Accessibility statement

Legal Concepts - LAW00010C

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  • Department: The York Law School
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24

Module summary

The module is compulsory for all students at Stage 1 of the LLB 3 Year; LLB 2 Year Senior Status; LLB with Year Abroad; MLaw. The module provides the opportunity for students to develop an understanding of a number of concepts which are important when considering the nature of law, legal practice, legal decision-making, and people's experience of law. The concepts are chosen to connect with and to inform students' learning in the 'core' subject areas of legal learning, namely Criminal Law; European Law; Obligations (Contract, Tort and Restitution); Property Law (Land Law and Equity); Public Law (Constitutional and Administrative Law) and to be useful in supporting the understanding of law which students develop in problem-based learning and associated activities in Foundations in Law 1 and 2. Students are assessed by way of a short presentation and a piece of written work which should demonstrate understanding of particular concepts in an identified context.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2023-24

Module aims

The module provides the opportunity for you to develop an understanding of a number of concepts which are important when considering the nature of law, legal practice, legal decision-making, and people's experience of law. These concepts will connect with and inform your learning in the 'core' subject areas of legal learning, namely Criminal Law; European Law; Obligations (Contract, Tort and Restitution); Property Law (Land Law and Equity); Public Law (Constitutional and Administrative Law) in problem-based learning and associated activities in Foundations in Law 1 and 2. Indicative concepts for consideration in this module include responsibility; risk; regulation; rights; accountability. You will develop the ability to understand these concepts and to identify them at work in a range of contexts. You will be assessed by way of a short presentation and a piece of written work, in which you will apply and demonstrate your understanding of particular concepts in an identified context.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, you should be able to: 1. Describe and explain key concepts and their relevance to law (with reference for example, to legal practice, legal decision-making, people's experiences of law) in relation to the legal subject areas under consideration in Foundations in Law 1 and 2; 2. Analyse and evaluate the key concepts relevant to law (with reference for example, to legal practice, legal decision-making, people's experiences of law) in a range of scenarios; 3. Conduct and evidence effective research which relates to these concepts and their relevance to law; 4. Develop a reasoned argument which demonstrates understanding of the relationship between particular concepts and the law; 5. communicate clearly, and in accordance with scholarly norms, (i) orally and in writing, (ii) independently and in collaboration with others, to an academic audience / readership; 6. Reflect and draw conclusions on the development of your learning, and apply them to further learning contexts.

Module content

The module is intended to support the development of students' learning in relation to the legal rules and principles under consideration in Foundations in Law 1 and 2.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 80
Oral presentation/seminar/exam 20

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

Feedback on summative presentation also has formative aspect which will inform subsequent written task.

Reassessment of session contribution will require submission of a written reflection on level of contribution and areas/steps for future development of such contribution in line with intended programme learning outcomes.

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 80
Oral presentation/seminar/exam 20

Module feedback

Ongoing feedback through roundtable seminar sessions. Feedback on summative presentation also has formative aspect which will inform subsequent written task.

Feedback will be provided with the policy turnaround time.

Indicative reading

Texts will be selected to illustrate application of concepts to legal contexts considered in Foundations in Law 1, so will in part be the texts associated with those modules.



The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.