Journalism BA (Hons)

This module takes a problem focused approach to the key principles that underpin Contract Law in England and Wales. As part of this module you will explore how a contract is formed, identify the contents of the contract whether expressly or impliedly created. You will also consider the enforcement of the contract and some of the vitiating factors that may undermine the apparent creation of a contract.

This module explores the relationship between law and the State, covering elements including:

• Principles of the UK constitution: the meaning of democratic governance; sources of the Constitution in the UK; theories and concepts underpinning the Constitution in the UK; arguments for and against codification.
• Parliamentary sovereignty.
• The Rule of Law and the Separation of Powers; judicial regulation of governmental behaviour; the importance of an independent judiciary.
• Political accountability: ministerial responsibility; mechanisms of Parliamentary accountability; freedom of information.
• Legal mechanisms of accountability: judicial review.
• Introduction to the Human Rights Act 1998: consequences for the relationship between Parliament and the Judiciary.
• Legal AI and constitutional law: the use of artificial intelligence tools within legal research and analysis; critical evaluation of AI-generated legal content; assessment of the accuracy, reliability, and limitations of AI-generated case summaries; and the development of skills required to use legal AI technologies responsibly and effectively in conjunction with primary and secondary legal sources.

Through the study of these topics, students will develop a critical understanding of the constitutional framework of the United Kingdom and the mechanisms through which public power is exercised and controlled. The module also embeds the development of legal AI competencies, enabling students to engage critically with emerging technologies, evaluate AI-assisted legal analysis, and apply independent legal reasoning grounded in authoritative legal sources.

This module is designed to introduce you to the sources and classifications of law and the structure of the English Legal System and those who work within it. It includes training on legal and academic skills to help you succeed in your academic studies as well as understand and avoid academic misconduct. You will also begin to explore your entry into the legal profession by participating in professional sessions covering legal careers, entry into them, and the skills needed to succeed in those careers. Sessions are co-delivered by current practitioners in a wide range of legal and legal-associated professions, and members of the academic team. 

This module focuses on the roles of legal, business and criminal justice professionals and will develop your professional skills.

Key concepts covered by the module: 

• The role of legal, business and criminal justice professions in the legal system in England and Wales. 
• Introduction to professionalism and professional ethics
• An introduction to practical legal and associated research
• An introduction to the provision of legal and associated professional advice
• An introduction to communication of legal, business and criminal justice material in the context of professional practice
• An introduction to independent learning, planning and using resources, reflecting on experience, reaching valid conclusions and setting appropriate goals for development. 

The syllabus covers professionalism, ethics and professional skills; you will learn about and practice the professional skills of:

• Legal writing and drafting 
• Practical legal and associated research 
• Professional writing 
• Teamwork 
• Time-management 
• Reflective practice

The module examines the legal and ethical theories which underpin the law in a variety of subject-areas, including punishment and sentencing, medical law and ethics, family law ethics and business and professional ethics. It looks at proposed law reform in these areas in response to a change in society's moral values and evaluates these proposals.

This module takes a problem-focused approach to introduce students to the key principles that underpin the law of property in England and Wales. Students will examine the various types of estates and the rights and interests in land, including their creation, transfer, protection, and enforceability against current and future landowners. The module also explores the relationship between property law and environmental sustainability, encouraging students to consider the broader social, economic, and environmental implications of land ownership and use.

Alongside the substantive study of property law, the module develops students' ability to engage critically with emerging legal technologies. Students will analyse AI-generated responses to property law problems, evaluate the accuracy and quality of the legal reasoning presented, identify errors, omissions, or misapplications of legal principles, and propose justified amendments supported by relevant legal authority. Through this process, students will develop critical legal analysis skills and an understanding of the opportunities and limitations of AI tools within legal research, problem-solving, and professional practice.

This module delves into the core aspects of business operations and structures. It explores the identification and roles of both internal and external stakeholders and the influence of various internal and external environments on business. The module will cover essential topics such as marketing and sales, organisational behaviour, finance, environmental sustainability, and introduce the broad legal framework within which various business structure operate. The goal is to provide students with a holistic understanding of business within real-world organisational settings.

This module builds on the knowledge and skills developed in LA5101 Business Principles and Practice by examining the operation of commercial law within a business context. Students will explore key areas such as business formation, business finance, agency, the sale of goods, and environmental sustainability, and will consider how legal principles operate in practice to support commercial activity and decision-making.

The module also develops students' professional communication skills, enabling them to research, plan, prepare, and present legal information to clients in a clear and accessible manner. Through practical application, students will consider the professional and ethical standards expected of legal practitioners, including the importance of accuracy, integrity, client-focused communication, and professional responsibility when providing legal information and advice.

This module takes a practical approach to exploring the key legal principles required to establish criminal liability for a range of specific offences within the jurisdiction of England and Wales. Students will examine the actus reus and mens rea elements of criminal offences, analyse the evidential and legal requirements for proving liability, and consider the defences available to individuals accused of criminal wrongdoing.

In addition to developing substantive knowledge of criminal law, the module enhances students' legal reasoning and critical analysis skills through engagement with emerging legal technologies. Students will critically evaluate AI-generated responses to criminal law problems, assessing the accuracy of the legal content, the quality of the legal reasoning, and the appropriateness of the conclusions reached. They will identify errors, omissions, and weaknesses in AI-generated analyses and propose justified amendments supported by appropriate legal authority. Through this process, students will develop a deeper understanding of criminal law doctrine while building the skills necessary to use AI tools critically, responsibly, and effectively within legal study and professional practice.

This module develops the skills obtained from students undertaking both Contract Law and Property Law at Level 4. The module takes an approach focused upon problem solving and in-depth analysis of case judgements to introduce you to the key principles which underpin the law of tort in England and Wales.

The most extensive aspect of the module is the most significant of the torts: the tort of negligence. You will explore key principles of the tort of negligence such as the duty of care, the standard of care and breaches, and the requirements for causation of damage. You will also explore the principles of other torts, examples may include the torts of trespass to the person (assault, battery and false imprisonment) and the statutory tort of Occupier’s Liability.

This module builds on the Legal System, Skills and Profession Development module, and centres on developing key academic and professional skills, including academic conduct and legal skills essential for a legal career or related professional career. It promotes critical reflection of existing skills and knowledge to identify strengths and areas that need improvement. Students will participate in skills and professional development sessions to develop strategies to enhance their future career prospects.

This module aims to enhance students’ prospects of gaining graduate level employment through engagement with a range of legal employability events, community activities or placement opportunities, which will enable them to:

• Develop their understanding of workplace practice and lifelong learning;
• Enhance their work readiness and employability prospects through development of transferable skills;
• Take responsibility for their own learning and acquisition of employability skills;
• Articulate, in writing, their employability skills.

The module offers 3 pathways within it, so that students can choose the employability pathway which best suits their development needs, aspirations and personal circumstances. 

Pathway 1. Placement

This pathway provides a structured, university-level work placement for 4, 5 or 7 weeks as one continuous block / period with a placement provider (i.e. a local employer from the private, public, or charitable sector). It is designed to enhance your professional skills in a real-world job setting. The placement can either be organised by you or with support from university staff. All work placements within this module must be university-level; this means:

• Undertaking high-skilled work commensurate with level 5 study (e.g. report writing, attending meetings, delivering presentations, producing spreadsheets, writing content on webpages, social media, marketing services/products etc)
• Physically placed (albeit part of it can be hybrid) within an employer setting in one continuous block / period for 4, 5 or 7 weeks for a minimum of 140-147 hours over the course of the entire work placement
• Where applicable, your existing part-time employer can be approached/used as the placement provider, if the high-skilled work criterion above is fulfilled for the full duration of the placement.
• All quality assurances/agreements provided by the University are adhered to, by you and the employer.

The work placement context may not necessarily, reflect your degree discipline per se, but rather, it will give you an enriched experience to enhance your professional skills in a real-world job setting.

Pathway 2. Community Engagement Activity

This pathway provides students with the opportunity to work under a project manager to develop resources to meet the needs of external partner organisations. This may include generating resources for the following (indicative examples, subject to change):

• SPACE – e.g. SEND mock tribunal 
• Community Hubs – leaflets and QR codes on various topics 
• CHAWREC/Eastgate - e.g. a simple guide to setting up e-ID on phones. 
• ShareAid – posters/book of knowledge extra chapters. 
• Domestic Abuse resources – e.g. tik tok videos 
• Families – family related employment rights: e.g. presentation on flexible working to toddler group; presentation to ‘Mama Fit’ group on ‘planning your return to work...what to do when’  
• Thinking Ahead e.g. how to make a valid will. 

Pathway 3. Experiential Learning

This pathway provides students with a range of alternative online and in person experiential learning opportunities so that they can develop their chosen employability skills in a flexible and diverse manner. These opportunities are arranged with and delivered in partnership with local legal and stakeholders. Indicative examples include:

• Virtual placement opportunities
• Online Law Fairs
• Family Law Advocacy workshops
• Private client webinars
• Assessment centre preparation activities
• Commercial Awareness workshops
• Career development planning sessions
• Applications and personal branding workshops

Preparation for the year abroad will take place in Chester during level 5 and will include:

• Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
• Host-country orientation, study methods– economic, political and social reality of the country
• Orientation specific to exchange – health, education, gender issues
• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Practical matters relating to living and studying in the wider world

Theories, models and strategies of learning

• Critical thinking skills, experiential learning and models of reflection

Personal and placement-related transversal skills

• Effective self-motivation and independent resourcefulness
• Effective time management and organisational skills
• Project management – working away from University and independent study
• Self-management and personal development

Whilst abroad:

You will undertake study at one of the University of Chester's partner universities or undertake and approved work placement or virtual placement. If you are a student,  it is expected that you will choose a series of modules at the university abroad which must be agreed by the host institution and the Module Leader. you must supply details of you modules on a learning agreement within 4 weeks of arrival at the host university.

This module provides an in-depth study of Equity and Trusts, building on the concepts, principles and laws studied on the Principles of Property Law module.

Students will examine the role of equity and trusts within the English legal system. The module covers the nature and characteristics of trusts, including legal and equitable interests in property, express trusts, implied trusts, charitable trusts, aspects of breach of trust, and co-ownership principles. 

This module provides an opportunity for students to undertake a significant project demonstrating individual creativity and the exploration and application of knowledge gained on the course. The substantive content will be determined by the student’s own focus and context.

Students have a choice of pathway (and thus assessment) for this module. The detail of each pathway is articulated below.

Pathway 1. Dissertation

The Dissertation offers students the opportunity to conduct in-depth research into a legal topic of particular interest. It fosters the development of advanced research, critical thinking, and academic writing skills, enabling students to demonstrate independence and develop specialist knowledge within a chosen area of law.

Pathway 2. Placement

The Placement pathway provides students with an opportunity to attend a week of activity at Lloyds' Banking Group, where they will develop their knowledge and understanding of financial and legal compliance in the content of the work of large financial corporations. They will also be trained in a range of employability skills and competencies as part of their activities during the week. Students on this pathway will be supervised to undertake an enhanced written piece of work in an area of financial, legal compliance, relevant to the business practices of financial corporations.

Pathway 3. Pro Bono

The Pro Bono pathway provides students with an opportunity to engage with pro bono clients in a real-life setting, to enhance their client-facing skills for future employment, and to develop as a reflective legal practitioner.

The module provides an in-depth overview of both clinical negligence, and the interface between law and ethics, the historical development of medical law in various areas, and also the potential for reform of the law and regulation in the medical sphere. Indicative content may include clinical negligence, the regulation of organ donation, the legal position on assisted dying, the regulation of abortion and the regulation of assisted reproduction and other areas.

This module explores the development of Discrimination Law in England and Wales and considers this in light of previous EU membership. It introduces the core concepts of Discrimination Law, including the protected characteristics and prohibited conduct, with particular focus on the application of the Equality Act 2010 in the context of employment. Students will examine the legal framework governing discrimination, analyse the impact of legislative and policy developments, and develop their ability to apply legal principles to problem-based scenarios through critical legal reasoning and analysis.

The module also develops students' understanding of the role of emerging technologies within legal research and communication. As part of their learning and assessment, students will critically analyse and responsibly utilise Lexis+ AI technologies to support in the research and production of a legal blog on discrimination law issues. Through this process, they will evaluate the accuracy, reliability, and limitations of AI-generated content, apply independent legal reasoning, and ensure that legal analysis is supported by appropriate legal authority. This enables students to develop the digital and professional competencies increasingly required within contemporary legal practice.

You will identify and comprehend the key concepts and principles of European Union Law including the legal, economic and social factors which led to the development of the European Community and Union. You will learn about the legal framework within which the European Union operates and explore in depth the actions that can be taken against both Member States and the institutions for infringement of Union law.

The module will give particular focus to the key actors in the formulation, implementation and enforcement of Union Law at both national and European levels and also the impact of EU law on UK law as relevant to its changing relationship.

This module takes a problem-based approach and aims to equip students with a broad working knowledge of the legal aspects of employment. It enables students to acquire an understanding of the legal principles underpinning employment relationships, develop practical skills such as interpreting real-world documentation, and appreciate the importance of providing advice tailored to the needs and priorities of the client. The module also develops students' ability to engage with emerging legal technologies within the context of employment law practice. As part of their learning and assessment, students will critically analyse and responsibly utilise Lexis+ AI technologies to support in the research and production of a legal blog. In doing so, they will evaluate the accuracy, reliability, and appropriateness of AI-generated content, recognise the importance of verification against authoritative legal sources, and develop an understanding of the opportunities and limitations of AI-assisted legal work within a professional context.

This module covers a spectrum of Company Law topics and introduces students to the areas commonly dealt with by corporate lawyers in practice. The module takes a problem-based approach and aims to enable students to acquire an understanding of the legal principles underpinning the regulation of limited companies, their shareholders and directors; apply their knowledge and understanding to solve legal and commercial problems; develop practical skills such as interpreting real-world documentation; and appreciate the importance of providing advice tailored to the needs and priorities of the client.

The module also encourages students to consider the ethical and professional standards that underpin corporate legal practice. Students will examine the responsibilities and obligations of those involved in the governance and management of companies, evaluate ethical issues arising in commercial decision-making, and reflect upon the role of professional judgment, integrity, and ethical conduct when advising clients and operating within a corporate legal environment.

The module focusses on developing student's understanding of the EU's internal market in regards to both trade and competition.

You will study the core principles underpinning the regulation of the free movement of goods within the European single market and apply these to hypothetical scenarios.

Focus will then move to the implementation and enforcement of competition law and policy in the European Union, the obligations of Members States and the infringement actions taken by relevant EU insitutions. We will explore the key legal principles underpinning competition law and policy and review key cases to understand the numerous issues that can arise when applying competition law to market behaviour.  This will include scrutinising the EU competition laws regulating such anti-competitive agreements and practices and reviewing case studies (real and hypothetical) exemplifying the conduct which will distort the competitive process and harm competition (e.g. abuse of a dominant position, mergers and oligopolies). We will also explore the interaction between competition law and sustainability in light of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the impact this has on trade and competition in the EU. 

This module provides students with foundational knowledge of international trade and investment law. It covers topics such as International Economic Law, World Trade Law, Regional Trade Agreements, International Investment Law, Environmental Sustainability, and Dispute Resolution mechanisms. The module aims to develop critical legal analysis skills, enabling students to address complex problems in international trade and investment law.