LW3003 - Academic Practice for Law

What will I learn on this module?

This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to develop academic skills, knowledge and understanding to support your future study of law. You will build an awareness of the importance of examining knowledge and beliefs critically; and to develop the ability to recognise, analyse and evaluate your own and others’ beliefs and knowledge claims in a variety of contexts. In doing so you will learn about the different types of sources and resources which are integral to higher education study. You will begin to engage in generating your own views, arguments and develop the skills, which you will need in order to express these views clearly across a range of media. This is an innovative module where you will from the start engage with challenging aspects of the legal world whilst building important academic skills and practices. In particular you will develop the following skills:

• Reading and understanding academic texts and legal source materials
• Time management
• Research skills
• Essay writing
• Discussion & presentation skills
• Examination techniques


You will be assessed through completion of an annotated bibliography. You will be given a broad legal topic in which to analyse, and you will be asked to locate a range of sources. You will need to correctly reference each source, and give your personal summary and evaluation of each source you find. Your bibliography can be a maximum of 2000 words in length. Your bibliography will be assessed by asking whether you have demonstrated sufficient academic practice skills on a pass / fail basis. You will be given a number of opportunities to practice this task, and receive feedback from tutors, before you submit your assignment. You will also receive feedback (from your peers and from your tutors) on other key academic skills, such as your academic writing, research, and giving presentations.

How will I learn on this module?

You will learn via a combination of large group sessions (lectures), small group sessions (workshops) and independent/tutor guided independent learning. The module has a one-hour weekly lecture where we will consider the different skills, practices and methods of learning which are relevant to your studies. The lectures are designed to give context to the ideas you will discuss in the workshops. There will be a two hour workshop per week which will be facilitated by group tasks, team working, communication and interpersonal skills and will allow you to reflect on your learning. The workshops will draw heavily on discussions of case studies and consideration of different and wider perspectives on issues which are designed to open your mind to the perspective of others and allow you to take these into account when making decisions.

Use of the module’s e-learning portal will be essential as this will support the work you will be undertaking in the lectures and seminars, it will also contain additional exercises that will allow you to undertake further practice independently.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

The academics in the teaching team taking both the lectures and workshops will provide input and support to you. Lectures are recorded on this module and made available via the e-learning portal. This allows you to access and digest the lecture materials post-lecture at your own pace, and review and revise the lecture material on a variety of platforms and devices. The workshops provide you with weekly opportunities for direct and interactive formative feedback on progress and understanding.

This module is supported with a site on the e-Learning Portal (Blackboard). This site stores for you the lecture materials, the lecture recordings and supplementary seminar materials. The site is also the launch pad for you to access a variety of e-Learning resources including videos, documentaries and radio broadcasts using the “Box of Broadcasts” Library service. The modules Online Reading List can be reached through the e-Learning Portal. This list provides you with a single comprehensive list of links from which to access all of the modules eBooks, news resources and directed learning academic articles.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
• Understand the different range of skills required for academic study (LO1)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• You will be able to display developing reflection skills through the group work (LO2)

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• You will display evidence of developing a curiosity in the learning of legal subjects (LO3)

How will I be assessed?

Formative feedback
On an on-going basis tutors will give you feedback on exercises you complete and track your progress through the workbook that accompanies the module. You will receive feedback (from your peers and from your tutors) on other key academic skills, such as your academic writing, research, and giving presentations.

Summative assessment



You will be assessed through completion of an annotated bibliography. You will be given a broad legal topic in which to analyse, and you will be asked to locate a range of sources. You will need to correctly reference each source, and give your personal summary and evaluation of each source you find. Your bibliography will be assessed by asking whether you have demonstrated sufficient academic practice skills on a pass / fail basis.

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

This module is designed to provide you with the knowledge and understanding of the skills and practices, which you are going to need when you progress on your studies. In using a thematic approach you will examine sources of information, how and where to locate them and begin to think critically about their worth, weight and accuracy. These are important understandings, which will support your development of formal academic writing, time management, research, discussion and presentational skills. You will work individually and collectively as part of your group and this will also help you to recognise the different ways in which learning can occur, through interaction with colleagues and other groups. You will also be able to draw on your experiences within this module to support your skills development and understandings in other modules.

Course info

UCAS Code M757

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study Foundation year followed by a further 3 or 4 years full-time study

Department Northumbria Law School

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2024 or September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

Your Learning Experience

Find out about our distinctive approach at 
www.northumbria.ac.uk/exp

Admissions Terms and Conditions
northumbria.ac.uk/terms

Fees and Funding
northumbria.ac.uk/fees

Admissions Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/adpolicy

Admissions Complaints Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/complaints