Law with Politics

Course Content (including module information)

Legal skills are introduced and developed through the pattern of study and assessment for both the three- and four-year degree programmes.

Law

All modules in the first and second years of the LLB Single Honours degree are compulsory. Third year study comprises a mix of compulsory and optional modules.

Common and Civil Law with French

Law represents two-thirds of the modules studied and French one third. The emphasis in the French modules will be on the French language and French society, although there is also the opportunity to study French literature. The programme includes a year at a French university. This four-year degree offers students the chance to study a modern language together with the core Law modules necessary to obtain a recognised Law degree.

Common and Civil Law with Hispanic Studies

This degree follows a pattern similar to the Common and Civil Law with French LLB, except that Spanish modules will be substituted for French and students will spend a year at a Spanish university.

Law with Politics

This three-year degree offers students the opportunity of taking two Politics modules each year together with the core Law modules necessary to obtain a recognised Law degree.

Assessment (general): The way in which students are assessed will vary according to the Learning objectives of each module. Some modules are assessed solely through project work or written assignments. Others are assessed through a combination of coursework and end of semester examinations. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first year induction.

Feedback (general): As students progress through their course at Queen’s they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module co-ordinators, placement supervisors, personal tutors, advisers of study and your peers. University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:

• Feedback provided via formal written comments and marks relating to work that students, as individuals or as part of a group, have submitted.
• Face to face comment. This may include occasions when students make use of the lecturers’ advertised “office hours” to help address a specific query.
• Placement employer comments or references.
• Online or emailed comment.
• General comments or question and answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.
• Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid. In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which students can review in their own time.
• Feedback and outcomes from practical classes.
• Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.

Once students have reviewed their feedback, they are encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of their work.

Students undertaking this course have the opportunity to study Politics alongside a qualifying Law degree. The School of Politics, International Studies and Philosophy at Queen's is one of the largest both in the UK and Ireland.

The Law School at Queen's is ranked as one of the top Schools in the UK and Ireland. Teaching quality within the School was judged to be 'excellent' and our research was awarded a 5B (excellent) by the UK Higher Education Funding Bodies. There are over 1,000 undergraduate students enrolled in the School, 250 postgraduates, 30 PhD students and almost 50 members of academic staff. You will be taught by scholars from all over the world, many of whom have international reputations in their fields and all are committed teachers and researchers. Students will also have access to an excellent law section of the new library and extensive IT facilities. In addition, the School has active relationships with universities in Ireland, France, Spain, the USA, Canada, South Africa, India, Latin America and Australia through which opportunities for study abroad and staff exchanges are fostered.

The School operates a proactive system of student support. Advisers of Studies are allocated to each degree programme tasked to guide and support you throughout your time with us, together with the School's experienced and helpful administrative staff. In addition students are allocated a Personal Development Programme Tutor for their time in the School. We place considerable emphasis on facilitating good communication between staff and students. To this end, a Staff-Student Consultative Committee, comprised of elected student representatives, the Advisers and the Director of Education, meets twice each semester. This Committee provides students with a forum in which to raise matters of concern to them and also enables the School to keep students informed about matters affecting the School and wider university.

At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable student to achieve their full academic potential.

On the LLB programmes we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enables our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners. Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course are:

• Lectures: provide information about topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions, gain some feedback and advice on assessments (normally delivered in large groups to all year group peers).

• E-Learning technologies: Information associated with lectures and assignments is communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Queen’s Online. A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree through, for example: interactive group workshops in a flexible learning space; IT and statistics modules; podcasts and interactive web-based learning activities; opportunities to use IT programmes associated with design in project- based work etc.

• Seminars/tutorials: Significant amounts of teaching are carried out in small groups (typically 10-20 students). These provide an opportunity for students to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of peers. Students should also expect to make presentations and other contributions to these groups.

• Self-directed study: This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s Law student when important private reading and research, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.

• Work placements: The School of Law facilitates a number of summer internships. These provide significant learning and employability enhancement opportunities.

• Work-Related Study Tour: The School sponsors a Law Study Tour to London which is run annually by Careers, Employability and Skills Department. Selected students spend a week in London visiting the City’s commercial and corporate law firms. Time is spent taking part in workshops in the various firms and allows students to get an insight into the work undertaken and how these firms operate as well as appreciating what the London firms are looking for in potential employees.

• Supervised projects: In final year students can carry out a significant piece of research on a chosen topic in Politics. They will receive support from a supervisor who will guide them in terms of how to carry out the research and provide feedback.

• Personal Development Programme Tutor: Undergraduates are allocated a PDP Tutor during their time in the School. Tutors meet with their students on several occasions during the year to support their academic development.