2019/20 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LAW3100 Evidence

20 creditsClass Size: 45

Module manager: Professor Louise Ellison
Email: L.E.Ellison@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

Pre-requisite qualifications

Only one module from the list of pre-requisites is required.

Pre-requisites

LAW1140	Principles of Criminal Law
LAW1141	Introduction to Criminal Law
LAW1260	Criminal Law
LAW2060	Criminal Law
LAW2065	Criminal Law
LAW2066	Criminal Law

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge of key evidentiary rules and principles and an understanding of the function of the law of evidence;
- demonstrate a capacity to identify, analyse, evaluate and interpret significant legal, policy and ethical issues pertaining to the law of evidence;
- provide reasoned and critical analysis of evidential issues;
- apply knowledge to practical scenarios;
- present legal argument coherently and fluently in writing.

Syllabus

This module aims to introduce key rules of evidence in the context of their rationale, their historical development, and modern criminal justice policy. It explores the connection between the rules of evidence and the nature of the common law adversarial trial and aims to promote critical awareness of the balance between the interests of the state and the individual.

The course will cover:
(i) Introduction and terminology;
(ii) Burden and standard of proof in criminal proceedings;
(iii) Witnesses;
(iv) The trial process; evidence-in-chief and cross-examination;
(v) Hearsay;
(vi) Judicial discretion to exclude relevant and otherwise admissible evidence;
(vii) Confessions;
(viii) Inferences from silence.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	26	1.00	26.00
Seminar	8	1.00	8.00
Private study hours			166.00
Total Contact hours			34.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

9 hours preparation per seminar;
Preparation for formative essay: 6 hours;
Follow-up reading to lectures: 26 hours;
Revision and preparation for examination: 62 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Monitoring of students during seminars;
Formative essay set in third week of teaching (1,500-word essay maximum) with feedback issued to students.

Methods of assessment

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	3 hr	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/04/2019

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