ENVIRONMENTAL LAW IN ACTION (HE5) - 2021/2
Module code: LAW2049
Module Overview
Environmental Law in Action (ELA) will use a case-study approach to provide students with the principles underpinning the legal system relating to the protection of the environment. It will introduce students to the sources, aims, content and impact of relevant environmental law.
Module provider
School of Law
Module Leader
MALCOLM Rosalind (Schl of Law)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 5
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Independent Learning Hours: 44
Seminar Hours: 33
Guided Learning: 40
Captured Content: 33
Module Availability
Semester 1
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
None
Module content
Subjects:
- Context of Environmental Law
- Biodiversity and Wildlife
- Town & Country Planning/Environmental Impact Assessment
- Regulatory Regimes
- Environmental Offences and Sanctions
- Cleaning Up Past, Present and Future Pollution
- Environmental Information and Public Participation and the Right to a Clean Environment
- Using the Precautionary Principle
- Providing Clean Water and Sanitation
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 3,000 WORD COURSEWORK | 100 |
Alternative Assessment
N/A
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate, in accordance with the Learning Outcomes, their acquired knowledge, critical awareness of the key principles and policies studied in this Module, their ability to evaluate and also to apply their acquired knowledge and critical awareness to the resolution of hypothetical legal problems.
The assessment address all learning outcomes listed above.
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
Coursework for Semester 1 which will require the students to answer set questions
Formative assessment and feedback
Students will receive verbal feedback on their performance during seminars. In addition they will undertake a written formative 1000 word coursework assessment, during Semester 1, on which they will receive individual written feedback and group verbal feedback. This written formative assessment will be designed to give the students practice in writing an answer to either an essay or problem question which is similar in style and content to what they can expect in their summative assessment.
Module aims
- To provide an understanding and critical awareness of the foundational principles of the legal system related to the protection of the environment in context
- To identify and critically assess the framework of environmental law at UK, EU and international level
- To critically assess the law relating to protection of land, water and wildlife and biodiversity
- To critically assess the role of law in solving problems of environmental pollution
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | Understand the key characteristics of environmental law in action. | KC |
| 002 | Be able to handle complex problems of pollution of the environment involving corporate and private interests. | KCPT |
| 003 | Have critical awareness of the policy context for environmental law | CPT |
| 004 | Have critical understanding of the role of EU and international law in the operation of environmental law | KCPT |
| 005 | Demonstrate an ability to analyse and discuss in a reasoned and cogent manner the principles of environmental law | CT |
| 006 | Apply the principles of environmental law so as to be able to propose and evaluate alternative solutions to practical fact based problems | CPT |
| 007 | Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in written and oral form | T |
| 008 | Be able to present legal information effectively, according to accepted practice and convention | CPT |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:
Introduce topics, with particular emphasis on key areas of the syllabus, through the use of case studies, debates, news clips, TV programmes and films, and mock planning inquiries
Facilitate a more detailed study of the syllabus by directed independent study of selected legislation, case law and other texts and directed preparation of focussed seminar questions
Enhance student’s understanding and critical awareness by group discussion during seminars
Facilitate student’s revision of key areas of law and coursework preparation by the submission of written formative coursework which will, where possible, engage with the essay and publication competitions run by the UK Environmental Law Association
The learning and teaching methods include:
Seminars (3 x 11 hours). Seminars will take place in 3 hour blocks on a weekly basis.
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: LAW2049
Programmes this module appears in
| Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law LLB (Hons) | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Law (Law and Technology Pathway) LLB (Hons) | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Law (Philosophy, Politics and Law Pathway) LLB (Hons) | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.