Course Catalogue

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This course considers the legal regulation of parenthood - the foundational relationship(s) in our lives.

The course first examines the basic approach of the law to parenthood, before exploring how that approach has evolved in response to changes in reproduction technologies and practices, and the greater diversity of family forms and structures within contemporary society.

This course will allow students to undertake a much deeper consideration of a range of issues relating to the interaction of parenthood and the law than is possible within the Level 1 Family Law course.

There will be 10 x 2-hour seminars spread throughout semester 1.

This course is only available to LLB students.

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A 1000-word plan/outline (15%) and a 4000-word essay (85%).

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course aims to introduce students to the range of legal issues that arise in the regulation of the parent/child relationship - with a particular focus upon the attribution and determination of legal parenthood. This will allow students to critically engage with law and policy and how it affects a key issue within family life.

Further aims are:

i) to develop an understanding of the aspects of Scots family law that relate to parenthood

ii) to provide students with a critical understanding of contemporary issues and ongoing debates relating to the legal regulation of parenthood

iii) to analyse aspects of the interaction between legal rules and personal relationships within the context of families

iv) to consider evolving legal notions of persons, family and relationships within broader historical, social and political contexts

v) to encourage critical analysis of aspects of current Scots family law relating to parenthood and of proposed reform to the law

vi) to give the students an opportunity to undertake independent research on topics of current relevance and interest

By the end of this course students will be able to:

i) demonstrate understanding of a range of aspects of the current regulation of parenthood within Scots family law

ii) demonstrate awareness of the issues within the legal regulation of parenthood; particularly in the context of assisted reproductive technologies and non-traditional family forms

iii) demonstrate understanding of a range of theories which have influenced the legal regulation of families and family life

iv) identify and comment upon areas of debate and controversy in the context of the legal regulation of parenthood

v) evaluate and analyse critically areas of current family law and proposed reforms relating to parenthood

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.