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Introduction to English Common Law
  • Level Foundation
  • المدة 23 ساعات hours
  • الطبع بواسطة University of London
  • Offered by

عن

The common law of England and Wales is one of the major global legal traditions. This MOOC will give you an introduction to this influential legal system including its history, constitutional background, sources and institutions. You’ll learn about the different ways in which laws are made and interpreted, the English court system and the increasing importance of European Union and human rights law. Now is an especially exciting time to be learning about English common law, given the potential changes that lie ahead in today’s political, economic and social environment – all these pose challenges to and opportunities for the law. Each week we’ll focus on one aspect of English common law, using video lectures, readings, discussion questions and activities to enable you to learn about and evaluate key issues. Whether undertaken as a standalone course, or as preparation for the University of London’s world-class LLB degree, you will find this course interesting and stimulating. Please note that participation in or completion of this online course will not confer academic credit for University of London programmes.

الوحدات

Introduction

    • 2 Videos
    • 2 Readings
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2 Videos

  • Welcome to the course!
  • Welcome to Week 1

2 Readings

  • Terminology Explainer
  • A note about Community Mentors, Role and Responsibilities

The English Legal System

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • The English legal system

1 Videos

  • Key features of English law

1 Readings

  • Impact of Brexit on the key features of English law

What is Law?

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • What is law?

The Origins of Common Law

    • 2 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Key dates in legal history

2 Videos

  • The origins of common law
  • Common law and equity

3 Readings

  • Magna Carta
  • Recent legal history
  • Historical traditions

Common Law and Civil Law Systems

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Reflect on your legal system

1 Readings

  • Common law and civil law systems

Classifications of Law

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Types of law and classifications

Themes in the Common Law

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Magna Carta and human rights

1 Videos

  • Themes in common law

End of Week Summary and Quiz

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • End of Week 1 Quiz

1 Discussions

  • Share your thoughts

1 Videos

  • End of Week Summary

The British Constitution

    • 2 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 3 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • The British constitution

3 Discussions

  • What is the purpose of a constitution?
  • Constitutional sources
  • Thinking about constitutions

2 Videos

  • What is a constitution?
  • The sources of the British constitution

2 Readings

  • Impact of Brexit on sources of the constitution
  • Parliamentary Sovereignty

The Rule of Law

    • 1 Videos
    • 3 Readings
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1 Videos

  • Rule of Law

3 Readings

  • Optional activity: Lord Bingham and the Rule of Law
  • Entick v Carrington and the principle of legality
  • Optional Activity: Professor Jowell and the Rule of Law

Separation of Powers

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Investigating the Separation of Powers

1 Videos

  • Separation of Powers

End of Week Summary and Quiz

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • End of Week 2 Quiz

1 Discussions

  • Share your thoughts

1 Videos

  • End of Week Summary

1 Readings

  • Optional further reading

The Court System

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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2 Videos

  • Welcome to Week 3
  • The structure of the courts

1 Readings

  • The court hierarchy

The Supreme Court

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Judgments of the Supreme Court

1 Readings

  • The Supreme Court

The Civil Courts

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Specialist courts

1 Videos

  • The civil courts

1 Readings

  • More on the civil courts

The Criminal Courts

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Lay people in criminal justice

1 Videos

  • The criminal courts

1 Readings

  • More on the criminal courts

Tribunals and Alternative Dispute Resolution

    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Name the ADR method

1 Discussions

  • Compulsory mediation?

3 Readings

  • Tribunals
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Mediation

The Courts and Technology

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • Online courts: The courts of the future?

End of the Week Summary and Quiz

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • End of Week 3 Quiz

1 Discussions

  • Share your thoughts

1 Videos

  • End of Week Summary

What is a statute?

    • 2 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Name the type of legislation

1 Discussions

  • How many statutes?

2 Videos

  • Welcome to Week 4
  • What is a statute?

2 Readings

  • Impact of Brexit on sources of law
  • Constitutional statutes

How Statutes are made

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Referendums

1 Readings

  • How are statutes made?

Interpreting Statutes

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Identify the approach to statutory interpretation

2 Videos

  • The problem of language
  • The traditional approach of the courts

New Approaches to Interpreting Statutes

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 2 Discussion
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2 Discussions

  • How useful is Hansard?
  • Judges and the Human Rights Act

1 Videos

  • The modern approach of the courts (1)

1 Readings

  • The modern approach of the courts (2)

Simplifying Statutes

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Should legislation be simplified?

1 Readings

  • Making statutes simpler

End of Week Summary and Quiz

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • End of Week 4 Quiz

1 Discussions

  • Share your thoughts

1 Videos

  • End of Week Summary

What is case law?

    • 2 Videos
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2 Videos

  • Welcome to Week 5
  • What is case law?

Judicial Precedent

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 2 Discussion
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2 Discussions

  • Judicial precedent
  • Flexibility or predictability?

1 Videos

  • Advantages and disadvantages of precedent

1 Readings

  • What is judicial precedent ?

Judges as Law-Makers

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Do judges make law?

1 Videos

  • Judges and the law

Reading Case Law

    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Your chance to read a case

2 Readings

  • Reading case law
  • Top tips

End of Week Summary and Quiz

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • End of Week 5 Quiz

1 Discussions

  • Share your thoughts

1 Videos

  • End of Week Summary

Welcome to Week 6

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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1 Videos

  • Welcome to Week 6

1 Readings

  • A note on Brexit

The European Union

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 2 Discussion
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • European Citizens' Initiatives
  • EEC/EU Membership

2 Discussions

  • Supranational organisations compared to states
  • Which European Citizens' initiatives would you support?

3 Videos

  • Background of the European Union
  • The nature of the European Union: a unique legal order
  • The European Union’s institutions

2 Readings

  • Activity on European Union institutions
  • Direct participation in the European Union?

European Union Law

    • 2 Videos
    • 3 Readings
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2 Videos

  • The impact of EU Law on English law
  • Leaving the European Union

3 Readings

  • Sources of law in the European Union
  • The supremacy of EU law
  • Brexit and the impact of EU law

Human Rights and the ECHR

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
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1 Videos

  • Overview of the ECHR and the HRA

2 Readings

  • Member States of the Council of Europe
  • What are Human Rights?

The Human Rights Act 1998

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Parliamentary Sovereignty, the Human Rights Act and the courts

1 Videos

  • Human Rights Act 1998

End of Week Summary and Quiz

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • End of Week 6 Quiz

1 Discussions

  • Share your thoughts

1 Videos

  • End of Week Summary

1 Readings

  • Optional further reading

Peer Review

    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • Reforming The English Legal System

Conclusion

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • Conclusion

Auto Summary

"Introduction to English Common Law" offers an insightful exploration into one of the world's major legal traditions. This course, presented by Coursera, covers the history, sources, institutions, and interpretation of English law, including the impact of the EU and human rights. Ideal for personal development, it spans 1380 minutes and is available through Starter and Professional subscriptions. Perfect for anyone interested in law, whether for personal interest or as a precursor to further legal studies.

Charlotte Crilly
Instructors

Charlotte Crilly

Eloise Ellis
Instructors

Eloise Ellis