Criminal Law (Erasmus)

Overview

This module will cover the basic principles of criminal liability, including criminal conduct, the notion of criminal fault, the liability of accomplices and the general defences. It will also focus on key criminal offences including homicide (murder and manslaughter), non-fatal offences against the person; non-fatal offences against the person and theft. All of this will be taught drawing on the relevant primary sources (cases and statutes) together with current research and scholarship in the relevant field

Learning Objectives

Students will acquire systematic understanding, knowledge and critical awareness of the legal elements of criminal liability and the major criminal offences and defences through statutes and case law. They will develop a comprehensive understanding of the reasoning adopted by criminal courts and the context in which they operate. They will develop a critical awareness of crime and criminal law from a wider policy context.

Skills

Students who have completed this module should be able to demonstrate:
• A systematic knowledge and a critical awareness of contemporary problems in criminal law, informed by current research in the field.
• A practical understanding of how established techniques of doctrinal research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge regarding criminal law.
• A conceptual understanding that enables them:
o to evaluate critically current research and scholarship in criminal law;
o to evaluate critically the development of legal doctrines.
•. The ability to synthesise key legal principles in the field and communicate critically in a form and manner appropriate to the study of law.

Assessment

Assessment reflects the learning outcomes and required skills.