LLB (Hons) Law

Year 2 Core Modules

You must study and pass all five core modules

Brief description

The law and practice of succession and trusts.

Module content: 

• Intestate succession: Succession in moveables and heritage; prior rights; legal rights; collation; order of succession re spouses, children, cohabitants, civil partners law reform.
• Testate succession: Capacity and diminished capacity; execution and amendment of wills; uncertainty; revocation; subsequent births; transfer of heritage; classification of legacies; accretion; election; residue, division per capita and per stirpes; destinations-over; the unworthy heir; missing persons; common calamity; public policy considerations; and forfeiture.
• Will substitutes: Nominations; special destinations; liferent and fee; and survivorship.
• Trusts: Constitution; public and private; charitable trusts; uncertainty; revocability; liferents; vesting; variation; termination of trust; law reform.
• Trustees: Appointment; assumption and resignation; administration; duties; powers; breach of trust and remedies; investment powers; liability to creditors; discharge; law reform.
• Drafting and interpretation of wills: Words of severance and conjunction; terms; public policy considerations; prohibitions of accumulations and successive liferents; conditional institution and substitution.
• Inheritance tax: An overview of the structure and charging of inheritance tax.
• Adults with incapacity: Recognition of the issues relating to elderly and other adults who are incapable of managing their affairs; Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000; continuing financial and welfare attorneys; financial and welfare guardianship; intervention orders; power to intromit with accounts; The Office of the Public Guardian in Scotland; human rights concerns; and law reform.

Brief description

The principles of Scots commercial law, consumer law and finance as they relate to business and consumer transactions.

Module content:

• Sale and supply of goods and services to businesses: Contract of sale and related contracts to businesses: implied terms, transfer of property and risk, breach and remedies, operation of the Sale of Goods Act 1979, Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 and the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977.
• Sale and supply of goods and services to consumers: Consumer Rights Act 2015, Consumer Protection Act 1987, Consumer contracts regulations.
• Rights in security: Rights in security over moveables, lien, pledge, hypothec, standard securities, floating charges, guarantees and cautionary obligations.
• Debt recovery and personal insolvency: Diligence: attachment inhibition, arrestment, adjudication and money attachment. Personal insolvency and the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016.
• Insurance: The common law of insurance: operation of the Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act 2010, the Consumer Insurance (Disclosures and Representations) Act 2010, the Insurance Act 2015.
• Consumer credit and consumer finance: Consumer Credit Act 1974, hire purchase, loans, banking practice, mortgages, personal savings and investments, pensions, stocks and shares, basic rules of taxation and money laundering.
• Arbitration and ADR: ADR forms such as negotiation, mediation and arbitration. Arbitration in Scotland: Arbitration (Scotland) Act 2010.

Brief description

Introduction to the legal principles governing family relationships and their breakdown, children and parenthood in Scotland.

Module content: 

• Parent and child: Parental responsibilities and rights; adoption; local authority intervention; human rights of family members.
• Marriage and civil partnership: Regular and irregular marriage; Same sex marriage; validity of civil and religious marriages; prohibitions and legal impediments to marriage; void and voidable marriages. Civil Partnerships and Gender Recognition.
• Rights arising out of marriage and civil partnership: Aliment, separate property rights.
• Family homes and family protection: Occupancy rights of spouses, civil partners and cohabitants, exclusion orders.
• Relationship breakdown: Grounds in divorce and dissolution actions. Division of property on relationship breakdown including financial provision, property transfer orders and decrees regulating occupancy rights.

Brief description

Introduction to the key doctrines and legal principles of administrative law in the United Kingdom with particular reference to Scotland.

Module content: 

• Administrative Law: Basic concepts, ultra vires, standing in administrative proceedings. Redressing grievances in the public sector.
• Judicial Review: Tripartite relationships, excess and abuse of power, the ultra vires doctrine, Wednesbury reasonableness, natural justice and other grounds of judicial review.
• Ombudsmen: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsmen, Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
• Liability of the Crown and Public Authorities: Crown Proceedings Act 1947, Liability in Delict and Contract, Remedies, Crown Privilege and Public Interest Immunity.
• Citizen and the State: Citizenship, Nationality, Immigration, Asylum, Deportation, Extradition, European Arrest Warrants, freedom of information.
• Human Rights and Civil Liberties: ECHR, Human Rights Act 1998, Commission for Equality and Human Rights, Police powers, Public order, State security and Official Secrets, Anti-terrorism measures. Privacy and data protection.

Brief description

The constitutional and legal framework of the European Union and its key institutions. The law relating to the single market within the EU and the principles of free movement and EU citizenship. The constitutional implications and procedures of Brexit.

Module content: 

• History: History, objective and evolution of the treaties and legislation.
• Institutions: Principal institutions of the EU, including Commission, Council, Courts, Parliament, ECB, Court of Auditors; other important bodies such as the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.
• Judicial role: References, review, principles of supremacy, direct and indirect effects, state liability, general principles. The procedures of the Court of Justice.
• Law of the EU internal market: Free movement of Goods, Services, Persons and Capital; Right of Establishment in another member state.
• EU equality law: Sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religious or other belief.
• Brexit: The UK and the EU, Article 50, withdrawal agreement.

Years 1 and 2 Elective Modules

You must study and pass one elective module of your choosing

Introduction of the concept of smart cities - hard infrastructure, social capital including local skills and community institutions, and digital technologies to fuel sustainable economic development and provide an attractive environment for all.

Module content:

• Social impacts

There is an overall need for theoretical and methodological plurality in how we assess the impact and value of future cities in terms for individual and societal well−being. Gaps in our understanding relate to the complex ways individuals and groups engage with built and natural settings, the cultural goods and consequent benefits that may arise and the inequalities associated with these cultural benefits.

• Security

Different types of cyber-attacks that could be launched against a Smart City. Impact of cyber-attacks. Approaches to securing the smart grid and critical infrastructure, i.e. improving cyber resilience.

• Sustainable urban food production

Includes the long established allotments movement to large-scale projects based on sustainability throughout the food chain. Urban food production includes the long established allotments movement. The demand for urban growing also responds to the densification and intensification of living areas, due to population rise, migration and demographic aging with lower housing and ‘garden’ space standards placing greater importance on collective production.

• Energy, waste and water

At present, water and wastewater facilities are often the largest and most energy intensive responsibilities owned and operated by local governments, representing up to 35% of municipal energy use. Future cities will need to utilise more sustainable methods of water and wastewater management and renewable energy production.

• Digital technologies

​Digital technologies will play a major role in creating sustainable and resilient cities offering a vehicle for more inclusive decision−making process and promoting dialog amongst architects, urban planners, the public and technologists.

Develop a range of skills, knowledge and techniques within the natural, technological and social sciences relevant to the study of environmental sustainability and life in the twenty-first century. Understand the critical issues that confront humanity and begin to discern appropriate responses.

Module content:
• The challenge of sustainable development
Problems associated with life in the 21st Century and the relationship to scientific provisionalism and uncertainty.

• The genesis of sustainable development concept
Developments associated with the Club of Rome are outlined while Limits to Growth and the Tragedy of the Commons.

• Evolution of sustainable development
The Reo Summit and Suitability, and Policy Developments thereof.

• Scientific inquiry and sustainable development
Controversial issues like climate change, oil peak, and food production and the role of science in helping delimit them as problematic.

• Mainstreaming sustainability
Sustainability and Mitigation, Adaptation and Resilience, as individual and social concerns, and their role in transformation.

• Communicating sustainability
Human well-being, Environmental Justice, Environmental Policy and the practicalities of Sustainability in Scotland.

• Sustainable development in practice
Community Empowerment associated with Land Reform. Energy Production and Food Production in Tayside.

• Ethics and sustainability policy
Active citizenship and globalisation.

• Innovating locally, transforming globally
Transformations required to embrace Sustainability.

• Active relationship for sustainable futures
Thinking globally, acting locally.

How lifestyle can effect physical and mental well-being. This module enables you to reflect on your own lifestyle choices and how to incorporate good health behaviours into your life.

Module content:

• Sleep and stress
  The impact of sleep and stress on health and performance. Completion of sleep diaries and questionnaires related to sleep patterns and stress.
   
• Physical activity
  Current physical activity recommendations, components of physical fitness.
   
• Physical inactivity
  Understanding why people are inactive. The link between physical inactivity, obesity and type 2 diabetes.
   
• Physical activity and mental well-being
  The effects of physical activity on mental well-being.
   
• The effect of carbohydrate consumption and exercise on blood glucose
  Measurement and recording of blood glucose in response to the carbohydrate ingestion and exercise.
   
• Simple health and fitness testing
  Measurement and recording of data. Tests will include blood pressure, strength, endurance and flexibility. Data will be compared with normative values for these tests.

Develop critical thinking skills that form the basis for progression across the academic disciplines of the university. Learn how to recognise, construct, evaluate, criticise and defend different forms of argument.

Module content:
•    Potential 'timeless' debates 
Debates delivered by internal and external experts on: e.g. existence of God; privacy and civil society; private property; money as source of 'evil'; nature/nurture; free speech; pornography; capital punishment; prostitution; animal experimentation; meaning of justice; abortion; affirmative action; just war; trade union power; good life/good political community; human nature; monarchy; value of democracy; meaning of equality; citizenship rights.

•    Potential 'timely' debates
Debates delivered by internal and external experts on: eg, Scottish independence, academic freedom; drug legalisation; drug use in sport; immigration; free health care; war on terror; EU membership; euthanasia; progressive taxation; race and gender discrimination; gay marriage; human rights; politics/sport; global warming; internet censorship; nuclear power; education league tables; nuclear weapons; GM agriculture; religion; cloning; fair trade; value of contemporary culture.

•    Critical thinking seminars
Follow-up discursive discipline specific seminar sessions led by teaching staff on topics covered in formal debates. Learn to identify types of argument presented, evaluate perspectives and to reflect upon their own reasoning processes and value assumptions. The debates and seminars facilitate a foundation for the acquisition of graduate attributes.

•    WEB CT Wiki discussion forum
Work in small groups to write a short 800 word indicative "Thinking Summary" online Wiki of the arguments presented in each debate. These summaries will be constructed by each designated Thinking Group of three students using the Wiki facility on Blackboard which will facilitate further discussion on the moderated WEB CT discussion forum.

The social, managerial, economic, political, and technical challenges and opportunities associated with emerging renewable energy innovation, production, supply and consumption.

Module content:
•    Renewable energy non-technical challenges and opportunities
Social and political challenges and opportunities of renewable energy production supply and consumption. Economic and environmental challenges of renewable energy production supply and consumption. Strategic and managerial challenges of renewable energy production supply and consumption.

•    Renewable energy technological challenges and opportunities
Geotechnical, Geophysical and Hydrographic information; Knowledge of sources of hydrographic information and interpretation of published charts. Forces on structures; Appreciation of the various forces acting on marine structures. Technical limitations and challenges of energy distribution systems and energy storage. Current technological development trend, collaborative innovation in renewable energy.

An understanding of the concepts of tolerance, and the importance of making sound ethical decisions. Develop the qualities, characteristics and skills to meet the aspiration for Abertay graduates to become global and active citizens. 

Module content:
•    Introduction to equality and ethics legislation 

•    Diversity competence and moral/ethical reasoning 
Inclusiveness, equal opportunities, positive action, reasonable adjustment.

•    Attributes for the workplace and for global citizenship.

•    Reflective practice 
Application of models of reflective practice.

•    Contemporary issues

Learn how to adjust language to suit context. Analyse a range of linguistic issues, including “proper English”, how language can be used to create moral panics, and the ethics of communication.

Module content:

•    “Good English”
The role of standardisation, dialect and idiolect − how we choose language to reflect our identities and our role in a speech or discourse community.

• Language and influence
How the media constructs narratives to persuade or inform the audience (and how to tell the difference).

• Creating a narrative across genres
The conventions, freedoms and limitations of different forms; using these forms in new ways.

• Narrative changes over time
How authors reinvent old stories to reflect current concerns.

• Technical writing
The use and manipulation of data; hearing the author's voice; critiquing "bad science".

• The ethics of communication
 (Electronic) media and ownership, attribution and theft.

“Personal” digital safety to make computer security fun, practical and eye-opening.  Learn the base knowledge that will continue to be relevant to future generations of devices.

Module content:
•    Current state of computer security
An overview including legal aspects.

•    Cyber-attacks, vulnerabilities and threats
Malware, Network attacks (denial of service, packet sniffing etc.), bots and rootkits. How the bad guys can obtain your password.

•    Information leakage
Recovery and forensics recovering deleted or corrupted files. What your browser knows about you. Web browser forensics.

•    Securing networks, accounts and devices
Defence against malware, honeypots, Secure protocols, intrusion detection, Password security, Mobile device security.

•    Human aspects of cyber security 
The Psychology of Hackers, Social Engineering, identity theft, Usability vs security.

•    Breaking the code
An introduction to cryptography, Encryption and Decryption, public and private keys, the key exchange problem.

•    History of cryptography 
The Caesar cipher, polyalphabetic ciphers, the Playfair cipher, the role of Enigma and the Bletchley Park cryptographers in WWII.

•    Computers and Crypto Diffie-Hellman and RSA encryption
Phil Zimmerman and “Pretty Good Protection". Quantum Cryptography – Provably unbreakable information hiding. Mathematical Underpinnings – Large prime numbers and why they matter.

•    Steganography
 A picture's worth a thousand words when you're hiding the wood in the trees.

•    The law, society and cryptography 
Why you can be imprisoned for forgetting your password. The Civil Liberties Arguments for and against strong-crypto. International perspectives on information hiding, information freedom, the right to privacy and the conflicts between these. Are unbreakable cyphers an unqualified “good thing”?

Develop perspectives on the key challenges faced by humankind such as environmental change, pollution, food security, energy provision, conflicts, terrorism, emerging diseases, and changing demographics. Understand the overwhelming complexity of the problems and the need for interdisciplinary approaches to create solutions.

Module content:

• Interdisciplinary research
  Introductory lectures will discuss the definitions, methods, benefits, challenges, and drawbacks of disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches and the role of public policy influencing research
   
• Global challenges
  Challenges from different disciplines. Examples include: Climate Change: causes and impact; Serious Games: science and application of visualization and games; Global Security: valuing ecosystems: balancing policy, economics and environment; Contemporary Challenges to Healthy Living; Food Security: global threats and local needs; Energy Poverty: space travel.

Design an activity to communicate and present scientific principles to primary school children. Learn about working as a group and how to communicate complex ideas.

Module content:
• Developing a science communication activity
Target audience, sources of information to identify suitable activities (CfE documentation etc.), health and safety, issues around working with specific groups, accessibility, ethics, costing and sustainability.

• The landscape of engagement and current practice
Types of public engagement activities, target audiences, funding, role of learned societies, universities and other bodies. Public engagement in Dundee and Tayside.

Work in a team to develop game design concepts for serious applications. Gain the knowledge, processes and techniques of game design and study examples of serious games developed to benefit society.

Module content:
•    Overview of Games
A brief history of games, game art and gamification.

•    Games for change
Understanding how games can benefit society.

•    Game mechanics
Deconstructing core components of popular game genres.

•    Gameplay constructs
What is gameplay and how is this broken down and communicated within the game design.

•    The game design process
Conceptualisation, iteration, phases of workflow.

•    Game design theory and practice
Identifying the elements within effective design and how they are implemented.

•    Documenting the design interactive
Oriented design, technical design, capturing requirements.

•    Business models
Exploring methods that can be used to generate revenue within the game design.

Develop the knowledge and awareness required to make good career decisions and the skills and confidence to successfully navigate each stage of the recruitment process for graduate jobs.

Module content:

• Developing self-awareness
  Profiling of personal strengths, values and priorities in relation to career choice.
   
• Developing opportunity awareness
  Generating career ideas based on your personal profile; Exploring the range of graduate opportunities within job sectors of interest; Reviewing occupations that are directly related to your own subject discipline.
   
• Developing a career action plan
  Matching your personal profile with best fit opportunities in the job market; Creating a timeline of actions to improve your prospects of meeting your aim.

• Developing job seeking skills
  Sourcing suitable job opportunities - both advertised and unadvertised; Creating a professional image online; Identifying the skills and qualities employers look for in graduates; Learning how to produce targeted applications for specific job roles; Practising the presentation of your strengths and motivations in face to face selection activities.

Learn about natural disaster such as landslides and flooding, structural disasters such as the Tay Rail Bridge and the system of critical infrastructure (such as road, rail, air and shipping transport networks, power grid, gas and water networks, health system) that constitute the backbone of modern societies.

Module content:
•    Overview of the scope and the content of concept of critical infrastructure failure during natural disasters and resilience against such failures
The consequences of geophysical, hydrological and meteorological disasters on critical infrastructure and critical infrastructure protection capabilities against natural disasters. Interdependencies of critical infrastructures during large disasters, presents a brief review of current research being done in this field, and presents a methodology to address interdependencies.

•    The identification of the vulnerabilities of the critical systems
The critical systems upon which modern society, economy, and polity depend. The identification of the vulnerabilities of these systems threats that might exploit these vulnerabilities. The effort to develop techniques to mitigate these vulnerabilities through improved design.

•     Flooding in Scotland
General overview of fluvial, pluvial and coastal flooding, the structural, economic and societal impact and responses to flooding. Resources will include historical examples, current policies and information (including SEPA flood maps). Case study (with virtual/actual field visit?) the Perth Floods of 1990 and 1993 and the Perth flood defence scheme*

•    Landslide origins, types and mitigations
General overview what landslides are, why they happen and what can be done to prevent them.

•    Structural failure
An example such as why the Tay Bridge failed and what it meant for the Forth Rail Bridge.

•    Reports and investigations
The role of reports in accident and disaster investigations in creating informative reports; case studies of accidents, disasters, learning from history, learning from case studies, learning from common law

Introduction to the skills and knowledge needed to launch a small business successfully. This module will define and help you acquire the personal and professional skills needed to develop a professional career and/or to succeed as entrepreneurs in Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs).

Module content:

• Understanding entrepreneurship.
   
• Generating successful business ideas.
   
• Environmental scanning.
   
• Developing a credible business plan that includes evaluating business ideas.
   
• Presenting the business idea.

An understanding of some of the processes involved in food production. Discuss common misconceptions and ideas which present the food and nutritional industries in a bad light.

Module content:
•    Student led investigations
Student led investigations of the different sectors within the food and drink industry including: prebiotics – and the controversy surrounding the term; if barbequing is a healthy cooking method; and exposing the celebrity chef - common Myths about cooking.

•    Consumerism
Does the food industry listen to us? Understanding consumer and sensory science to better understand why you buy the products you buy.  How food/public health is reported by the media? The French paradox / Mediterranean diet.

•    Future of food
Ethical food production and the future of foods, and what’s waste got to do with it?

•    Debunking myths
Debunking food myths, more science than science fiction in our food today, like the science behind getting sauce out of a bottle and what to drink – Whisky or Beer?

•    Facts from fiction
Finding facts from fiction, investigating the three-second rule – should I eat things that have fallen on the floor? What’s so super about super-foods? Fat or sugar: Which is worse?

Learn how we approach and understand mental health, from historic, social, therapeutic, and individual perspectives. Explore questions such as ‘what is madness?’, ‘how does society position people with mental illness?’, and ‘how do we best respond to challenges to our mental health?’

Module content:

• Historical and cultural perspective on mental illness
  How do we ‘think’ about mental health, and mental ill health?
   
• Diagnosis and the anti-psychiatry movement
  Who holds the power to decide what is normal in terms of psychological well-being and behaviour?
   
• Gender, culture and mental health
  How gendered cultural expectations and representations influence how we respond to mental health issues.
   
• Media representations
  The impact of film and literature on attitudes and understandings of mental health.
   
• Resilience, treatment and recovery
  Common mental health problems in the UK, treatment and management, and frameworks for enhancing well-being and resilience.

An introduction to the wide range of disciplines in forensic investigation. Learn how crimes are investigated from the moment of reporting through to the presentation of the evidence in court. A hypothetical case study provides an over-arching framework in which to explore the critical aspects of forensic investigations. It involves not only physical and electronic evidence, but also statements from witnesses, suspects and victims which requires cross discipline collaboration of professionals.

Module content:
• Crime scene investigation
How a crime scene is examined in the context of incomplete contextual information and to avoid loss or contamination of evidence and the maximising of the value of evidential material.

• Media involvement
Positive and negative effects of the media/public interest in the crime.

• Forensic biology
Examination and evidential value of body fluids, DNA, hairs and fibres.

• Forensic chemistry
Analysis for drugs, toxicological analysis, firearms, explosives, and trace evidence.

• Digital sources
Evidence from CCT, mobile phones, computer hardware, on−line behaviour.

• Forensic reasoning and practice
An introduction to forensic problem solving, thinking styles, case assessment and interpretation.

• Psychology of witnesses and suspects
False confessions, offender profiling, effects and avoidance of cognitive bias in forensic science through process design.

Year 3 Core Modules

You must study and pass all four core modules

Brief description

The theories and concepts which underpin law, with further detailed consideration of human rights law.

Indicative content

• Fundamental Legal Concepts: Law, the State and the individual; law and other disciplines; the role of lawyers, rule of law, the interests of justice arguments v consumerism; concepts of rights and justice.
• Development of the Western Legal Tradition: Global legal systems; the Western Legal Tradition; natural law theories the Utilitarians; Kant; Marx.
• Legal Theories of the 20th Century: Legal theories of the 20th century: American realism; legal positivism; liberalism; neo-Marxism; legal sociology; critical legal theory, feminism and race; post-modernism.
• Human Rights: UN Human Rights instruments; The European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; The Scotland Act 1998; The Human Rights Act 1998; the impact of human rights law in Scotland and the UK.

Brief description

The principal concepts of property, particularly in relation to rights and duties to land, in Scots law.

Indicative content

• The nature of property and ownership: Classifications of property. The nature of property and ownership; real and personal rights. Corporeal and incorporeal rights, such as intellectual property. Acquisition of title; rights in security. Hohfeld and the nature of rights. The feudal system of land ownership and its abolition; real rights in land. Separate tenements in the land; Regalia; water rights; mineral rights. Fixtures.
• Real burdens and title conditions: Real burdens and servitudes, title and interest to enforce. The Title Conditions (S) Act 2003. Variation, discharge and extinction.
• Law of the Tenement: Common law; Tenements (S) Act.
• Registration of Title: The processes and effects of Land Registration. e-conveyancing. The form of the registers and the purposes and processes of searching. Inhibitions and Land Attachment.
• Contracts for Sale and purchase of Heritage: Common law requirements and typical clauses found in modern missives and their effects. The Scottish Standard Clauses.
• Dispositions and standard securities: The form and content of the disposition and the standard security and the significance and effect of the clauses therein, including implied clauses.
• Leases: Real rights in a lease; constitution of lease, obligations of parties; rent; Termination: irritancy, removing, ejection, recovery of possession. Commercial leases. Statutory tenancies.

Brief description

The legal rules governing the relevance, admissibility and sufficiency of evidence in civil and criminal proceedings in the courts of law in Scotland.

Indicative content

• Basic concepts: Purpose, Relevance, admissibility, weight and sufficiency of evidence. Burdens and standards of proof, human rights issues.
• Requirements for proof: Presumptions, judicial knowledge, judicial admissions.
• Types of evidence: Oral, documentary, real evidence, direct and circumstantial, primary and secondary evidence, the best evidence rule.
• Corroboration: The common law in civil and criminal proceedings, The Moorov doctrine; admissions and confessions, corroboration by distress, dock and other identification, the Civil Evidence (Scotland) Act 1988.
• Privilege and immunity: Self-incrimination, Professional privilege; public interest immunity; confidentiality; without prejudice letters; witnesses and communications.
• Competence and compellability of witnesses, character: Parties, accused, spouses, co-accused, children, vulnerable witnesses; persons of diminished physical/mental capacity. Accused persons, witnesses; similar fact evidence; Previous convictions, prior history and character.
• Recovery and Preservation of Evidence: Improperly obtained evidence, warrants, urgency, searches, covert operations. Ss 13-20A Criminal Procedure (S) Act 1995 - police powers.
• The Hearsay rule and exceptions: Civil and criminal rules, the Civil Evidence (Scotland) Act 1988, ss 259-262 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995; res gestae and de recenti statements.
• Opinion + Expert Evidence/Evidence at the Trial or Proof: Expert and Opinion evidence Conduct of inquiry (examination in chief, cross-examination and re- examination), children and vulnerable witnesses.

Brief description

The legal framework business organisations operate within and the principles of Scots commercial and corporate law.

Indicative content

• The Law of Partnership: Definition, relationship between partners and between partners and third parties, limited partners, limited liability partnerships.
• Incorporation: Organisation of business in the UK, registration, promoters, separate legal personality, piercing the veil, minority protection.
• Company Officers: Directors, role, and duties; auditors, role and duties; company secretary, role and duties.
• Shares and share capital: Allotment and transfer of shares; maintenance of capital; repurchase and reduction of shares, dividends.
• Unfair prejudice and derivative proceedings: Shareholders’ rights in the face of unfairly prejudicial conduct; shareholders’ rights against directors.
• Insider dealing, meetings: Insider dealing and its prevention; market abuse. Shareholder democracy and decision-making.
• Corporate insolvency: Receiverships, administration orders, liquidation and company voluntary arrangements.

Brief description

This module addresses the emergence and development of key criminological perspectives of continuing relevance for the understanding of crime and processes of criminalization.

Indicative content

• Modernity and socio-cultural formation: Functionalism and strain, the Chicago School and subcultural theory, theories of social disorganization.
• Interaction and structure: Labelling and interactionism, Marxist and radical perspectives, left realism.
• Criminological pessimism and pragmatism: Right realism, rational actor perspectives and situational crime prevention.
• Late modernity and reflexivity: Cultural criminology and green criminology.

Year 3 Option Modules

Please choose TWO option modules in term 1, with a MAXIMUM of ONE NON-LAW OPTION.

Brief description

Undertake a piece of independent legal research into an appropriate area, chosen by you and approved by your supervisors. Develop your skills in communication, problem solving, research, ICT, planning and professionalism that helps prepare you for your honours dissertation in fourth year.

Indicative content

• Research led study: This module enables students to develop research skills and to acquire a deep understanding of an area of law chosen in conjunction with the module tutor.
• Method of support and guidance: Students will build on previous research skills developed as part of coursework writing in the first and second year of study. Supervision of the project will take place through regular face-to-face meetings.
• Critical thinking and evaluation: Students will be expected to form a thorough understanding of the area of research and to demonstrate further progress in higher level skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation.

Brief description

Public International Law is the body of rules and principles which are binding upon states (and certain other entities) in their relations with one another. Public International Law is sometimes called the "law of nations" or just simply International Law.

Indicative content

• Introduction: Public international law as a discipline in the context of the relationship between states and other entities. The underpinnings of public international law as a discipline distinct from municipal (national) law and private international law.
• Substantive Issues: Issues that are included are the historical development and theory of international law; the relationship between municipal law and international law; sources of pubic international law; states as subjects of international law; territory; the use of force in international law; state responsibility; self-contained legal regimes; the settlement of international disputes.

Brief description

The individual contract of employment at common law and under statute and the regulation which applies to that contract.

Indicative content

• Formation of the contract of employment: Definition; form; jurisdiction and choice of law, continuous employment; fixed-term, retiring age.
• Administration of employment law: The Tribunals system; the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and other agencies active in this field e.g. ACAS, Equality and Human Rights Commission.
• Terms of the contract: Minimum statutory requirements; express, implied, custom, collective agreements. Terms imposed by the common law and modified by statute. Employment protection provided by statute: e.g. suspension from work; family friendly working rights; pay; insolvency of employer.
• Discrimination in employment: General; Equality Act 2010 and protected characteristics of gender reassignment, race, disability, age, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, and marriage and civil partnership; equal pay.
• Discipline and grievance: Works’ rules and procedures; ACAS recommended practice.
• Transfer of a business: UK implementation of EU Directives; rights of transferred employees.
• Termination of the contract of employment: Notice; dismissal: wrongful, unfair; redundancy; remedies.

Brief description

The societal and political pressures organisations face to rapidly reach achieve zero carbon emissions. Develop the skills needed to evaluate an organisation's current environmental impact and create and implement a new strategy to reduce this impact. 

Indicative content

• Environmental stewardship: Examine why environmental stewardship is important for any business to pursue, and why that importance will likely grow stronger in the future.
• Evaluating impact: Methods for evaluating an organisations current environmental impact
• Implementing your vision: Defining initiatives that fill gaps between the current state and the future vision and constructing a roadmap for achieving the vision.
• Managing change: To introduce and explain business process transformation methodologies, with supporting technology and tools, that focus on increasing operational efficiency and reducing waste. E.g. IBM’s Green Sigma methodology.
• Frameworks for going green: Frameworks for developing and implementing a green strategy, and illustrate the benefits many organisations have realised in each strategic area.

Brief description

This module will examine the history of race and racism in 19th, 20th and 21st century Britain, from the 'Scramble for Africa' through the postwar/post-colonial period to the present. It will examine the various forces, processes and discourses through which race, ethnicity and the racialised subject have been constructed, shaped and changed. It will also examine theoretical approaches to and debates about race and ethnicity, racism, race relations and anti-racism, and how these have developed in response to both historical developments and social-political activism.

Indicative content

• The Concept and Construction of Race and Ethnicity: This section will look at the concept and construction of race and ethnicity, and the production of racial knowledge from the colonial period to the present.
• Race, Ethnicity and Nation: This section will examine the (re)construction and relationship between race, ethnicity and nation in Britain in light of postwar/ post-colonial immigration and the end of empire.
• Race, Ethnicity and Identity: This section will examine the the politics, construction and expression of racial and ethnic identities in post-colonial Britain in response to colonialism, migration, discrimination and racism.
• Race and Class: This section will examine the relationship between race and class as sites of social-political identification, power, inequality, political struggle and analysis, as well as debates over which is the most effective framework for analysis and activism.
• Race and Gender: This section will examine the relationship between race and gender as sites of social-political identification, power, inequality, political struggle and analysis, as well as debates over which is the most effective framework for analysis and activism.
• Race, Crime, Civil Unrest and Political Protest: This section will examine the relationship (within analysis and representation) between race, the law, crime, civil unrest and political protest against socioeconomic conditions, policing and state policy.
• Anti-Racism, Race Relations and Multiculturalism: This section will examine the history and development of anti-racist and race relations discourses, activism, strategies and legislation, how they have attempted to combat forms of racism, discrimination and inequality, and debates surrounding them.
• Race, Ethnicity and the Politics of Popular Culture: This section will examine popular culture (e.g. music, film or television) in terms of postcolonial cultural politics, multiculturalism, representation, identity and political activism.

Brief description

The prison system, the experience of imprisonment and penal policy and practice in the UK. Learn about developments in penal policy and practice, the lived experience of imprisonment and consider alternatives to imprisonment.

Indicative content

• Contemporary developments in penal theory, policy and practice: Penal institutions in contemporary society. The crises of legitimacy in penal institutions. Reorganisation and reform. Privatisation of the prison system.
• Prison life the reality: ‘Doing time’ the actuality of prison life, the ‘total institution’? Strategies for survival, regime activities, ‘banged up’ prisoners, prison staff and civilian staff. Dealing with social exclusion. The diversity of the prison population. Stratification and power within prisons.
• Alternatives to imprisonment the way forward?: Reducing risk or protecting the public? Reducing fear of crime? Human or humane containment and warehousing. Therapeutic prisons. Electronic tagging, community service orders, mediation/reparation.
• Attitudes to imprisonment: Why do we have prisons? Why are they at the centre of penal policy? Are they culturally ‘acceptable’? Abolitionism.
• Foreign nationals: Detention centres; foreign national prisoners and race relations in prisons; are immigration detention centres new types of penal establishments; critical issues surrounding foreign national prisoners in the UK.

Brief description

Undertake a substantial written piece of in-depth legal research (10,000 words). Demonstrate good research skills in law and presentation skills, analysis and synthesis of ideas.

Module content:

• Research led study: The project is a major piece of research in which you use their prior learning in law, supplemented with project-related studies, to analyse an appropriate legal problem and produce a written dissertation. The final dissertation is approximately 10,000 words in length.
• Knowledge and skills: The preparation of the dissertation involves in the first instance, the demonstration of existing knowledge and skills.
• Critical thinking and evaluation: It also requires the higher order skills of analysis, evaluation and critical judgement. An important part of the project is the requirement for you to demonstrate your ability to locate and interpret sources of law.

Year 4 Option Modules

You must study and pass four option modules of your choosing – two from Group [A] and two from Group [B] 

Brief description

The principles of Intellectual Property law, looking at key substantive domains such as copyright, patents and trademarks in a critical way.

Module content:

• Introduction: The origin and rationales of IP law in the UK.
• Copyright: Origins. The statutory framework of Copyright in the UK. The legislative and judicial rationales. The impact of the EU and International Treaties. Copyright in the context of IT applications. Competing paradigms of regulation of copyright. Potential futures. The critical commentaries.
• Patents: Origins. The statutory framework in the UK. Patents in the context of IT applications. The judicial experience. The EU patent. The European Patent Convention. Challenges to the current patent regime.
• Trade Marks: Origins. The statutory framework in the UK and the impact of EU law. Trade marks in the context of IT applications. The relationship between trademarks and the law of passing off.
• Law: Origins, rationale in the UK and EU. The statutory framework. The relationship between design law and copyright.
• Misuse of Private Information; Confidential Information: Origins, rationale in the UK .The impact of the Humans Rights Act 1998 and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Development of the common law protection in the UK. Proposal for a Directive on trade secrets and confidential business information 2013/0402 (COD).

Brief description

Undertake some practical research in response to a current business need of a real company and produce a suitable management report with recommendations.

Module content:

• Analysing a problem: Using different analysis techniques such as data flow diagrams, entity relationship modelling and process mapping, examine problems to better understand the current position of the business.
• Innovation and innovation techniques: Using different creativity and innovation tools to help find solutions to business problems.
• Innovation for global growth (IGG): During this event, you work with multiple organisations - public, private and third sector, on a challenge they currently face. This will provide a scoping opportunity for the problem and a chance to test possible solutions. Discussions on professional behaviour and communication take place prior to the event.
• Developing and presenting the solution: Take the solutions identified during IGG and further investigate their suitability. Develop one or more solution to provide an implementation plan for the organisation.

Brief description

The EU policy areas of Security & Justice and Home Affairs, as it affects EU states and its external relations with third states. 

Module content:

• Introduction: The Treaty on European Union, The Lisbon Treaty, The Stockholm Programme and its successors, EU security & JHA institutional structure and legal tools.
• The EU's ability to act externally: The EU's bi-lateral and multi-lateral policy legal framework.
• EU Security policy: Case law, European Security and Defence Identity, NATO, Petersburg Tasks.
• EU JHA networks and agencies: Europol, Eurojust, Schengen.
• Analysis of JHA policy areas: Drug trafficking & manufacture, trafficking in human beings, counter terrorism.

Brief description

Actual and potential issues posed by the digital age for law and legal systems. Learn to critically assess and analyse the impact and efficacy of current and prospective legal instruments designed to regulate the use and misuse of a variety of IT applications in the context of privacy, data protection, freedom of information, defamation and criminal activity.

Module content:

• Introduction: The implications of globalisation and IT in the context of privacy, surveillance, freedom of expression and crime.
• Substantive issues: Role of international bodies. Role of the EU. Data protection in the digital age. Freedom of information in the digital age. Computer misuse/crime. Enforcing personality rights in cyberspace.
• Common regulatory issues: Regulating jurisdiction. Domain names and cybersquatting. Dispute resolution. Data surveillance by government and organs of the state and remedies. Data surveillance by private and business entities and remedies. ADR.
• Enforcement: The role of the UK and Scottish Information Commissioners. The Tribunals. Consideration of tribunal decisions.
• General issues: The sui generis approach to information law. Problems/ issues associated with international/supranational/domestic regulation. Anticipating future challenges for information law.

Brief description

The legal regulation of competition law in the EU. Learn to critically analyse the nature, development and application of EU Competition Law.

Module content:

• Nature: Origin, historical development, rationale and competing perspectives of Competition Law. The importance of economic analysis and theory. Analysis of EU contexts and perspectives.
• Article 101: The conditions for application of Article 101(1). Restrictive practices, prohibited conduct, agreements, decisions, concerted practices, horizontal and vertical restraints, effects on trade between member states. Exemptions, notices, permissible co-operation, block exemptions, enforcement.
• Article 102: Abuse of a dominant position, the concept and existence of a dominant position, the relevant product and geographical market, a dominant position, abuse, types of abuse, discriminatory, unfair and predatory pricing, unfair trading conditions, exclusive rights, refusals to deal.
• Enforcement: The role of the Commission and Courts. The Enforcement Regulations. Procedure before the Commission. Protection of the under-taking. Remedies. Reviewability. Economic analyses and policy considerations. Modernisation and reform.
• Mergers: The Merger Regulation. Origin, role, application, cases, interpretation, consequences.
• Member States and EU Competition Law: Application of Competition Law within the Member States. Relationship with national law. Significance of the UK Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013. Competition Act 1998. Enterprise Act 2002. EU v national enforcement. The move towards enforceability at national level.
• The US and International Experience: Contours of US experience. Relationship with EU Competition Law. The calls for a global competition authority.
• Compliance: Compliance schemes for undertakings to ensure adherence to EU Competition Law.

Brief description

The significance of human rights in the world today. Gain a grounding in human rights from a social theoretical perspective, including current debates and trends in human rights.

Module content:

• History and theory of Human Rights: Classical Origins in Greece and Rome, Classical Liberal Thought, The French and American Revolutions, Marx, Critical Social Theory, Postcolonialism.
• Human Rights in transition: Human Rights in Armed Conflict, Responsibility to Protect, Refugees and Asylum Seekers, Genocide and Torture, The International Criminal Court.

Brief description

Learn about the resources and capabilities managers need to gain and sustain advantage in competitive markets, and succeed in the future. The way in which organisations attempt to develop such competitive advantage constitutes the essence of their strategy.

Module content:

• Introduction to strategic management: What is strategy; strategic analysis; classical and emergent schools; strategic thinking; levels of strategy.
• Strategy context. Competitive advantage of a firm: Defining the business environment. Industry analysis: turbulences and dynamics. Porter’s five forces; new dynamics in the 21st century.
• Business level strategy: Sources of competitive advantage: Competitive stance, business level strategy, corporate level strategy; generic strategies; hybrid strategy; value chains.
• Beyond competition: The nature of competition; co-operation; co-opetition; strategic alliances and joint ventures; mergers and acquisitions.
• Managing change through effective leadership: Leadership - values and ethics. Managing stakeholders, change and uncertainty. Change management approaches.
• Individual as a leader: Overview of trait, behavioural and situational theories. Moral aspects of leadership.
• Leading as a team: Leader’s role, coaching and conflict.
• Organisational leadership: Charismatic and transformational leadership, crisis leadership.
• Global and cross-cultural leadership: Leadership in multinational business environment and in the cross-cultural context.
• Leadership and value creation: The role of leadership in creating value for a competitive advantage, strategy formulation and implementation.

Brief description

The Scottish International Private Law rules on jurisdiction, choice of applicable law and decree recognition and enforcement in cases involving a foreign element.

Module content:

• Concepts and issues in international private law: Providers of International Private Law. Jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement. Choice of law. Renvoi. Forum non conveniens.
• Connecting factors in international private law: Domicile, nationality, habitual residence.
• Mutual recognition and applicable law in contract law cases: Jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (Brussels I + Brussels I recast). Convention on the law applicable to contractual obligations (Rome I).
• Family law provisions: Jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgements in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility (Brussels II Bis, Hague Convention on Child Abduction). Enforcement of maintenance obligations. Applicable law and jurisdiction in matrimonial matters issues.
• Analysis of selected policy areas in private law: Applicable law in non-contractual obligations (Rome II), problems of the cross border litigant. Jurisdiction in insolvency, the Insolvency Regulation Recast; Jurisdiction in succession, the Succession Regulation and the UK Opt out.