Criminal Law and Practice
Vocational qualification
Distance
Description
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Type
Vocational qualification
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Methodology
Distance Learning
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Duration
Flexible
Suitable for: This award is for the paralegal working in their particular department in Legal Practice, Commerce, Industry or the Public Sector department doing work of a specialised or semi-specialised nature.
About this course
Entry Requirements
One of the following:
Level 4 Diploma in Paralegals Studies
Level 7 Post Graduate Diploma in Paralegal Practice
Law Degree
ILEX Level 6
Other Equivalent (please specify)
Reviews
Course programme
This award is for the paralegal working in their particular department in Legal Practice, Commerce, Industry or the Public Sector department doing work of a specialised or semi-specialised nature. The Fellowship Award means that a paralegal can further add to their specialist knowledge in that particular area of law and/or practice in which they are involved.
Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure units are available as a single unit certifcate from our Higher Certificate in Paralegal Studies qualification. The Higher Certificate is for legal staff with no formal training and students new to paralegal work.
Syllabus
Elements: Actus Reus; Mens Rea (actual, implied) Strict Liability.
Homicide: Lawful/unlawful; Murder; Voluntary Manslaughter (Provocation; Diminished Responsibility, Suicide Pacts); Involuntary Manslaughter.
Offences Against the Person: (Non-fatal). Assault; Battery; ABH; GBH (s.20, s.18), Rape; Indecent Assault.
Property Offences: (Non-fraudulent). Theft; Robbery; Burglary; Aggravated Burglary; Handling; Criminal Damage.
Property Offences: (Fraudulent). Fraud: false representation, failing to disclose information, abuse of position. Obtaining services dishonestly possessing, making and supplying articles for use in frauds and fraudulent trading applicable to non-corporate traders
Motoring Offences: Careless Driving; Causing Death by Careless Driving; Dangerous Driving; Causing Death by Dangerous Driving.
Parties: Principal Offender; Secondary Offender.
Inchoate offences: Attempt; Conspiracy; Incitement.
General Defences: Infancy; Insanity; Automatism; Mistake; Intoxication; Duress; Self-defence; Necessity; Consent.
The Investigation of Crime: The investigative powers of the police inside and outside of the police station; legal representation at the police station, police complaints.
Procedure: PACE codes of Practice; Criminal Procedure Rules, Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines
Court Structure: Magistrates Court (Jurisdiction, composition); Crown Court (Ditto); Court of Appeal Criminal Division (Ditto).
Commencement: Time limits; Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988; Public funding; Bail; Evidence (Methods of proof, corroboration, admissibility, hearsay. silence). Initial hearings at the Magistrates Court.
Summary Trial: Preparing for Trial (Witnesses, evidence); Procedure at Hearing (Plea of Guilty; Plea of Not-Guilty); Pleading by Post; Sanctions; Appeal; Hybrid Offences.
Trial by Indictment:Transfer of case from Magistrates to Crown Court; Pre-trial review; Case management; Arraignment; Plea (Guilty, Not Guilty, Silence); Selection of Jury; Burden of Proof; Prosecution's case; Case for Defence; Closing speeches; Verdict; Mitigation; Reports; Sentencing; Appeal.
Youth Court: General; sentencing.
Sanctions: Types of sentences; philosophies of sanctions.
Assessment
The Fellowship Award is assessed through three substantial 'work based' assignments / projects of some 5000 words each. There are no time limits involved.
Entry Requirements
One of the following:
Level 4 Diploma in Paralegals Studies
Level 7 Post Graduate Diploma in Paralegal Practice
Law Degree
ILEX Level 6
Other Equivalent (please specify)
Criminal Law and Practice