and judicial politics as well as looking at the nature of interest representation and examining the nature of democracy in the EU and the impact of the EU on European states. It does so the basis of a variety of theoretical accounts derived from international relations and political science that have been applied to the EU

Politics of Governance: USA

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

This module examines four approaches to understanding contemporary US politics that emphasise the role of institutions, ideas, individuals and interests. These approaches are applied to the three main institutions of the Presidency, Congress and the Supreme Court and to the nature of political parties and voting in the US.

Public Law II: Power, the Individual and the State

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

The module builds upon Public Law I to develop a deeper understanding of the British constitution and of constitutional law more generally. Drawing upon legal, political and social theory, you examine the theoretical principles of constitutions focussing upon the operation and distribution of power within the state and its impact upon the lives of groups and individuals. Both theories and historical accounts of legitimacy, democracy and human rights will be examined, and their operation in contemporary legal and political practice will be considered.

Criminal Law

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

This module encompasses the elements of a crime; actus reus and mens rea; negligence and strict liability; the criminal liability of corporations and children; defences; accomplices; homicide; non-fatal offences against the person; sexual offences; theft and other property offences; damage to property; and inchoate offences. This module places the law within the framework of the Human Rights Act 1998. Some aspects of criminal law theory such as theories of punishment, why conduct should be criminalised, and issues of procedure and evidence that are relevant to the substantive law are covered.

Law and Policy of the European Union

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

This module examines the law and policy of the EU, with an emphasis on the role of law as a tool of European integration. The first part concentrates on a detailed study of the constitutional principles and values of the EU as expressed in the treaties and case law of the Court of Justice. The second half of the module addresses substantive law, particularly in relation to the single market (in persons, goods and services) and non-market issues such as citizenship of the European Union and protection of fundamental rights.

Access to Land

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

Commercial Law

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

One of the most powerful influences on human activity is the driving force of trade. Commercial law is primarily concerned with the rights and duties arising from the supply of goods and services by way of trade. This module adopts the specific-contract approach to the subject and focuses on the paradigm commercial transaction – the sale and supply of goods by one merchant to another.

Company Law

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

Topics covered include:

• Introduction to company law: an outline of the new statute: Companies Act 2006; the inter-relationship between statute and the common law; the role of the European Company Law Harmonisation Programme; Company Law in context, theory and history.
• Legal personality and limited liability: different categories of companies (the private/public divide); the rule in Salomon's case and lifting the veil of incorporation.
• The promotion of companies: the role of the Stock Exchange and investor protection; the role, duties and liabilities of the promoter; pre-incorporation contracts.
• The relationship between the company and the outside world: the objects of the company and the rise and fall of the ultra vires rule; the nullity principle; the internal operations of the company and their effect on third parties; principles of agency/vicarious liability, corporate crimes and criminal liability.
• The internal relations within the company: shareholders inter se; inter-relationship between the company's constitution and the Companies Act; alteration of the constitution; different classes of shares; preference shares and the alteration of their rights; the company and its employees; the stakeholder debate.
• The role of corporate governance in company life: the regulatory framework for companies; self-regulation by business and Government intervention; the work of the CG committees, a definition of CG and Corporate Social Responsibility;
• The management of the company: composition of the board of directors; formalities of management; division of functions between the company's organs.
• The qualification of directors: different kinds of directors (non-executive/executive; nominee; shadow; de facto); how are directors qualified?; the disqualification framework..
• Directors' duties and their enforcement: the new statutory statement of duties; to whom are the duties owed?; the rule in Foss v. Harbottle; derivative and representative actions.
• Protection of minority shareholders: just and equitable winding up; the action for unfair prejudice.

Comparative Law

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

This module is designed to offer you an introduction to the subject of comparative law, its methodology and rationale. It permits you to appreciate the diversity in the legal systems of the world, their history as well as their contemporary development, particularly in the context of law reform, the phenomenon of legal transplants and the competition between legal systems for adherents, including such concepts as legal imperialism. The major legal systems (including common law and civilian) will be explored through their context, structure and rule-formation process as well an analysis of discrete topics (selected from the public and private law areas, including constitutional law, administrative law, criminal law, property law and the law of obligations). Finally, the role of comparative law as an agent of harmonisation and the formation of international rules, benchmarks and standards will be explored.

Competition Law of the European Union

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

The module examines the detailed rules of competition law and policy in the EU. You cover the law relating to cartels, abuses of dominant position, mergers, enforcement, state aid and the application of competition law to public services and undertakings entrusted with services of general economic interest.

Corporate Finance and Insolvency

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

This module is designed to offer you an introduction to the topics of corporate finance, security and insolvency. It allows you to appreciate the role of security in the financing of business, its importance when compared to equity financing, and the diversity of techniques used for the securitization of participants' entitlements. The module is also designed to enable you to consider how the presence of asset-security and the disparity between the position of various categories of creditors have an impact in insolvency, what procedures are available and how outcomes are affected by the presence of security, including the consequent restructuring potential for corporate debtors.

Criminology

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

The first part of the module considers the development of explanations for criminal offending, looking at the classical and positivist schools of criminology as well as sociological, psychological and behaviouralist approaches. It concludes by examining the more radical alternatives offered by neo-Marxist and feminist criminologists, the so called ‘Left Realists’ and contemporary criminology. The second part looks at the more practical dimensions of criminal justice, dealing with crime statistics and victim surveys; victims in the criminal justice system; punishment, rehabilitation and compensation; diversion of offenders; sentencing and penal policy; imprisonment and prison regimes; and non-custodial and community sentences.

Dissertation

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

This module involves you researching and writing a 10,000 word dissertation on a subject of your choice. Having chosen your research topic in consultation with a supervisor, you work under the guidance of your supervisor for the duration of the academic year. The teaching component of the module takes place during the first teaching block only and is seminar-based. The seminars are designed to equip you with the research skills required to complete your dissertations. The topics covered include: research methodology, writing up, advanced word processing, and researching online. You submit a 2,000 word research proposal to your supervisor during the first term and receive feedback on this. You also present your research proposals to the tutor and the other students at one of the seminars towards the end of the first term. The module seeks to develop the skills of independent research and learning; good time management; the ability to reflect upon progress; and an appreciation of the value of constructive criticism.

Employment Law

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

Employment law is one of the fastest growing areas of law and practice: the volume of both case law and legislation is considerable. The election of a different political party to government inevitably brings new employment legislation in its wake and the current coalition government which seeks to reconcile rather different aspirations is producing fairly radical proposals for change. It is against this backdrop that the module seeks to examine and explore both the individual contract of employment and the tripartite relationship involving employers, employees and trade unions. You look at the dramatic changes in working arrangements (such as the growing participation and influence of women in the workforce coupled with the very varied patterns of work (such as part-time/casuals/agency/flexible working),the employee/self-employed distinction, the employment contract and its sources with particular reference to implied terms such as mutual trust and confidence and also the controversial expansion of employers' liability to encompass psychiatric harm caused by stress at work. Protection of wages and limitations on working hours, together with 'family-friendly' entitlements covering maternity, paternity, adoptive and parental issues, are also examined. Topics of current interest which also now feature in the module are 'whistleblowing', restraint of trade covenants and references. Thereafter, the module addresses termination of employment, in particular wrongful and unfair dismissal, redundancy and transfers. Last but certainly not least the important and expanding subject of discrimination and equality law is examined in some detail, including sex, religion or belief, race, disability and age. We also examine equal pay issues in this section of the module. Overall, the aim is to make the module informative, relevant and stimulating by combining the academic aspects of employment law with an appreciation of current developments and proposals in this dynamic area of law which affects all our lives. To keep you abreast of the latest developments, particularly in relation to the most substantial second term topic of discrimination and equality law, separate handbooks are issued at the start of each main teaching term.

Environmental Law 1

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

Environmental Law 2

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

EU Politics and Policy

30 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

This module provides an opportunity to study the substance of the policies which the EU has developed and the process by which those policies are agreed. You draw upon the techniques and approaches which have been developed in the specialised discipline of policy analysis, allowing for an understanding of the way in which specific policy areas have emerged.

As well as using academic texts and analysis to inform your understanding of the EU policy process, the module will also familiarise you with a range of primary and other research resources. In particular you will learn about a variety of hard copy and on line materials produced by the European Institutions and bodies seeking to influence or understand the EU. You will also learn about data and media sources which will enable you to draw upon a wider range of material in studying, researching and discussing the issues covered by the module.

Family Law

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

This module introduces you to the most important rules of family law. But it does more than just outline the rules on marriage and divorce, parental status and parental responsibility, child protection, domestic violence, contact and residence disputes, etc. It also considers the application of those rules in the social and political context that frames them. The module requires you to think about the nature of the family in it broadest sense (to include married and unmarried partners in adult relationships, and the great variety of ways in which adults raise and care for children) and to consider the appropriateness of the rules that govern the family in law. You will also be required to reflect on the place of law in the regulation of family life. The module will, for that reason, be both theoretical and extremely practical; and it will be both thoroughly legal (in a black letter sense) and a little sociological.

France: The Mitterrand Years

30 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

The module aims to engage you with politics and policies in France during the period of the double presidency of François Mitterrand, 1981-1995. It will begin by setting this period in its historical perspective, in order to highlight the significance of the victory of the first socialist president. We will then look at the early years of 'the socialist experiment', 1981-1984, and evaluate its achievements and failures, before moving on to look at the gradual 'Europeanisation' of the policy-making processes after 1984, when the discourse of socialism gives way to that of modernisation and the signing of the Single European Act, a watershed for France and for the Left in particular. We will then examine the first period of 'cohabitation' from 1986-1988, examining its political and institutional implications as well as its consequences, one of which was the re-election of Mitterrand in 1988. In the second presidency we will consider the impact of the collapse of communism on France and on Franco-German relations in particular, and the gradual realisation of 'the end of the French exception' culminating in the referendum debate on the Maastricht Treaty, which brought about certain realignmnents in the party system. Finally, we will consider the ways in which affairs of corruption and the politics of memory (Vichy France and the Algerian War) came to dominate the final years of the Mitterrand presidency, with repercussions for his legacy and the post-Mitterrandian era of French politics.

Global Business Law and Regulation

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

Hate Crime and the Law

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

Healthcare Law and Ethics

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

This module introduces you to a number of key contemporary issues and debates within the field of health care law and policy. As well as gaining knowledge of the subject's substantive legal rules, you will acquire an understanding of the main ethical principles underlying these. The module is also designed to create an awareness of the historical development of health care law and policy and of how their contemporary nature is influenced by wider political and economic transformations at the national, EU and global levels.

Human Rights

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

Human rights has become part of the contemporary political discourse, so much so that we generally take for granted that we know what the concept covers. Today almost everyone around the globe is acquainted with the idea of human rights. We often hear about 'human rights', especially in the media. This module covers both domestic and international human rights systems as well as theoretical critiques of human rights (eg by cultural relativists and feminists). It also looks at contemporary human rights issues and some of the current challenges facing the human rights community.

Ideas of Progress and Decline in Modern British Politics

30 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

Immigration and the Liberal State

30 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

Independent Study/Internship Option

30 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

This option provides an opportunity for you to carry out your own research project - working independently but with the help of a project tutor. In order to be accepted onto this option you produce a project outline by the end of you second year which needs to be approved by the module convenor. This many be linked to a period as an intern in the place of work (eg, in a local authority or at Westminster).

Intellectual Property Law

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

The module covers aspects of the law of copyright, unregistered and registered trade marks, confidential information and patents. The module aims to introduce you to the principles of intellectual property law and its philosophical and economic justifications, but it will also encourage in-depth analysis of particular issues in the law and policy of intellectual property, such as internet 'piracy' and access to medicines in developing countries. The focus of the module will be on UK law and policy, however reference will be made to EU and international law where relevant.

International Business Transactions

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

International Litigation

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

The module examines particularly the law and practice of the International Court of Justice. Other tribunals that will be covered include ICSID (International Centre for Settlement of International Disputes), the WTO, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and the Iran-US Claims Tribunal. On this module you may also be offered the opportunity to take part in an international law mooting competition.

Note: Students who participate in the moot are assessed by unseen examination and memorial; students who do not participate in the mooting competition are assessed by unseen examination and essay.

Internet Law and Regulation

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

Law and Development

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

Law and the Creative Industries

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

Legal Theory

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

Media Law and Regulation

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

Parties and Voters in the UK

30 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

This module focuses on the study of parties and voters in the UK, one of the core topics in British political science. Emphasis is given primarily to contemporary change rather than historical background. Topics and themes covered include: party system change in the UK; historical origins of the party system; electoral behaviour and party competition; party ideologies and programmatic development; intra-party conflict and cohesion; party organisational change; the party system and the political system.

Personal Property Law

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

Personal property law is probably the most important and yet the most neglected and least understood aspect of English law. Historically this discipline was neglected because it was commonly, but misleadingly, regarded as belonging to a number of entirely separate legal categories. This module adopts a concept-orientated approach, avoiding the specific-contract approach that has hitherto impoverished the study of the concepts and philosophy of personal property law in England and Wales.

Political Corruption

30 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

The objective of this module is to shed some light on the dark side of politics by developing analytical and theoretical tools that will allow us to analyse corruption across both time and space. We begin by analysing exactly what we understand by ‘corrupt’ behaviour and how this appears to differ (often quite starkly) across national boundaries. Are humans naturally corrupt? If so, does this matter? Is corrupt behaviour absolute and universal or does it depend on location and context? Indeed, can corruption sometimes even be a good thing?

Armed with the analytical tools aimed at unpacking the complex phenomenon of political corruption, we examine specific examples of corruption across the developed world, ranging from systematic abuses of power by parties and politicians to small-scale, almost trivial, petty misdemeanours. This analysis then provides a foundation for examining what reforms might contribute to lessening instances of political corruption in the western world.

Populism and Politics

30 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

Populism is a widely used term in politics but rarely conceptualised in political science. This module explores the phenomenon of populism and its relationship to politics and particularly to representative politics and considers populism, its meaning, its causes and effects in a systematic and comparative way. Populism is understood in its widest possible sense in this module so that we explore populism of the right and of the left and we examine a wider range of disparate cases of populism from different parts of the world. The module has essentially two elements: the first is the examination of a range of different examples of populist movements, moments, personalities and parties (eg from Russia, North America, Latin America and Europe). The second element is to examine the conceptualisation of populism and to engage with the debates about whether to and how to define populism. The module will be empirically oriented allowing you to develop interests in a small number of cases with an eye to clarifying your positions on the wider conceptual debates regarding populism.

Private International Law

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

Professional Liability

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

Professional Liability encompasses a range of areas of law - notably tort, contract, criminal law, professional regulation and self-regulation - which govern the activities of professionals. This module will examine this specialist area of law, looking at the nature and definition of professions, the general legal and regulatory principles, and their application to selected professions.

Public International Law

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

Public International Law governs the relations between states. Increasingly, during the 20th and early 21st centuries it has also come to regulate the activity of individuals and organisations. This module aims to provide a grounding in the basic concepts and general principles of international law. You will be encouraged to examine the legal basis of international law, the sources of the law and the relationship between international law and national law. The module will also examine recent developments and matters of controversy in international law and will introduce you to interdisciplinary aspects of the study of international law.

Regulatory Politics

30 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

The role and influence of regulation is a major aspect of modern government and public policy. This can be seen in the regulation of public services (typically quality and effectiveness), the regulation of markets (typically questions of price, competition and consumer friendliness), the regulation of the constitution (ranging from public appointments to standards in public life), the regulation of professional services (standards and conduct among doctors, lawyers, etc), and the regulation of personal and ethical matters (such as fertility, genetics and medical research).

The module looks at regulatory politics in a critical, dynamic sense. Regulation is a fast changing field, with many new ideas and developments coming from disciplines such as management, business and psychology. It is also heavily affected by policy failures and disappointments faced by governments. And regulation is shaped by the practices, results and learning of front-line regulators themselves. You are encouraged to draw on all of these influences to develop a rounded understanding of the politics of regulation and regulatory reform.

Short Dissertation A

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

Short Dissertation B

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

Sociology of Law

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

The first part of the module introduces you to a variety of historical and contemporary sociological perspectives on law. Taking the theme of the relationship between law and modernity as its point of departure, this part begins with a consideration of some of the key works of the founders of the sociology of law. Thereafter, you are introduced to contemporary literature in both sociology and law that analyses the nature of some important changes in contemporary Western societies (including in politics and the economy) and how these developments may be affecting traditional understandings of the nature and function of law and regulation.

The second part of the module is designed to enable you to think through the ideas and theories explored in part one in the context of a particular institution the welfare state. The types of question that will interest us here include the following: how has the way in which states provide for the social protection of their citizens altered over time? What role has law played in this? What is 'social law', and how (and why) might its nature have changed in the light of recent developments in the welfare state? What can contemporary social policy reveal about the relationship between the citizen and the state? What is the relationship between law, the welfare state, and the economy today? We will think through possible answers to these questions via a consideration of some examples from the field of social policy for instance, health care, unemployment, and social housing.

The Conservation of Biological Diversity in International Law and Policy

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

The Ethics and Conduct of Lawyers

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

The Law of Evidence

30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

This module is a study of the law of evidence in England and Wales but we also take the opportunity to examine and assess selected developments in other common law jurisdictions such as Australia, Canada and the USA. An outline of the history and development of evidence law puts into context the significance of key principles as developed very largely by case-law and, increasingly, now to be found in statutory provisions. From the last quarter of the 20th century to the present day we examine and assess the significant impact that issues such as re-balancing the interests of victims as against those of defendants plus the rapid development of anti-terrorist legislation aimed at protecting society are having on the fundamental principles of presumption of innocence, burden of proof and right of silence.

The overall objective of a fair trial is considered in both domestic and ECtHR jurisprudence. We also explore the impact of changes over the same period on the worrying prevalence of miscarriages of justice in areas such as confession evidence and eyewitness identification. The two major exclusionary rules of evidence - bad character and hearsay - are examined in some depth in the latter part of the module and we also address important issues relating to witnesses, such as competence, compellability, special measures for vulnerable or intimidated witnesses and the very vexed question of sexual history evidence. To ensure particularly that the rapidly developing law on bad character and hearsay is as up-to-date as possible, separate handbooks are issued at the start of each main teaching term.