Please note: there may be some adjustments to the teaching arrangements published in the course catalogue for 2020-21. Given current circumstances related to the Covid-19 pandemic it is anticipated that some usual arrangements for teaching on campus will be modified to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students and staff on campus; further adjustments may also be necessary, or beneficial, during the course of the academic year as national requirements relating to management of the pandemic are revised.

European Human Rights Law LAW3025

  • Academic Session: 2022-23
  • School: School of Law
  • Credits: 30
  • Level: Level 3 (SCQF level 9)
  • Typically Offered: Runs Throughout Semesters 1 and 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Available to Erasmus Students: Yes

Short Description

The incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into domestic law by virtue of the Scotland Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998 provides a relevant and contemporary justification for this course; in addition, the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights and of domestic courts in giving effect to 'Convention rights' is now both rich and (in places) complex providing ideal material for study.

Timetable

Weekly 2 hour seminars - Wednesday 0900-1100

Requirements of Entry

D grades in Constitutional Law and Law and Government at the first attempt. This course is only available to LL.B students

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Group essay (20%); take home exam (20%); group project report (20%); examination (40%).

Main Assessment In: April/May

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? No

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

Course Aims

This course aims to develop an understanding of the European Convention on Human Rights (including the impact of incorporation on domestic law) and related European human rights instruments and also certain 'transferable' or 'key' skills in students: ie, communication, problem-solving, working with others, improving one's own learning and performance, and IT.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

· understand the enforcement machinery under the European Convention of Human Rights
· critically evaluate the jurisprudence of the substantive guarantees of the European Convention on Human Rights as they apply within the UK
· assess the decisions of the Scottish courts in applying Convention case law in terms of the Scotland Act and the Human Rights Act
· gain an awareness of other Council of Europe instruments in the field of human rights including the Torture Convention, European Social Charter, and Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
· critically assess key issues of contemporary relevance in domestic civil liberties
· use the law library and IT to research primary and secondary sources in human rights (including the effective use of computers for advanced research)
· present both oral and written legal arguments on matters concerning human rights
· take responsibility for their own learning, (including access to IT databases)( that is, to manage the development of own learning by managing time and tasks, learning both independently and with others, using library research skills, and assessing individual performance)

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

  None