Syllabus

• Week 1

  Welcome to Exploring Law

  • Welcome to the course

    Meet your team who will guide you through some fundamental aspects of law over the next five weeks and offer you an insight into what it is like to study Law at university.

• Week 2

  What is law?

  • Introduction to the law

    This week, we will prepare you for your journey through the Exploring Law course by introducing you to some fundamental features of the law and equipping you with some essential legal skills.

  • Categories of law

    We will next explore how we might usefully organise the law into different categories, and take a closer look at the three major categories of law.

  • Being a law student

    This week, the students talk about what it felt like to start out on a Law degree and the challenges of reading legislation. You will then have a chance to interpret and apply some legislation for yourself.

  • A new perspective

    Lord Burrows will offer his unique perspective on legislation and case law. You will then have another chance to interpret and apply some different legislation, and learn why it is so important to read cases.

• Week 3

  Criminal law

  • What makes behaviour 'criminal'?

    This week we discuss criminal law. We will first look at how we decide whether someone’s behaviour is culpable enough to justify them being convicted of a criminal offence and then we will explore the concept of recklessness.

  • The dynamic nature of the law

    One exciting aspect of studying and working in law is that it changes over time. To illustrate this, we will explore the historic development of the criminal law’s approach to recklessness.

  • Being a law student

    This week, the students discuss what it is like to study Law, and how they make notes on cases – an important skill for any Law student, which you will have a chance to practise.

  • A new perspective

    So far we have looked at how the criminal law’s approach to recklessness has developed over time. We now turn to the present day, to evaluate the leading current case, R v G.

• Week 4

  Public law

  • Welcome to public law

    This week we will discuss public law. You will look at the distinct competences of the courts, Parliament and the government, and how the government can be held to account.

  • Limits of the judicial role

    Meet Lady Hale, former President of the Supreme Court, and examine the limits of the power of the courts.

  • Being a law student

    This week our students talk about what they do outside of their studies, and how they manage their time. They also offer their views on the qualities of a good argument.

  • A new perspective

    We will finish our exploration of public law with a look at a recent high profile case: Cherry/Miller.

• Week 5

  Private law

  • Welcome to private law

    This week we will discuss private law. You will look at how the law views relationships between individuals or companies, and the role private law plays in our daily lives.

  • When are trespassers protected?

    How do courts decide whether it is reasonable for an occupier to offer protection to trespassers?

  • Being a law student

    This week our students talk about how they manage their study time and stay motivated, and what factors they consider when evaluating court decisions.

  • A new perspective

    Hear again from Law Commissioner Sarah Green and prepare for the final exercise.

• Week 6

  Is law right for you?

  • Welcome to Week 6

    This week provides an opportunity to look back at what you have learned over the last five weeks and to look forwards, to what may come next.

  • Is law right for me?

    What does it mean to study Law at university, and is the subject the right one for you?

  • Becoming a law student

    Learn about the steps you can take to become a law student.

  • Your new perspective

    Take a moment to think about how far you have come during this course. What have you learned and what has inspired you?

Who will you learn with?