Law School Jr Programme

Home Programme FAQs Info for schools Contact

The Law School Jr.™ programme consists of twenty university-style seminars of approximately 90 minutes each. Students are required to undertake private study in preparation for most sessions and there are two written assignments. In addition, students are encouraged to make at least one court visit.

Legal topics covered at an introductory level:

Legal System, Criminal Law (theft), Contract Law, Tort Law (negligence), Human Rights, Alternative Dispute Resolution (negotiation).

Other topics covered throughout the course:

Advocacy, analysis, professional ethics, rhetoric.

Michaelmas term

Week 1 - Introduction

Students discuss questions such as, “What is law?”, “Why do we have law?”, “How is law enforced”.

Week 2 - Criminal law

Students discuss of the overriding objective of criminal procedure, and what it means for someone to be called ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’ with reference to mens rea and actus reus. Students are introduced to the Theft Act 1968 and analyse some example scenarios to produce arguments as to whether or not the elements of the offence are made out.

Week 3 - Theft Mini Trial

Building on Week 2, and using Police witness statements and phone record evidence, small teams prepare for and take part in a mini trial scenario, arguing for the prosecution or the defence.

Week 4 - Legal System

Students are introduced to court structure, sources of law, and the legislative process, and examine the differences between a UK Parliamentary Bill and the final Act of Parliament. Working in small teams, students prepare their own Parliamentary Bill, with an emphasis on drafting clauses so as to meet legislative objectives whilst avoiding unintended consequences and loopholes.

Week 5 - Moot Parliament

Students debate their bills, table amendments, and then divide to vote on their proposed new legislation.

Week 6 - Human Rights

Students are introduced to the European Convention on Human Rights, discussing why various rights are or are not protected and why there are both absolute and qualified rights. They go on to advise a governmental client on the human rights implications of a particular decision.

Week 7 - Contract Law

Students are introduced to contract basics - formation, terms, and breach, including the Consumer Rights Act 2015. They then play the part of solicitors responding to client letters, analysing the claims and advising the client.

Week 8 - Contract Mini Trial

Building on Week 8 and using court claim forms and supporting evidence, small teams prepare for and take part in a mini-hearing of a contract claim, arguing either for the claimant or defendant.

Week 9 - Tort Law

Students are introduced to the tort of negligence - duty of care, breach, causation and loss. Using a specially designed worksheet, they analyse scenarios based on witness statements and assess the liability of the parties.

Week 10 - Negligence Mini Trial

Building on Week 8, small teams prepare for and take part in a mini-hearing of a multi-party negligence and personal injury claim.

Assignment One

A 500 word case note. Following written guidance, students read a judgment from the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal or High Court and write a 500 word case note summarising the case and identifying the ratio decidendi. The case is chosen in an area of substantive law not otherwise covered on the course.

Hilary Term

Week 11 - Negotiation

Students are introduced to Alternative Dispute Resolution and in pairs prepare for and take part in co-operative style negotiations for clients.

Week 12 - Sentencing

Students are introduced to the Sentencing Council Guidelines for Theft and study the process for deciding sentence. Using pre-sentence reports and a special sentencing worksheet, students work out starting points and aggravating and mitigating factors for convicted offenders to advise on likely sentence.

Week 13 - Sentencing Hearing

Continuing from Week 12, small teams prepare and then make a plea in mitigation at the sentencing hearing for their client, or play the role of judge or magistrates and pass sentence.

Week 14 - Bail

Students are introduced to the Bail Act 1976, rules governing exceptions to granting bail, and bail conditions. Small teams work with example Police National Computer records and witness statements to consider relevant arguments for and against granting bail for the accused.

Week 15 - Bail Application

Building on Week 14, students prepare for and then either make or oppose a bail application and suggest bail conditions, or act as judge or magistrates.

Week 16 - Civil Appeals

Students are introduced to civil appeals and applying or distinguishing case law. Small teams analyse a contract law case scenario and County Court judgement, together with one or two relevant decided cases, and prepare a skeleton argument for appeal.

Week 17 - Moot

Continuing from Week 16, students take part in a moot - a mock appeal hearing - arguing for either appellant or respondent, using the facts of the scenario and real case law. Mooting was once a mainstay of legal education in the Inns of Court, and is still an important way student lawyers practice, refine, and show their skills.

Week 18 - Trial Preparation

In small teams, students prepare to prosecute or defend in a criminal scenario. Using trial bundles and special worksheets they evaluate evidence and plan their approach to the trial.

Week 19 - Mock Trial

Continuing from Week 18, student’s conduct a mock criminal trial with a judge, jury, and live witnesses. Teams allocate jobs among themselves, doing opening speeches, examination and cross-examination of witness, and closing speeches. Together they will await the jury’s verdict…

Week 20 - Law Reform, Reflection

Students are introduced to the main avenues of law reform (lobbying, test cases, the Law Commission, and treaties) and come up with a suggested reform.

The importance of self-reflection and Continuing Professional Development in the legal profession is explained, and students reflect on their own development during the course of Law School Jr.

Assignment Two

A 750 word reflective essay designed to draw on the elements of professionalism and ethics seeded throughout the course.

N.B. When circumstances permit, some seminars may be extended over two seminars if advantageous to the students.

The Programme