We are fully appraised of the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) proposal for changes to legal education and training and mindful of the recent introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). These developments will be accommodated in appropriate changes made to the course going forward. For further information on these changes consult the SRA website at www.sra.org.uk.
Please note that module titles may be subject to change.
Course structure
Year 1 core modules
Law of Contract
Contract law is one of the most fundamental aspects of law. All contracts are agreements but not all agreements are contracts. This module explores the differences between informal agreements and those enforceable in law. It also covers issues that can arise within a contract including when someone is misled, when a party changes its mind about a contract, when one party does not perform a contract in whole or in part, and when property delivered as part of a contract is defective. In all of these cases you study the established principles for allocating responsibility.
At the end of the module you can look at a problem scenario, identify the legal contractual issues involved and propose a solution or offer advice to the parties involved. This module is very relevant to the business environment.
Law of Tort
You encounter a range of civil actions associated with tort and are introduced to tort as a compensation system. Module content draws on the issues of claiming compensation after an accident. Unlike criminal law, which determines guilt, you come to understand the way that tort seeks to apportion liability and award damages to compensate the injured party.
The most prominent area of tortious liability is negligence. You examine the elements required to establish liability in detail. The importance of understanding the components of negligence and how to minimise the risk of liability is relevant to all businesses. Other forms of tortious liability include trespass (to land and to the person), defamation and nuisance - you consider a range of these torts.
We emphasise developing your critical awareness of the issues underpinning the legal process of tort and enhancing your analytical abilities and written presentation skills. You consider how our society has adopted a litigation culture and the potential drivers.
Law, Life and Commercial Awareness
You develop your skills and competencies that underpin the study and practice of law, and introduce consideration of general transferable skills for any workplace.
You carry out practical exercises on a variety of topics where you develop skills and have the opportunity to reflect on your own acquisition and development over the course of the module.
Legal Foundations
This module begins the skills development which forms the basis not only for successful legal study but also for success in legal practice or indeed any other career. Initially the focus is on the basic skills for legal study and the fundamental processes of legal reasoning followed by consideration of the key skills of the lawyer in practice and an appreciation of the transferability of those skills.
The Citizen and the State – Civil Liberties and Human Rights
This module provides an opportunity to consider the relationship between the state and individuals, it examines the Human Rights Act 1998 and the growing significance of European Convention rights for the UK citizen. This is a crucial area of legal study which provides important foundations for subsequent study.
The Citizen and the State - The Constitution
The subject matter of this module concentrates on the structure and functions of the state and is concerned with the interaction between the organs of state. In particular the way in which power is exercised by parliament and the government is considered.
Year 2 core modules
Contemporary Issues and Legal Research
This module allows you to engage with research topics being pursued by members of academic staff at the University and in the wider academic community.
You are introduced to current issues in the legal profession by visitors with experience in the field. Seminars supplement your learning in this area and are followed up with complementary workshops and advanced reading.
Criminal Law
As perhaps the best known aspect of the legal system, criminal law presents an interesting and challenging area of study.
You are introduced to the English legal system and gain an understanding of the nature and purpose of criminal law, the principles of criminalisation and the basic elements of a crime. You examine some controversial aspects of criminal law, including, for example, particularly problematic criminal offences and defences and the way the criminal law responds to social problems.
Employment Law
Employment law consists of a series of statutory provisions and common law principles concerned with the regulation of the employment relationship. You study the contract of employment and a number of statutory employment rights (including, most notably, unfair dismissal).
At the individual level you examine discrimination in terms of sex, disability and equal pay. At the collective level, you consider collective bargaining, trade union law and industrial conflict. To a large extent, the law concerns the civil liberties of the citizen, as an employee, taking into account Britain’s former membership of the European Union.
The Law of Equity and Trusts
You consider how equity has developed alongside the common law to provide justice in cases where the law provides no remedy or where the remedy is inadequate. You come to understand that the common law only provides the remedy of damages whereas equity provides additional remedies. These can include specific performance and injunctions - both are often the desired outcome of civil action.
You explore the legal ownership of property and its history. You are introduced to the law’s most important contemporary uses in relation to family provision, pension funds and the operation of charities.
and two optional modules
EU Law
This module aims to introduce you to the general constitutional and legislative structure of the European Union. It also explores the operation of EC law, considering its relationship with domestic law and explains the function and application of some of the substantive legal provisions.
Land Law
Law relating to the transfer of land affects us all. No piece of land is the same as another and the law has developed in the last 900 years to reflect this. Historically, land law was about large interests and traditional estates. This changed during the 20th century as more people aspired to be owner-occupiers and the individual home owner replaced the landlord as the dominant figure. In the latter part of the 20th century the owner-occupier couple replaced the single, predominately male owner.
Today, the process of compulsory land registration is completing the transformation of this subject. The focus of this module is co-owned, registered land as land law is taught in its modern, social context.
Final-year core module
Dissertation
This module begins with formal lectures and seminars covering topics like how to conduct a dissertation and the research process – timetabling, supervision, structure and guidelines will be covered. You will be provided with a supervisor to support and guide you through the dissertation process. Personal development is embedded within the process as you are expected to complete a reflective diary.
and optional modules
Corporate Law
This module examines the law relating to public and private limited companies. It defines the legal framework, both statutory and common law, within which companies operate. You will learn to assess the conduct of a company, its members and directors, and the legal obligations. You will consider the law relating to all the main aspects of its operation - from forming a company to winding it up.
Criminal Law Theory
This module promotes a critical understanding of some of the theories that underpin our criminal law. From general legal philosophies to their particular effects on specific areas of criminal law, you explore the theories of culpability and blameworthiness in the context of specific academic debates.
You question which types of conduct should be criminalised, how the criminal law should treat mentally disordered offenders, when we should exempt individuals from criminal liability, whether the test for recklessness is subjective or objective, and whether there a place for negligence in criminal law.
EU Law
This module aims to introduce you to the general constitutional and legislative structure of the European Union. It also explores the operation of EC law, considering its relationship with domestic law and explains the function and application of some of the substantive legal provisions.
Family Law
Explore cohabitation, marriage, separation and divorce and consider the various legal aspects of these relationships. Examine how the law regulates the interaction of parties within a relationship, defining their rights and responsibilities, minimally during the course of the relationship, but in detail should it end.
The module also concentrates on children in family law. Traditionally the law focused on parents but modern developments, particularly those resulting in the Children Act 1989, have focused more on the rights of the child and the responsibilities of parents and others taking the place of parents.
You examine how private law (which regulates the relationship of the child to others) and public law (which focuses on child protection) are brought together.
International Law
This module examines the principles and structures underpinning international law. You explore the sources and modes of development of international law and look into key international institutions and the operation and enforcement of international law in specific areas. The topic is considered in the context of current international issues.
By studying the nature of international law you become able to critically analyse the extent to which international law performs its function. The content of this module may vary to take account of current issues.
Land Law
Law relating to the transfer of land affects us all. No piece of land is the same as another and the law has developed in the last 900 years to reflect this. Historically, land law was about large interests and traditional estates. This changed during the 20th century as more people aspired to be owner-occupiers and the individual home owner replaced the landlord as the dominant figure. In the latter part of the 20th century the owner-occupier couple replaced the single, predominately male owner.
Today, the process of compulsory land registration is completing the transformation of this subject. The focus of this module is co-owned, registered land as land law is taught in its modern, social context.
Law of Civil and Criminal Evidence
This module focuses on the law of evidence in both the civil and criminal spheres. It examines key aspects of the admissibility of evidence and challenges you to explore the practical implications of the rules. Whilst the module is particularly suited for those who wish to continue their studies and join the professions, it is an academic module and examines the law of evidence from the academic viewpoint.
Medical Law
This module covers medical and mental health law in a broad context. You study the medical professions, and liability in medical law with a focus on medical negligence. You also cover birth and death, assisted reproduction and other topical debates. Spanning across the subject is the issue of consent – its scope and its implication for those with disability.
You explore compulsory detention in hospital, and treatment for those with a mental disorder and the law in relation to their discharge. You also examine how the law affects those without capacity.
Student Law Clinic
Teesside Law Clinic gives students the opportunity to work with real people on real cases, offering advice to members of the public in a number of areas of law. In addition to this students will have the opportunity to be involved in at least one Streetlaw project during their time in the clinic.
The number of places available within the Student Law Clinic is assessed on a yearly basis and as such an application process exists for potential candidates. The clinic will require students to commit to 4 hours per week, which will be on a rota basis. This is a pass/fail component of the course. In addition, weekly seminars will take place.
As part of the module students will be working on a number of live cases assessed under the supervision of a member of staff. In-course assessment accounts for 40% of total mark. This will be in the form of an essay of 2,000 words on a choice of area from 5 options. End-course assessment accounts for 60% of the total mark. This will be made up of a portfolio of evidence containing work carried out on 1-3 client files and a reflective essay of 1,500 words.
The Law of Succession
Many of the issues raised on this module relate to practical situations – you will be required to solve difficult and complex legal problems. Other issues are more theoretical - you will do some independent research, extracting your information from a variety of sources including the course manual, textbooks, journals, reports and electronic sources.
