Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The module has four interrelated aims:


(i) To provide students with an understanding of the historical influences upon the development of the laws of England;


(ii) To study this relation with respect to various aspects of the legal system, and to challenge this distinction and division with particular reference to the historical role of law as an instrument of governance;


(iii) To develop in students an interdisciplinary understanding of the relation of law and history, and of legal and historical method;


(iv) To develop associated theoretical, critical, communicative and research-based skills appropriate to a Stage 3 study in law and similar disciplines.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module is structured around five substantive topics, united by a focus upon the overarching theme of ‘Law and Governance’, which progress through the history of English law in a chronological and thematic order. They will be preceded an “Introduction to Law and History”, which introduces students to key concepts, institutions, sources and debates in relation to the past of the law.

The four substantive topics will each be centred around a particular year, in order to give a focus for the topics to be studied. The four central years will be 1613, 1765, 1887, and 1919.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Students will be able to demonstrate a knowledge of historical and legal historical methodology and consonant critical intellectual skills

Students will acquire an appreciation of the historical development of the laws of England, and of juristic and popular thinking about the nature, role and significance of these laws

Students will acquire an advanced critical and inter-contextual understanding of the relation of law and governance in the closer context of English political and social history

Intended Skill Outcomes

Subject-specific skills:

(i)       Ability to identify principal arguments in English legal history and historical methodology
(ii)       Ability to engage in historical and inter-contextual legal study
(iii)       Ability to pursue research in particular aspects of English legal, political and social history

Cognitive skills:

(i)       Ability to enhance critical and communicative skills in advanced legal study
(ii)       Ability to synthesize texts and materials from different sources and disciplines
(iii)       Ability to discern relative critical merit in legal and historical argument

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The purpose of lectures is to provide students with a solid grounding in particular critical skills and knowledge bases with which they are likely be relatively unfamiliar. The purpose of seminars will be to allow students to develop relevant subject and cognitive skills in the closer context of particular texts and particular concepts introduced in lectures. The nature of the course suggests that actively engaged seminar work will be of especial value. Private study will be directed to further enhance this particular experience.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Assessment for this kind of course is well-suited to research-based essay assignments. It will comprise of a set question on an issue or area covered by the module’s taught curriculum, to be answered by one 3,500-word essay.

It is the most appropriate means by which to assess the development of communication, written and research skills, whilst also permitting students to illustrate the development of necessary subject-specific knowledge bases.

Seminar questions and activities are designed to provide students with the opportunities for formative development and feedback and prepare students for the summative assessment

General Notes

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