Get Started: Law Taster Course
Starts:
Finishes:
Venue:
Online
This course will introduce you to two fundamental concepts of the English legal system: legislation and case law.
The aim of the course is not only informative; you will learn the meaning of critical thinking and argument creation and how these are used in legal reasoning. The course consists of 3 recorded webinars and 3 live online discussions with an additional session in which you will be given information on further learning.
The aim of the course is to illustrate how legislation made by parliament works together with legal principles created by the courts through legal cases.
The programme is not accredited, but those who attend all four sessions will receive a Certificate of Participation.
Who can take part?
This free, online, four-week programme is for those with an interest in law who would like to study that subject at university. All are welcome, regardless of your previous educational experience. The course is designed for those who have had a break from education.
The course consists of three recorded webinars and four live online discussions, which take place weekly. As places are limited, please ensure you are able to take part in the whole programme before signing up.
You do not need any particular qualifications or experience to take part, but a curious mind and an interest in law would be an advantage!
Tuesday 14th November, 6 - 7:30pm: Week one's webinar has 2 parts. The 1st part introduces the notion of common law and its two meanings; it considers how legislation is created in Parliament and how the judiciary creates legal principles. The 2nd part introduces the principle of the guilty mind (mens rea) and unlawful act (actus reaus). These are two fundamental principles that must exist when establishing the commission of an offence.
Tuesday 21st November, 6 - 7:30pm: Week two's webinar introduces the doctrine of the theft offence. By doctrine we mean the building blocks of an offence, and what the prosecution needs to prove to establish that the defendant has committed it. The focus here is not on evidence but on the law. The webinar and the follow-up discussion will examine the mens rea and the actus reus of theft.
Tuesday 28th November, 6 - 7:30pm: Week three's webinar will introduce the skills of academic critical thinking and legal application of the law to case scenarios. Here, you will have the opportunity to practice the important legal skill of applying legal rules to facts.
Tuesday 5th December, 6 - 7:30pm: In this final session we will discuss next steps after completing this course. It will give you the opportunity to explore your study options and generally what it means to be a university student.
How do I take part in this programme?
Booking a place confirms that you are able to attend all four sessions.
Places are limited to those who do not have previous experience of university in the UK.
Each week, we will send you a link to view the webinar in your own time prior to the workshop so please check your emails including your junk folder and contact: getstarted@bbk.ac.uk with 'LAW HE TASTER' as the subject header if you have not recieved the email by 4pm on the day of the sessions.
The online discussion groups will take place live on the dates and times listed above.
You'll need to log in to the sessions using the link we send you with the webinar video each week. There is no need to register for the software, it will just ask you for your name.
The online discussion will be a chance to speak to others about what you have watched and heard during the webinars and ask any questions about the content.
We understand that it can be daunting to learn online, especially if it's something you haven't done before. You might also have worries about how it fits in with other commitments or whether you have the right technology to take part. All the content we share including the live sessions are accessible using a smart phone.
Please log on 10 minutes before each weekly session to make sure there are no technical issues. For those who would like additional assistance, we will be arranging an opportunity for you to practise using the software before the programme starts.
Information for under 18s:
Please note: If you’d like to attend any of our online events and are under 18, please ensure that you have an adult with you in the room.
Contact name:
Frankie Davies