This course provides an introduction to Scots law and the Scottish Legal System. It introduces students to the history of Scots law, court procedures and legal processes (civil and criminal litigation, tribunals etc), precedent, legislation and statutory interpretation.

First preference: weekly lectures at Monday 10-11; additional lectures Tuesday 9am.

Second preference: weekly lectures Tuesday 9am; additional lectures: Thursday 12-1

Legal Skills for Graduates

Common Law System and Method

None

The course is 100% assessed by way of a 90 minute exam that will take place in the December examination period.

The overall aims of the course are:

■ to introduce students to the study of Scots law and the Scottish Legal System

■ to introduce students to the sources of law in the UK 

■ to provide students with an understanding of court structure and the application of judicial precedent

■ to develop students' skills in interpreting and using sources of law

■ to introduce students to the legal institutions relevant to legal practice in the UK

■ to provide students with a basic understanding of civil procedure in Scots Law

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

■ demonstrate an understanding of the sources of law in the UK

■ explain principles of statutory interpretation in the UK and deploy them to analyse legislative materials

■ use knowledge of the judicial system in the UK to evaluate the precedential value of decisions

■ demonstrate an understanding of the importance and use of judicial precedent

■ demonstrate an understanding of civil procedure and the relationship between law and procedure

Completion of Summative Assessment.