Course Catalogue

Human Rights Law (DPLP) LAW5031

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Law
  • Credits: 15
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

An elective course on the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice to equip students with the professional skills necessary for practising law in Scotland with particular reference to human rights issues.

Timetable

1x 2 hour introductory lecture

9 x 1 hour lectures

10 x 2 hour tutorials

Requirements of Entry

Mandatory Entry Requirements

LLB

Recommended Entry Requirements

None

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Assessment

1. Tutorial Preparation, Participation and Performance. 40%

2. Draft Compatibility Issue Minute 30%

3. Asylum and Immigration Oral 30%

 

Not available for reassessment

1. Tutorial Preparation, Participation and Performance 40%

Main Assessment In: April/May

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? No

It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.

[No exceptions]

Course Aims

The aims of the course are to:

1. Develop an awareness and understanding of the practice of human rights law in the Scottish context;

2. Recognise human rights compliance and breaches; to identify potential challenges on human rights grounds; and to advise appropriately on the application of human rights;

3. Provide the skills to pursue and defend human rights cases in the Scottish courts.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

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

1. Critically assess how Convention rights apply in different factual situations;

2. Use knowledge of human rights to research Convention arguments and be able to communicate this research to a variety of audiences, both orally and in writing;

3. Identify and explain sources of funding and support for those pursuing human rights cases;

4. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the human rights obligations placed on public authorities;

5. Demonstrate a critical understanding of devolution issues in the context of human rights challenges;

6. Demonstrate a critical awareness and understanding of the procedure involved in pursuing and defending human rights breaches in civil courts;

7. Demonstrate a critical awareness and understanding of the procedure involved in dealing with human rights questions in the criminal courts.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions