Law

Course summary

The subject content in the first year is as follows: • An introduction to the English legal system, including the distinction between criminal and civil law, the sources of law, and the role of judges, lay people and legal professionals in the legal system. • An introduction to the key concepts of criminal law, including actus reus and mens rea and a study of the law concerning non-fatal violent offences against the person. • An introduction to tort law, including the law on negligence, personal injury, damage to property and occupiers’ liability. In the second year, you will study: • More advanced themes concerning the English legal system focusing on the relationship between society, morality and justice. • Further topics in criminal law, including the defences available to a defendant in a criminal trial, murder and manslaughter, property offences and the rules concerning attempted offences. • In depth study of contract law. • Further topics in tort law, for example: vicarious liability and claims based on psychiatric injury