LW2EVD: Law of Evidence

Module code: LW2EVD

Module provider: School of Law

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Amanda Millmore, email: a.millmore@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 2 October 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module will address a range of areas of the modern law of evidence in criminal and civil cases. It will provide students with an appreciation of the approach taken by the Courts to evidential issues. It will use practical activities and scenarios to engage students in this crucial area of the law.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Understand the purpose and nature of legal rules of evidence
2. Apply legal rules of evidence, with appropriate authorities to a range of problems.
3. Formulate coherent legal arguments and present them clearly, both orally and in writing.
4. Evaluate legal arguments.

Module content

This module will consider both civil and criminal rules of evidence. It will cover a number of topics, such as the burden and standard of proof, the different types of evidence, and rules regarding witnesses. It will look at the admissibility of evidence, for example in relation to character evidence, hearsay and illegally or unfairly obtained evidence.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be taught by a combination of in-person lectures, large class workshops, and tutorials, as well as some blended activities.

Students will be encouraged to engage in practical activities to see how the legal rules might work in a Court hearing.

Students will learn by way of a mix of more traditional lecture and independent reading and research tasks as well as considering mock documents and participating in practical experiences.

Study hours

At least 37 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Feedback from tutors and peers in taught sessions. Written assignment (such as an outline plan of an answer or skeleton argument).

Reassessment

Additional costs