LS4035: CRIMINAL LAW (HONOURS) (2018-2019)

Course Aims:

• To introduce candidates to issues of importance and current interest in the modern criminal law.
• To analyse those issues in terms of Scots law and also in terms of selected foreign systems of law.
• To encourage personal research into a particular issue of current concern.
• To encourage critical discussion of aspects of the present criminal law of Scotland. Main Learning Outcomes:
• To develop awareness of the literature (both primary and secondary) relevant to criminal law studies and to develop an understanding in depth of the particular issues studied.
• To critically examine the strengths and weaknesses of Scots criminal law.
• To develop an understanding of the variety of available solutions to problem areas within the criminal law. Knowledge and Understanding The course provides students with the opportunity to acquire an in-depth understanding of academic debates concerning legal and ethical problems that arise in the following areas: the role and function of the criminal law, the defence of mental disorder, the definition of murder, the definition of rape, the provocation defence, involuntary intoxication and the defences of necessity, coercion and superior orders. Subject Specific Skills and Concepts
• To produce coursework which is fully referenced, using correct legal citations;
• To analyse, synthesise and critically evaluate legal materials from a variety of sources;
• To conduct effective legal research, retrieving a range of up-to-date legal materials in electronic and non-electronic formats;
• Ability to express informed opinion, orally and in writing, on issues of criminal law. Key Skills (Transferable)
• Ability to conduct further personal research with a fair degree of confidence;
• Ability to communicate, in writing, the results of personal research;
• Ability to argue logically and support arguments with evidence;
• Ability to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information, when conducting research projects;
• Ability to work effectively in small groups;
• To develop time management skills. Content: The course builds upon the basic understanding of criminal law acquired in LS1009/LS1020, but approaches the topics from a much more theoretical perspective. It examines in detail selected principles of criminal liability, including the role and limits of the criminal law, the defence of mental disorder, murder, rape, provocation and the limits of excusability. Comparative material from a variety of jurisdictions is included.

This course is also available to candidates for the MA in Legal Studies as a 30 credit point course (LX 4035). This variation of the course will require an assessed essay of 3,500 words (being an additional 500 words).

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

More Information about Week Numbers

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour exam (67%), and 1 essay (33%). Resit: Normally, no resit is available.

There are no assessments for this course.

Feedback will be provided on the feedback form within three weeks from the date of submission.