Learning Outcomes:
Students should be able to relate the specific legal topics examined to their political and social context and be able to analyse those elements of the law studied in terms of the influence of that context. Students should be able to describe how the role which lawyers play as politicians and other types of public servant is influenced by their particular profession formation and to express well-grounded opinions as to the appropriate relationship between legal, political and other types of argument, as they bear on questions of public policy. Students should also be able to analyse critically the role of the media, NGOs, members of the legal profession and other groups who contribute to debates on public policy and to identify some of the typical rhetorical strategies used in defending or attacking policy proposals or decisions by reference to supposedly objective legal criteria. Finally, students should be able to reflect and express a considered judgement on how well lawyers generally communicate an understanding of the law and the legal system to the wider community.
Indicative Module Content:
Not all of the following topics will be covered in any single year, and others of a similar nature may be added. Students have input at the beginning of the trimester in relation to what topics they would like to cover.
Media coverage of crime and the criminal justice system
Gender parity in the legal system
Judicial appointments, ethics and accountability
The role of law in EU policy and governance
Regulatory cultures in areas such as environmental protection, climate change, health and safety and public health
Lawyers as campaigners, lobbyists and public affairs consultants
The political dimension of lawyers' ethos, ethics, business practices and regulation and of legal education