7.

Describe
the
legal
framework
of
individual rights and
civil liberties in the UK

PUBLIC LAW
CHECKLIST
GENERAL
1.
Discuss
concept
parliamentary
sovereignty
and
contemporary
meaning;

the
of
its

2.
Discuss
the
relationship
between
the
concepts
of
separation of powers,
independence of the
judiciary and rule of
law;

Questions which we will

cover
include
the
following:

law?

What

is

public

What
is
its
relation
to
constitutional law and
administrative law?

What are the

fundamental principles
of the UK constitution?

3.
Discuss
the
nature of conventions
and their place in the
UK constitution today;

Does
the
principle of the rule of
law
ensure
just
government?

4.
Describe
the
development of the
monarchy
from
the
17th century to today
and the contemporary
powers of the Crown;

Does
the
separation of powers
protect
the
independence of the
judiciary?

5.
Describe
the
functions
and
procedures
of
Parliament
and
the
relationship
between
its two Houses, and the
functions
of
their
members,
including
ministers and the Civil
Service;
6.
Describe
the
system
of
judicial
review
of
administrative
action
and
extra-judicial
grievance procedures;

What are
legal
powers
Parliament?

the
of

What
is
the
effect of the UK's
membership
of
the
European
Union
on
domestic government
and law?

What are the

powers and duties of
ministers and how are
they held to account?

Is
regulated
law?

government
solely
by

What are the

legal powers of the
Welsh Assembly and
the
Scottish
Parliament?

How
do
individuals
challenge
the use of state power
which affects them?

How
do
individuals
challenge
government decisions
in the courts?

What rights do
individuals have to
challenge the use of
state power which
affects them?

What is the
impact of the Human
Rights Act 1998 on the
rights of the individual
and the powers of
government in the UK?

CRIMINAL LAW
I Preliminary issues:
The nature, function
and scope of criminal
law
Sources of Criminal
Law,
the
Law
Commission
and
proposals for reform.
The
Principle
Legality.

of

II General Principles
External Elements of
criminal offences (actus
Reus): states of affairs,
acts and omissions;

distinction
between
result
and
conduct
crimes - causation.
Fault
elements
of
criminal
offences
(mens rea): Intention,
recklessness,
negligence
and
offences
of
strict
liability.
*Participation in crime
(complicity);
aiding,
abetting,
counselling
and procuring.
*Inchoate
Offences;
attempts (in detail),
conspiracy
and
encouraging
crime
(formerly incitement at
common
law)
(in
outline only).
Mistakes
fact

of

law

and

Defences
I:
Self
defence
and
the
prevention of crime,
duress and necessity
*Defences
II:
Incapacity;
insanity,
non-insane automatism
and intoxication.
III
offences

Particular

Homicide;
voluntary
manslaughter
(provocation,
diminished

Murder,

responsibility
suicide
involuntary
manslaughter.

and
pacts),

Non
fatal
offences
against the person:
including assault and
battery,
assault
occasioning
actual
bodily harm, malicious
wounding
and
wounding with intent
Sexual
offences;
including rape, sexual
assault
and
sexual
offences
against
children.
*Offences
against
property:
including
offences of dishonesty
under the Theft Acts
1968 & 1978 and the
Fraud Act 2006.

LEGAL
FOUNDATION

Research
Writing Skills

and

Use of paper and

electronic sources of
primary and secondary
materials
Evaluating
and
applying
researched
materials
to
an
assigned task
Citation
bibliographies

and

Avoidance of plagiarism
Writing for law
Oral
skills

presentation

The Legal Systems of

England and Wales and
the EU
Sources of law

Legal Method Skills

What is law?

Courts of England and

Wales and the EU
Doctrine of precedent

Critical
and
reasoning skills

legal

Anatomy of a case
report and thinking like
a lawyer
Legal
precedent

Mooting exercise

reasoning:

Legal
reasoning:
interpreting
and
applying legislation

Statutory interpretation
and judicial reasoning
The role of the judge
Introduction to the civil
justice system
Introduction
to
the
criminal justice system