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Foundations in Law - Portfolio & Reflections II - LAW00038I

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  • Department: The York Law School
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module summary

This module considers core areas of law: Criminal Law; European Union Law; the law of Obligations; Property Law; Public Law. These are the foundations of legal knowledge associated with progression to the legal professions. The module involves the production of a portfolio reflecting on learning in these areas, and a short research task. It is also assessed in part on the basis of contributions to the Problem-Based Learning process.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23

Module aims

The module provides the opportunity for you to reflect in depth on the development of your learning in relation to 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 on the connections between those subject areas. You will generate a portfolio comprising a reflective report, and items of evidence supporting the learning claims made in the reflective report. The evidence will be drawn from your substantive legal studies in relation to the core subject areas in Foundations in Law 1, 2, 3 and 4. You will also conduct a short research task. In undertaking the module, you will develop both your substantive knowledge and understanding of the law, and your capacity to reflect effectively and in depth on the development of your learning, making effective use of feedback and planning future learning.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, you should be able to: 1. Describe and explain key legal rules and principles, and the relationships between and among them; 2. Describe and explain processes of legal research relevant to developing knowledge about these rules and principles; 3. Analyse and evaluate the legal issues in a range of scenarios, and suggest solutions to legal problems; 4. Develop reasoned argument and practise critical evaluation in relation to law; 5. Explain the relevance of different perspectives on and contexts relevant to law; 6. Communicate clearly, and in accordance with scholarly norms, to an academic audience / readership; 7. Reflect in depth on the development of your learning and identify possible future learning needs and interests; 8. Demonstrate a positive contribution to your learning and development, and those of others, by regular attendance and active participation in learning activities in Foundations PBL workshops.

Module content

The module content is drawn from your learning in Foundations in Law 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Indicative assessment

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

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

Formative work is embedded as follows. There are formal opportunities to discuss substantive and reflective work in progress through surgery provision; and informal opportunities are embedded within PBL.

The summative assessment involves two elements: a portfolio, comprising a reflective report on assigned learning outcomes, with supporting evidence; and contribution to PBL sessions, the latter being a major enabling factor in achieving the learning outcomes. The reassessment of contribution is in a different form - a written submission - as it is not possible to recreate the environment in which contribution is made. Therefore, students will be examined on their understanding of the impact of their contribution to PBL activities on both their own and others' learning. Students will be given the opportunity to complete this reassessment if they fail the module and the module failure includes a failure in the assessed contribution element of the module.

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 80
Essay/coursework 20

Module feedback

Ongoing feedback through PBL activity and Portfolio Learning Activity sessions; surgery and plenary opportunities to discuss generation of portfolio evidence; etc.

Written feedback and surgery opportunities to discuss completed portfolio.

Indicative reading

Key substantive legal texts are those used by students for Foundations in Law 1 and 2. Students might

also benefit from engagement with the literature on reflective practice, e.g.,

Reflection in learning and professional development : theory and practice

Moon, Jennifer A.

London : Kogan Page 2000

Learning journals : a handbook for academics, students and professional development

Moon, Jennifer A.

London : Kogan Page 1999

The reflective practitioner : how professionals think in action

Schön, Donald A.

London : Ashgate c1991


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.