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Crimino-legal Student Think Tank - SPY00068H

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  • Department: Social Policy and Social Work
  • Credit value: 40 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2023-24 to Semester 2 2023-24

Module aims

The module aims to engage students, academics, and public service organisations in order to find solutions to crimino-legal issues in society. University students, working together in a Student Think Tank, will develop their oral and written presentation skills, by collaborating on a joint project to communicate an important issue or problem to a given audience clearly and effectively. By exploring core themes of their Law and Criminology programme, students will also deepen their shared practical understanding of ideas and concepts previously tackled only as abstract concepts.

This module aims to:

  • explore working with a client to meet a project brief;

  • equip students with the skills to undertake a systematic review of research on a topic of relevance to a project brief;

  • Enhance team-working skills and support effective collaboration on a shared project

  • engage with a range of technological tools to create a presentation and artefact.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • Undertake a critical analysis of a criminological and legal problem;

  • Work with a project client to understand and meet their needs;

  • Work together as a team to deliver a presentation demonstrating the ability to communicate complex legal and criminological concepts accessibly to a range of audiences;

  • Collaborate effectively with professional partners in the criminal justice sector to create an artefact which communicates information, ideas and/or problems and solutions on a legal or criminological topic to a non-specialist or specialist audience;

  • Critically reflect on the value of collaborative work, and the ways in which the production of a presentation and artefact has enabled review, consolidation, extension and application of knowledge and understanding of legal and criminological issues.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 40
Essay/coursework 20
Essay/coursework 10
Oral presentation/seminar/exam 20
Oral presentation/seminar/exam 10

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 50
Essay/coursework 20
Oral presentation/seminar/exam 30

Module feedback

Feedback will be given in accordance with the University Policy on feedback in the Guide to Assessment as well as in line with the School policy.

Indicative reading

Content of reading list will be determined by interests of participants but will include the following:

A practical guide to lawyering skills; Fiona Boyle ... [et al.].

Legal systems & skills; Slorach, J. Scott

Advocacy skills; Judge Michael Hyam.

Modern legal drafting : a guide to using clearer language. Butt, Peter


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.