LLM STUDENT HANDBOOK ACADEMIC YEAR 2018/19 - The UEA Portal
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LLM
STUDENT HANDBOOK
ACADEMIC YEAR 2018/19
Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law
2 CONTENTS CLICK TO SKIP TO SECTION HEAD OF SCHOOL WELCOME MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES THE POSTGRADUATE TEAM LAW SCHOOL ACADEMIC TEAM SCHOOL CONTACTS OTHER IMPORTANT CONTACTS POSTGRADUATE WELFARE ACADEMIC ADVISOR SYSTEM INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS WITH TIER 4 VISAS POSTGRADUATE TUTOR POSTGRADUATE LAW SOCIETY ACADEMIC YEAR DATES 2018/19 COURSE STRUCTURE PLAGIARISM AND COLLUSION THE DISSERTATION EMPLOYABILITY AND CAREERS FINDING INFORMATION FINDING YOUR WAY AROUND UEA EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDANCE Please note that whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the information in this Handbook is accurate, it must be read as subject to change over the coming year. The Handbook is intended as a guide only. Full reference should be made to the University’s web pages for the full rules and regulations and updated information. Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law
3 HEAD OF SCHOOL WELCOME In joining us you have become a member of a top law school, at a leading university. The professors and lecturers at the UEA Law School are leading experts in their field, with backgrounds of either high level scholarship or legal practice. The Law School produces influential research on a range of important legal disciplines. For example, it is a founding partner in the internationally renowned and interdisciplinary, Centre for Competition Policy (CCP). The School’s excellent research record was reflected in the last Research Excellence Framework, in which more than two- thirds of our research was deemed world leading and internationally excellent (the top two categories). Indeed, only twelve other Law Schools had a higher percentage of their research placed in the top ‘world leading’ category. We value our students and achieve exemplary levels of student satisfaction. The Law School prides itself in the quality of its teaching and the overall student experience it offers. As a law school and as a university, we consistently achieve high levels of satisfaction among our students. In recognition of how there can be bumps in the road as students make the transition to university study, we also take great care to provide pastoral care, to help our students overcome challenges that may occur within and beyond their studies. Every student has an academic advisor, whom they can talk things over with confidentially and who can help draw on the university’s extensive systems of support. Our staff are approachable and friendly – we would not want it any other way. We will provide you with every opportunity to succeed, but in return you must make every effort to achieve the very best you can in your studies. We want you to fully engage with your studies and also enjoy the many other benefits of being at University. Your time here will go by all too quickly and we are here to help you avoid regrets about the levels of work you invest in your degree. If we feel you are not fully engaging with your studies, we will step in to offer assistance through our advisee system and help you develop strategies for working more effectively. You should feel free to ask your teachers about things you don’t easily understand and let them know what you find helpful or less helpful. The learning process never stops (not even for us!) and we continually work to improve the quality of our teaching. We will help you achieve your full potential. We know that a University education is one the costliest investments you will make in your life. The Law School is highly committed to helping our students achieve their full potential in terms of employability. We will help you develop and apply key skills that will be of great value, regardless of whether you decide to pursue a career in the legal profession or in any one of the diverse set of career paths our past graduates have successfully chosen. We run events at which alumni or employers come in to the School to give our students insights into the world of legal practice and other careers. We also run a mentoring programme, and offer opportunities for internships, and an extensive Law Clinic that gives you the opportunity (under appropriate supervision) to make a difference to society by giving advice – or possibly even by acting as an advocate before tribunals – for those who would otherwise be excluded from access to justice. All of these activities are intended to help you understand better the world into which you will move after you graduate, and to build your confidence, your practical skills and your CV. Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law
4 HEAD OF SCHOOL WELCOME Earlham Hall is a key part of the Law School’s identity. It is the Law School’s home and is a building of great historical importance. Built in 1642, it became home to the Gurney family. They established Gurney’s bank, which in 1896 merged with others to form Barclays bank. Elizabeth (Gurney) Fry was a renowned philanthropist who successfully campaigned to make conditions in gaols more humane and came to be known as the “angel of prisons”. She and other members of the Gurney family were also key participants of Britain’s anti-slavery movement. Between 2002-2016, Elizabeth Fry was depicted on the Bank of England £5 note. Today, this carefully renovated building provides a unique learning environment for students and faculty to work, study and socialise. Indeed, after completing the conversion of Earlham Hall’s old stable building, work is now underway on an extension, providing a customised space for the School’s pro bono Law Clinic, as well as ten new offices for the School’s future growth. The Law School inhabits one of the most beautiful parts of UEA’s campus, surrounded by Earlham Park and a short distance from UEA’s innovation hub – the Enterprise Centre, which happens to be one of the most sustainable buildings in Europe. The UEA Law School is a strong family. The fact we are a medium-sized law school, enables us to maintain a sense of community and a vibrant ethos, with an extensive range of activities and competitions organised by our outstanding student Law Society, typically including mooting (mock trials of points of law), negotiation, client interviewing and ‘pitching’ competitions, and I would encourage you to participate in these sorts of activity and make the most of your time here. I wish you every success and a happy time here at UEA Law School. I very much look forward to meeting you. Professor Andreas Stephan Head of the UEA Law School Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law
5 MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES I would like to add my warm welcome to the UEA and in particular to the UEA Law School. The UEA Law School prepares its graduates to excel in the knowledge and application of law. Our alumni go on to a variety of legal careers worldwide, including legal practice, practice before the bars of various jurisdictions, posts in government and international organisations, academic careers and to undertake activities in public service. The UEA Law School strives to create an environment which stimulates the exchange of ideas and the pursuit of academic excellence, along with encouraging the development of core transferable skills. We bring together a diverse and highly qualified group of scholar-teachers with a diverse and highly qualified student body. This combination of people and ideas is conducive to producing a place for the study of law that is enriching, stimulating, supportive and rigorous. You will be exposed to a variety of influences in your postgraduate programmes here. We have organised a comprehensive Induction period for you, with lectures for the Legal Skills and Research Module running every morning during the first week, and other induction activities scheduled for the afternoons. We also look forward to meeting you at the Drinks Party on the first day of semester. Earlham Hall is going to be your “home” for the next year as most LLM teaching takes place here, so please do take advantage of it and use the facilities and student space here. We also believe practical and careers experience is extremely valuable for our students and we are in the process of developing a programme of opportunities tailored more specifically to the needs of our postgraduate students. In the meantime, you can apply for one of the existing 50 internship placements and attend Careers panels, commercial awareness workshops, mock job interviews, an annual Law Careers Fair and many other events organised by the UEA Law School and the Careers Service for law students. You will soon see that our Law faculty prides itself in maintaining a professional yet friendly attitude towards all students. Please don’t hesitate to put the hard questions to us about the law and its effects globally, nationally and locally. This is a great time to study law, and a great university in which to study it. Take advantage of what we have to offer. Enjoy your time at UEA. Jacqui Longman Director of the Postgraduate-Taught Programme Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law
6 THE POSTGRADUATE TEAM The Postgraduate Team is responsible for all matters relating to taught postgraduate students once they arrive at UEA. This includes oversight of the postgraduate curriculum, all teaching matters and the welfare of students in co- operation with the School’s Senior Adviser. Ms Claudina Richards is the Director of Learning and Teaching for the School. As such, Claudina has ultimate responsibility for the postgraduate curriculum, and for teaching and assessment. In most of these matters, Ms Richards is assisted by other members of faculty with direct day-to-day responsibility for the postgraduate programmes, admissions, welfare and exams. Head of School Prof Andreas Stephan Director of the Postgraduate Taught Programme Jacqui Longman Postgraduate Tutor Dr Nick Scharf Director of Learning and Teaching Prof Claudina Richards Director for PGT Employability Ellen Sweet-Escott Director of the LLM in International Trade Law Jacqui Longman Director of the LLM in International Commercial and Competition Law Prof Morten Hviid Director of the LLM in International Commercial and Business Law Dr Hakeem Seriki Director of the LLM in Media Law, Policy and Practice Dr Karen Mc Cullagh Director of the LLM in Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law Dr Nick Scharf Director of the LLM General Dr Viviana Mollica Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law
7 LAW SCHOOL ACADEMIC TEAM Each School has a Head of School who is responsible for the academic and strategic management of the School. The School’s Senior Adviser is responsible for the management of Student Advising System and the Director of Learning and Teaching is responsible for the academic quality of courses within the School. The School also has a School Manager with administrative responsibility. Who’s Who in the UEA Law School Head of School Prof Andreas Stephan Deputy Head of School Polly Morgan PA to the Head of School Kaye Mackay Director of the Postgraduate Taught Programme Jacqui Longman Director of Learning and Teaching Prof Claudina Richards Senior Adviser & Disability Officer Dr Gareth Spark Chair of Board of Examiners Dr Joe Purshouse (Autumn) Dr Sebastian Peyer (Spring) Director of Employability and Internships Ellen Sweet-Escott & Tim Vickers Director of UEA Law Clinic Prof Gareth Thomas Plagiarism Officer Dr Avidan Kent School Manager Esther Palin (Mon-Wed), Annabel Allison (Thurs-Fri) How you can contact teaching staff Leave a message at Reception: This is based in Earlham Hall and the Receptionist will be happy to pass on any messages received. Staff offices: Staff offices are located in Earlham Hall. Staff will have office hours which they will communicate to their advisees and other students who wish to meet with them. It is best to book a time in advance by sending an email to the member of faculty you would like to speak to. Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law
8
SCHOOL CONTACTS
Members of Faculty
Full details of the teaching and research interests of members of Faculty can be found on the School’s Website.
To call from outside UEA, dial 01603 59 and then the extension number.
Name Job Title Ext No. Room No. Email
Ali, Nada Dr Lecturer 1586 EH 0.16C n.ali@uea.ac.uk
Amodu, Tola Dr Lecturer 1846 EH 2.03 tola.amodu@uea.ac.uk
Banakas, Stathis Dr Reader 2518 EH 0.15 e.banakas@uea.ac.uk
Barnes, Lucy Dr Senior Lecturer 3121 EH 2.08 lucy.barnes@uea.ac.uk
Bernal, Paul Dr Senior Lecturer 1588 EH 1.03 p.bernal@uea.ac.uk
Daly, Gillian Ms Senior Lecturer 2525 EH 2.13 g.daly@uea.ac.uk
Deutscher, Elias Mr Lecturer 7623 EH 1.02 e.deutscher@uea.ac.uk
Edwards, Ian Dr Senior Lecturer 2653 EH 2.09 i.edwards@uea.ac.uk
Ellis, Eloise Dr Senior Lecturer 7618 EH 1.09 eloise.ellis@uea.ac.uk
Farah, Youseph Dr Senior Lecturer 1847 EH 0.16A Y.Farah@uea.ac.uk
Garner, Kristina Ms Lecturer 3509 EH 1.14 k.garner@uea.ac.uk
Gazzini, Tarcisio Professor 2521 EH 1.04 t.gazzini@uea.ac.uk
Gibbs, David Dr Lecturer 3755 EH 1.10 david.gibbs@uea.ac.uk
Hamilton, Michael Dr Senior Lecturer 7621 EH 0.16B michael.hamilton@uea.ac.uk
Harker, Michael Professor 2406 EH 2.06 m.harker@uea.ac.uk
Heywood, Rob Professor 2262 EH 1.11 r.heywood@uea.ac.uk
Hviid, Morten Professor 3457 TBC m.hviid@uea.ac.uk
Ives, Deborah Ms Senior Lecturer 3050 EH 1.08 d.ives@uea.ac.uk
Jacques, Sabine Dr Senior Lecturer 3255 EH 1.08 sabine.jacques@uea.ac.uk
Kent, Avidan Dr Senior Lecturer 2932 EH 2.11 avidan.kent@uea.ac.uk
Longman, Jacqui Mrs Senior Lecturer 3049 EH 2.02 jacqueline.longman@uea.ac.uk
Mcconnachie, Kirsten Dr Senior Lecturer 1632 EH 0.16B k.mcconnachie@uea.ac.uk
Mc Cullagh, Karen Dr Lecturer 7617 EH 2.05 k.mcculagh@uea.ac.uk
Mead, David Professor 7620 EH 2.07 d.mead@uea.ac.uk
Mitchell, Gemma Dr Lecturer 2519 EH 2.11 g.mitchell@uea.ac.uk
Mollica, Viviana Dr Lecturer 3261 EH 2.03 v.mollica@uea.ac.uk
Morgan, Polly Ms Senior Lecturer 7622 EH 1.10 polly.morgan@uea.ac.uk
Peyer, Sebastian Dr Senior Lecturer 1851 EH 0.08A s.peyer@uea.ac.uk
Purshouse, Joe Dr Lecturer 1446 EH 1.08 j.purshouse@uea.ac.uk
Reichstein, Angelika Dr Lecturer 1587 EH 1.08 a.reichstein@uea.ac.uk
Richards, Claudina Ms Professor 2523 EH 2.16 c.richards@uea.ac.uk
Scharf, Nick Dr Lecturer 7619 EH 1.02 n.scharf@uea.ac.uk
Seriki, Hakeem Dr Senior Lecturer 3508 EH 2.26 h.seriki@uea.ac.uk
Skoutaris, Nikos Dr Senior Lecturer 3018 EH 2.03 n.skoutaris@uea.ac.uk
Spark, Gareth Dr Senior Lecturer 1447 EH 0.16D g.spark@uea.ac.uk
Stephan, Andreas Professor 2521 EH 0.10 a.stephan@uea.ac.uk
Sweet-Escott, Ellen Ms Senior Lecturer 3506 EH 2.04 e.sweet-escott@uea.ac.uk
Thomas, Gareth Professor 3195 EH 2.14 g.thomas@uea.ac.uk
Vickers, Tim Mr Senior Lecturer 7616 EH 2.04 t.vickers@uea.ac.uk
Watts, Selina Ms Lecturer 1558 EH 1.14 selina.watts@uea.ac.uk
Wu, Keren Dr Lecturer 3017 EH 0.16C keren.wu@uea.ac.uk
Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law
9
SCHOOL CONTACTS (CONTINUED)
Law School Administrative Staff
Name Job Title Ext No. Room No. Email
Thomas Kerin School Support Assistant 7563 EH 0.09 t.kerin@uea.ac.uk
TBC School Administrator 3533 EH 0.09 TBC
Kaye Mackay School Co-ordinator & HOS PA 2427 EH 0.09 kaye.mackay@uea.ac.uk
Esther Palin School Manager (Mon-Wed) 3456 EH 0.08b law.sm@uea.ac.uk
Annabel Allison School Manager (Thurs-Fri) 3456 EH 0.08b law.sm@uea.ac.uk
UEA Law School Contact Details
UEA Law School
Earlham Hall
University of East Anglia
Norwich, Norfolk
NR4 7TJ
Tel: (+44) (0)1603 597563
Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law
10
SCHOOL CONTACTS (CONTINUED)
Law Learning and Teaching Service (LTS)
The Learning and Teaching Service will be your main points of contact during your time at the university.
They will be able to help you with the following issues:
Coursework submission return and deadline extension
Welcome and induction programmes
requests
Examinations course tests and other assessments Allocation of Advisers/Advisees
Registration Regulations and Codes of Practice
Enrolment on modules Complaints and Appeals
Disciplinary processes - including fitness for study/practice
Student module and course records
and misconduct procedures
Notification of assessment marks, results and transcripts/
Attendance monitoring
diploma supplements
Initial queries regarding the administration of matters
concerning scholarships, bursaries, grants, council tax
Timetabling and room booking
exemption and issues concerning students time at the
university
Law Learning and Teaching Service (LTS) Administration Team
Name Job Title Ext No. Email
Helen Clarke Course Administrative Assistant 2282 law_pgt.hub@uea.ac.uk
Tim Greene Team Leader 7402 t.greene@uea.ac.uk
Lorraine Newark Learning & Teaching Co-ordinator 3658 l.newark@uea.ac.uk
Michele Pavey Learning & Teaching Manager 2097 m.pavey@uea.ac.uk
The ARTS Learning & Teaching Services Hub is open Monday to Friday from 0800–1800 hours.
Contact them via:
• Email: hub.pgt.law@uea.ac.uk
• Tel: 01603 597580
Find more information about the service on their website: www.uea.ac.uk/learningandteaching
Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law11 OTHER IMPORTANT CONTACTS Student Support Service The Student Support Service offers support for students with disabilities, learning difficulties, mental health issues, financial concerns and can offer advice to those with complaints. Students can contact them on studentsupport@uea.ac.uk or extension 2761 International Students Office The International Student Advisors in ISAT (International Student Advisory Team) can give advice on a range of issues, from Immigration support and visa application through to personal, welfare and general advice. They work closely with other sections within the SSS to ensure students are signposted or referred to other specialised teams for further advice or support if required. Enquiries can be emailed to isat@uea.ac.uk. The team also organises the International Arrivals and Orientation programme as well as a variety of enhancement pro- jects such as English language support, a buddy scheme, and a calendar of social trips. More information can be found on the UEA Portal. Library All students will be given library training but over your time at UEA you may have questions about resources or requests for book purchases. Each school has a dedicated Academic Engagement Librarian. Our librarian knows all about the legal resources we have (both hard copy and online) and offers one to one appointments for students who need assistance. You can find contact information, along with guides for using some resources, by following the link ‘Subject Guide’ on your Blackboard homepage, and selecting ‘Law’. The library also runs a number of workshops which you can find on the library website. The library helpdesk can be contacted on 01603 592993 (extension 2993). Student’s Union Advice Centre The Union Advice Service provides an independent, free and confidential service open to all UEA students. Email: advicecentre@uea.ac.uk, Phone: 01603 593463, drop in sessions are also available. Finance Department In order to purchase certain items you may need to visit the Finance Department. • Cashiers (cashiers@uea.ac.uk) allow you to pay for small items. • Debtors (debtors@uea.ac.uk) will contact you for payment of your student fees amongst other items. CareerCentral CareerCentral is open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. Students can drop in and speak to an advisor about how to make the most of what’s on offer - including part-time jobs, paid internships, volunteering, enterprise and more. Tel: 01603 593452, email: career.central@uea.ac.uk Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law
12 POSTGRADUATE WELFARE The UEA Law School places the highest emphasis on the academic achievement, personal development and individual well-being of its students. A primary role of each member of Faculty is to guide students towards realising their full potential in respect of each of these goals. It is also well-recognised that students, particularly postgraduate students, contribute to the learning and personal development of members of Faculty. Students are an integral part of the UEA Law School community. Close collaboration between staff and students in identifying and acting upon mutual concerns is critical to the future success of the School. In recognition of this fact, the UEA Law School has made a number of formal commitments to its students ACADEMIC ADVISOR SYSTEM All postgraduate students are allocated an academic adviser at the beginning of the academic year. Your adviser should be the first point of contact on any query regarding academic work in general or any other personal matter. Please note, however, that advisers are not trained counsellors; they will act as a link with the professional counselling services within the University as appropriate. The aims of the advisee system are to promote the academic and personal success of students, to monitor student progress, and to allow students a relatively informal means of highlighting any emergent problems that they face. The system makes academic staff available to assist students in the development of their skills, to offer advice, and to provide pastoral support. As such, the advisee system is a core part of the UEA Law School community; it is one key to the development of a supportive atmosphere between faculty and students. It is hoped that each student will feel able to raise and discuss any matter freely with his/her adviser. The adviser will treat the relationship as one with the strictest confidence. Where appropriate, the adviser will bring relevant matters to the attention of the Chair of Examiners to allow for due consideration of possible impact on assessment performance. Mechanisms exist to ensure that any such discussion is limited to very few members of Faculty; once again these individuals are committed to the strictest confidence. Students will be invited to attend a meeting at the start of the autumn semester in order to familiarise themselves with their adviser. Students are welcome to arrange further meetings with their adviser at any mutually convenient time during the year, but the adviser will invite students to attend meetings should they wish at a number of times throughout the year. In addition to arranged meetings, each adviser will advertise at least a two-hour period during the week when they are available to see advisees. Details will be advised individually. You should note that, in addition to teaching responsibilities, most members of faculty engage actively in legal research. This might mean that on occasion your adviser will not be available in the UEA Law School even by appointment. Outside term time, you should always make an appointment to see your adviser. If you are having serious medical or personal problems, you may be able to take a break from your studies or repeat a semester or year. Please discuss your situation with your adviser in the first instance, so we can give you the best advice and make a concession request on your behalf. Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law
13 INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS WITH TIER 4 VISAS The Law School and the Learning and Teaching Services Hub will liaise with the Visa and Compliance Team re- garding attendance concerns of any student holding a Tier 4 Visa, in particular where students have missed ten consecutive teaching events across all the modules they are studying. PGT students with a Tier 4 Visa must apply to the Head of their School for permission to complete their dissertation outside the UK. They must submit the request through their Learning and Teaching Services Hub. The University is required to inform the Home Office when a Tier 4 student visa holder has been withdrawn from the University for non-attendance as part of its statutory reporting duties. More information on Immigration and Visa support can be found on the UEA Portal. POSTGRADUATE TUTOR Nick Scharf is the Postgraduate Tutor and, with the School’s Senior Adviser, has overall responsibility for pastoral care of the postgraduate students. Nick will also act as Academic Adviser to a number of Postgraduate students, and is generally available to discuss any concerns you may have about your course which you feel unable to raise with your Adviser. Nick will also co-ordinate various social functions and the appointment of students to the various committees mentioned below. POSTGRADUATE LAW SOCIETY All postgraduate law students will be invited to form their own Postgraduate Law Society from which members may be elected onto the various School and UEA committees and the Law School Board. In past years, the Postgraduate Law Society has also appointed a ‘social committee’ from within its members which has arranged a number of very successful social functions. The Postgraduate Tutor will convene the first meeting of those students interested in participating in the PG Law Society in early October. Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law
14
ACADEMIC YEAR DATES 2018/19
Standard Academic Year Timetable
2018-19 Standard Academic Year
Autumn Semester 24 September 2018 to 14 December 2018
(Christmas break 15 December 2018 to 13 January 2019)
Module Enrolment Deadline 27 September 2018
Spring Semester 14 January 2019 to 29 March 2019
(Easter break 30 March 2019 to 28 April 2019)
Spring Semester continues 29 April 2018 to 17 May 2019
Assessment period 20 May 2019 to 14 June 2019
GRADUATION
Visit the Graduation Office website for information on degree conferral and congregation ceremonies.
8 https://portal.uea.ac.uk/graduationoffice
Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law15 COURSE STRUCTURE The LLM Degree is a taught Masters Degree programme extending over 12 months of full- time study, or two years of part-time study. Students must complete 180 Masters level (7) credits to be considered for the award of the LLM degree (compensatory awards for the Postgraduate Diploma and the Postgraduate Certificate may be achieved). All students must complete the non-credit bearing induction module in Legal Skills and Research and a 40 credit supervised dissertation on a relevant topic of their choice. This is completed over the summer period and handed in late August. Thereafter, the structure of each student’s course of study will depend on which LLM/Postgraduate course they have chosen, and which module choices they opt to study. The modules are studied over two semesters between October and May, and students then complete the dissertation for submission in late August. The School offers Postgraduate LLM degrees in the following areas of legal study: • International Commercial and Business Law (ICBL); • International Commercial and Competition Law; • Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law; • International Trade Law (ITL); • Media Law, Policy and Practice; and • General LLM The Masters’ Programme at UEA Law School is taught mainly by means of small group seminars. This reflects the heavy emphasis placed on the accessibility of experienced and expert Faculty to students, and is a feature that can be matched only by few other European Law Schools. The Module Organiser will provide students with a list of compulsory and optional further reading material relevant to the topic in hand in advance of each class. It is imperative to the success of these small group meetings that all students arrive adequately prepared, and having identified particularly problematic areas for further discussion. There is a wide range of module options for each course. Further details will be available to students before their arrival at UEA, when they are asked to select those modules of particular interest to themselves. The majority of modules have a value of 20 credits, however there are some modules that are valued at 40 credits. The dissertation element is valued at 40 credits, and students may elect to take the Research Methods for Law module if they plan to progress their studies to a PhD or other research degree. Each course has both Compulsory and Optional modules. After choosing from the Optional modules, students generally have a further 20 to 40 credits of free choice from any of the postgraduate modules offered by the UEA Law School or, with the consent of the Course Director, from other postgraduate courses offered by the University. Please note that some modules require appropriate prior knowledge in order to enrol on them. While it is usual for each of the module choices to be selected from a specific stream, students who wish to graduate with a General LLM may make an unrestricted choice. Furthermore, with the permission of the Director of the relevant LLM course, a student may graduate with a specific LLM where two options are drawn from outside the appropriate group, provided that their dissertation falls within the specified subject area. Attendance and Absence Attendance is compulsory at all timetabled sessions and registers are taken. These are also used to ensure compliance with the Universities UKVI legal requirements. If you find that you are unable to attend, you must inform the University. To make this process easier for you, an online absence reporting system is available from your portal, under ‘Personal and Course Details’. Please refer to the UEA regulations for more information. Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law
16 COURSE PROFILES Each course has a course profile which outlines the detailed requirements which you are required to study to satisfy the requirements of your course. The course profile for each year specifies the modules you must take, the options available and the semester in which each module is offered. Further information will also be provided at the start of the course during induction. To access your course profile and find out more about the modules in the course: 1) Go into the portal (https://portal.uea.ac.uk) and select the Evision tab 2) Under Module Details on the right-hand side of the screen click Course Profiles 3) Select the 2018/19 academic year from the Academic year drop down box. 4) Select your school from the School dropdown box. 5) Click submit to list all course profiles in the list. Postgraduate courses start with the letter ‘T’. Your offer letter will also state your course code. 6) Select the course profile for the course you are registered on. 7) The profile link will take you to the course profile, which contains all of the modules and indicates whether they are core or compulsory (you must take them) or part of an option range (where you have choices). Click on the module code of the module you wish to view in more detail. Please note that whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made or the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as low enrol- ment numbers, the illness of a member of staff or sabbatical leave. Where this is the case, we will endeavour to inform you as soon as possible. Please also note that changes to module enrolments are not normally permitted after the second week of teaching in any semester. This is to allow the staff teaching these modules to prepare the module for the specific number of students registered. Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law
17 IF THINGS GO WRONG We work hard to ensure that your classes will be interesting and stimulating and that the teaching is first rate. None- theless, we recognise that notwithstanding our efforts things can sometimes go wrong. If you feel that any aspect of your course is falling short of the standards that you are entitled to expect it is important that you bring this to the attention of the School at as early a stage as possible so that steps can be taken to rectify any weakness promptly. In particular, if you have concerns about the quality of teaching on any module it is important to raise them while teaching on the module is taking place rather than after teaching has finished. This will enable the School to address any prob- lems in time to make a difference not only to your own experience but also to that of the class as a whole. The way in which you should raise any concerns will depend upon the nature of the particular concern. For example, if you think that the particular approach that a teacher is taking in class, or any other aspect of their delivery of teaching, is not helpful to your learning please do feel free to raise the point informally with the teacher in question. S/he will be glad for this feedback and should reflect upon it and let it influence the on-going delivery of the module. On the other hand, if you do raise a matter informally in this way and feel dissatisfied with the response, or if for any reason you feel that you cannot raise a matter direct with the teacher in question, you should contact the Module Organiser for the module in question or the Programme Director (for all LLMs, Jacqui Longman, Director of Postgrad- uate Taught Programmes) and explain the difficulty. They will look into the matter and try to find an appropriate way forward. (As well as taking the steps mentioned above, you can also bring any concerns you have about a particular module to the attention of the student module representative who will then be able to raise it with the Module Organiser.) If having raised a concern as outlined above, you are dissatisfied with the response, or if for any reason you feel unable to raise your concerns with the Module Organiser or Programme Director you should contact the Director of Learning and Teaching, Claudina Richards, to bring the matter to her attention. Similarly, if you are dissatisfied with an aspect of the overall administration of your course (as opposed to a particular module) you should raise your concerns as soon as possible with the Programme Director. The Programme Director may well be able to address the matter so as to avoid it becoming a continuing problem. Once more, however, if having raised the matter with the Programme Director you are dissatisfied with the response, of if for any reason you feel unable to raise your concerns with the Programme Director, you should contact the Director of Learning and Teaching, Claudina Richards, to bring the matter to her attention. If having attempted to raise concerns informally as set out above you remain dissatisfied you can bring a formal com- plaint by initiating the academic complaints procedure details of which can be found on the UEA Portal. Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law
18
THE TAUGHT LLM
ASSESSMENT AND MARKING CRITERIA
When you are being assessed (through coursework, course tests, exams, group projects or your dissertation), you will
be advised, and given feedback and guidance, as to how well you performed against a number of identified assessment
criteria. These will be set by individual Module Organisers.
The Law School uses a variety of assessment methods, thus allowing students to perform at their best and thereby
maximise their opportunities for successful completion of their Masters degree.
There are four formal categories of result:
• Distinction (70%+)
• Merit (60%+)
• Pass (50%+)
• Fail (less than 50%)
You should be aware that your work will be assessed and classified by reference to the extent to which your answer
meets the following criteria:
1. The attainment of learning outcomes and a high level of scholarship;
2. Understanding of the subject, identification of relevant issues and the application of substantive subject knowledge to the
question asked;
3. Capacity to critically analyse and formulate logical and sustained arguments;
4. Ability to illustrate and justify arguments and conclusions by reference to appropriately chosen source material;
5. Clear and accurate expression. In the case of coursework, writing concisely to the word limit, with the use of appropriate
and consistent referencing.
6. Clear and logical standard of presentation, demonstrating an ability to structure and organise work in a coherent way.
Additional criteria may be specified at Module level (for example, if assessment includes Group Project work) which will
be advised individually.
As regards marking levels, the Law School has adopted the University’s Senate Marking Scale for Coursework –
subject to whatever modifications are inapplicable to LLM assessment.
A mark of 70 or above denotes a Distinction and a first-class answer; a mark below 50 is a fail, and a mark between 60
and 69 is a Merit.
The following provides a short summary only of what work in each marking band should demonstrate.
Distinction
Mark 90 – 100% indicates work that is exemplary in all areas, in terms of both demonstrating attainment of learning
objectives and the standards of scholarship to be expected of a Master’s student.
• Presentation will be almost flawless: exemplary referencing, with an outstanding bibliography, and standard of
written English
• Highly effective and sustained argument, demonstrating exemplary level of understanding
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ASSESSMENT AND MARKING CRITERIA
• Exemplary level of critical reflection and analysis, and originality and creativity and where relevant of critical appli-
cation of doctrinal rules and principles to problem fact scenarios
• Deeply impressive command of literature, drawing on an exemplary range of material/evidence and/or examining
the topic in considerable detail.
Mark 80 – 89% indicates work of a very high in all areas, in terms of both demonstrating attainment of learning ob-
jectives and the standards of scholarship to be expected of a Master’s student. Small potential improvements can be
readily identified.
• Very high standard of presentation, of referencing and of written English
• Coherent, articulate and resourcefully constructed arguments, demonstrating a very high level of understanding
of the topic and associated issues /debates
• Very high level of critical reflection and analysis, and originality and creativity and where relevant of critical
application of doctrinal rules and principles to problem fact scenarios
• Very strong command of data or literature, drawing on a broad range of material and/or examining the topic in
some detail.
Mark 70-79% indicates work of a high standard in terms of both demonstrating attainment of learning objectives and
the standards of scholarship to be expected of a Master’s student, though with scope for improvement in a number of
areas.
• High standard of presentation, of referencing and written English
• Coherent and articulate arguments, demonstrating a high level of understanding of the topic and associated issues
/debates
• High level of critical reflection and analysis, and originality and creativity and where relevant of critical application
of doctrinal rules and principles to problem fact scenarios
• Strong command of data or literature, drawing on a broad range of material and/or examining the topic in some
detail.
Merit
Mark of 60-69% indicates work that is good (65-69% - High Merit), or mostly good (60- 64% - Merit) in all areas,
including both demonstrating attainment of learning objectives and the standards of scholarship to be expected of a
Master’s student.
• A good standard of presentation, referencing and written English. Mostly logical, and errors are mostly very minor
• Shows a thorough grasp of the subject, addressing all (or most) aspects of the assignment, and contains evidence
of insight. Though it may lack finesse, it is thorough, clear and shows an understanding of the subject/topic
• Contains some good examples of critical analysis but limited originality and creativity in use of ideas, concepts and,
where relevant, good critical application of doctrinal rules and principles to problem fact scenarios
• Draws on a good range of material but lacks breadth of engagement with the secondary literature required for a
distinction. Judicious use of sources and evidence appropriate to the discipline. Topics are mostly addressed but
not always examined in sufficient detail.
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ASSESSMENT AND MARKING CRITERIA
Pass
Mark of 55-59% indicates work that is competent/satisfactory in all areas and possibly good in some (55-59%)
or satisfactory/barely satisfactory in all areas (50-54%) including both demonstrating attainment of learning
objectives and the standards of scholarship to be expected of a Master’s student.
• Demonstration of satisfactory or barely satisfactory understanding of the subject
• Presentation and written English is satisfactory: mostly clear, some evidence of logical progression. Marks
in the lower range are likely to contain inaccuracies that are greater in number and more significant or
serious and flaws in structure that are more fundamental in nature. Marks at the lower end may contain a
greater number of inconsistencies in citation practice and the bibliography some more serious weaknesses in
composition.
• Some evidence of engagement in the relevant issues, but little originality and only occasional insight. Gaps
in understanding and knowledge; may not have addressed all aspects of the assignment. Marks at the lower
range may be rather crude in its interpretation and argumentative purpose/focus. Conscientious work and
attentive to subject matter and/or task set, but balanced more towards a descriptive rather than a critical,
analytical treatment. Marks in the lower range are more likely to offer insights that are more limited in scope
and sophistication.
• Draws on a satisfactory or barely satisfactory but limited range of sources. Some assessment of evidence,
but the latter may be simplistic and partial. Topics are mostly addressed but not always examined in sufficient
detail. Some use of examples, but for marks in the lower range these are not necessarily well-chosen or
employed.
Fail
A mark of 45 – 49% is a borderline fail and indicates work which demonstrates some degree of awareness,
knowledge, and understanding but not to the levels required to secure a pass mark and is barely satisfactory in a
few areas and weak in most others. The paper lacks a coherent, informative discussion by reference to the tasks
set; problems may relate to material content, level of argument, vagueness or inconsistency.
A mark of 40-44% indicates work which fails to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes and the
standards of scholarship to be expected of a Master’s student.
• Presentation is poor, and some errors likely to be serious, poor referencing, inadequate bibliography with
some serious errors; poorly structured and poor command of written English
• Poorly constructed arguments that lack sophistication. The work is only a partial response to the question,
showing some understanding of the topic and some relevant knowledge, but its treatment is basic,
unimaginative, and superficial. Grasp of key concepts is weak. Arguments employed are poorly evidenced
and/or contain flaws.
• Limited critical analysis: some evidence of reflection but it is partial and lacks insight. Critical application of
doctrinal rules and principles to problem fact scenarios is poor.
• Range of material and literature relied on is very limited and little attempt to assess evidence. Poorly chosen
or poorly employed examples. Lacking in sophistication or finesse. The work reflects a limited level of
engagement in wider reading.
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ASSESSMENT AND MARKING CRITERIA
A mark of 30 – 39% provides insufficient demonstration of learning outcomes to justify a pass grade and the
standard of scholarship is insufficient for a pass. There will be weaknesses in several areas and limited evidence of
reflection.
• Presentation is poor, lacking sufficient clarity, and a logical progression, with serious errors/inaccuracies.
Written English is of an unsatisfactory standard with too many serious errors present. Text may occasionally
be incomprehensible and will display significant flaws in spelling, grammar, and basic sentence/paragraph
composition. Citations and references are present but very limited and very poor. Bibliography is omitted,
partial or poorly structured.
• The argument presented is poor, containing some material of merit, but is only a partial attempt to address
the question and fails to answer the question fully or in a robust manner, with few (and mostly unsuccessful)
attempts to construct argument(s). Poor understanding of key issues or concepts. The treatment is mostly
descriptive.
• Whilst the work contains some evidence of criticality or analysis, it is too limited or partial or lacking in depth
to justify a pass. It will draw on a very limited range of sources. No real attempt to assess evidence. Examples
are occasionally provided but are poorly chosen and employed. Entirely lacking in sophistication or finesse.
The submission reflects a very limited level of engagement in wider reading and a limited confidence/ability in
the choice and use of evidence.
A mark below 29% will show that few, if any, of the learning outcomes have been met in, at best, a limited way.
The standard of scholarship is insufficient for a pass, with weaknesses in many or all areas. The work reflects at
best a very limited level of engagement in study on a more general level.
• Presentation will be very poor, lacking clarity and logical progression, with many serious or wholesale
inaccuracies. The standard of English will be very poor, with many serious flaws. Referencing will be very poor,
with citations almost or entirely absent.
• The work will contain little or no material of merit or relevance, revealing a paucity of – or no – understanding
of key issues or concepts. It will fail to address most or all aspects of the task or question set, and lacks any
sustained argument(s).
• The treatment is almost wholly descriptive and contains little or no evidence of a critical or analytical
engagement in the topic. The work will draw on a minimal range of sources and rarely goes beyond
paraphrasing bits of lecture notes or easily accessible web sources. There is no attempt to assess evidence.
Examples are very rarely provided, or not provided at all, and those that are very poorly employed.
Information about the process for completing the taught element of the LLM.
The Exam Board (which meets in late June or early July each year) will confirm that a student has satisfactorily
completed the taught component of the LLM course (that is, the course excluding the Dissertation, which is allo-
cated 40 credits) where the student has obtained an overall aggregate of at least 50% AND at least a pass mark
in all modules designated core for the course. A student may be issued a “compensated pass” for up to 40 credits
of taught modules in which the student has obtained a mark of at least 45% but less than 50% (which shall be
designated a compensated pass - i.e. no reassessment required) PROVIDED the student has obtained an overall
aggregate of at least 50% in the taught modules.
If these conditions are not met it is likely that the student will be referred to reassessment in some or all of their
Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law22 THE TAUGHT LLM ASSESSMENT AND MARKING CRITERIA modules. Reassessment is usually by way of coursework regardless of the original form of assessment. Students will be contacted in mid-July if they have been referred to reassessment, and given a NEW coursework title to work on. Students will be given at least four weeks to complete the reassessment. Results at reassessment are capped at 50% but the reassessed mark is shown on the Marks Statement. Reassessment courseworks will be due in late August and students may therefore be working on both their Dissertations and reassessment coursework at the same time. All students must pass their Dissertations – there are no compensated passes, although students are given an opportunity to be reassessed. Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law
23
PLAGIARISM AND COLLUSION
The University takes allegations of plagiarism or collusion seriously. Students who plagiarise or collude threaten the
values and beliefs that underpin academic work and devalue the integrity of the University’s awards, whether or not
such plagiarism or collusion is intentional. Where plagiarism and/or collusion has occurred, offenders may be punished,
and the punishment may extend to failing their degree, temporary suspension or permanent expulsion from further
study at the University. Suspected plagiarism and/or collusion, at any point of a student’s course, whether discovered
before or after graduation, will be investigated and dealt with appropriately by the University.
The UEA Law School Plagiarism Officer is: Dr Avidan Kent. Read the University Policy on Plagiarism and Collusion.
What is plagiarism?
Plagiarism is using someone else’s words or ideas without acknowledging those words or whose ideas they are,
and instead passing them off as your own. To avoid plagiarism, students will need to ensure that where they take an
idea from someone else (such as a book or article) they put a reference to that person’s work in a footnote and a
bibliography. Where a student quotes someone, he or she should put those words in quote marks and state where they
got those words from in a footnote and a bibliography.
Plagiarism can take the following forms:
• The reproduction, without acknowledgement, of work (including the work of fellow students), published
or unpublished, either verbatim or in close paraphrase. In this context, the work of others includes material
downloaded from computer files and the internet, discussions in seminars, ideas, text and diagrams from lecture
handouts.
• Poor academic practice which is unintentional.
• The reproduction, without acknowledgement, of a student’s own previously submitted work.
Plagiarism can occur in ‘open-book’ examinations and/or coursework assessments, which may take a variety of forms,
including, but not exclusively confined to, essays, reports, presentations, dissertations and projects.”
What is collusion?
Collusion is a form of plagiarism, involving unauthorised co-operation between at least two people. Various forms
of collaborative assessment undertaken in accordance with published requirements do not fall under the heading of
collusion.
Collusion can take the following forms:
• The conspiring by two or more students to produce a piece of work together with the intention that at least one
passes it off as his or her own work.
• The submission by a student of the work of another student, in circumstances where the latter has willingly given
the former the work and where it should be evident to the student giving the work that the other student would
submit it as their own. In this case both students are guilty of collusion.
• Unauthorised co-operation between a student and another person in the preparation and production of work
which is presented as the student’s own.
• The commissioning and submission of work as the student’s own, where the student has purchased or solicited
another individual to produce, work on the student’s behalf.
Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law24 PLAGIARISM AND COLLUSION (CONTINUED) The following is NOT intended as a substitute for the formal university policy but is here to give you an idea of what we mean and of the sorts of issues you might face. You will also receive training on this. Do I need to footnote every single fact or opinion I put in my essay? No, you do not. You only need to cite things that are the product of someone else’s research or thinking. You do not need to cite commonly known facts, or commonly held opinion. Thus, for example, you do not need to cite any sources to say that Rylands v Fletcher is a landmark case in the law of strict liability. If, however, you are saying that the test of strict liability the case formulated has, in general, not been followed in subsequent cases, and you got that idea from something you read, you need to footnote it. I read an article (or book, or case) which I really liked and which makes a lot of sense. I want to use some of what the author said, but I don’t want to plagiarise! What should I do? It is quite easy. Take the ideas you like from the source, put them in your essay, and at each point where you put one of those ideas in, add a footnote to the source. I read an article which makes a lot of sense and says everything so well! I can’t say it any better! What should I do? Take the portion you want to use, put it in quotation marks, and add a footnote to the source. The footnote by itself is not enough if you are copying the exact words – the quotation marks are essential. But remember, it is never a good idea to use too many or very long quotations in your work. If you have a series of paragraphs or sentences that are direct quotes, it will normally affect your mark as we are testing how well you can think and write. This article covers everything I need for my essay. Is it OK to take a lot of things from one article? This is generally not a good idea. Relying too much on one source is usually a sign that you have not done your research well enough, and that you need to read more. If the lecturer feels that you have relied too heavily on one source, it is going to affect your mark. From the point of view of avoiding plagiarism, though, what you need to do is separately footnote every idea and quote you take from that article in your work, even if this means six, seven or more footnotes to the same article on the same page. One general footnote, or a reference in the bibliography, is normally not going to be enough in such cases. Is it plagiarism to use something I found on the internet? Yes. Work on the internet – even a single tweet – is no different from other work, and must be acknowledged on exactly the same way you would acknowledge a journal article, book or other printed source. As a matter of fact, the footnoting guidelines on the intranet even tell you how to go about footnoting a webpage. My lecturer wrote something really cool in the handouts s/he gave us. Does that need to be footnoted? It really depends on what it was. If it is a common, well-known fact (see question 3 above), you probably do not need to footnote it. If it is a summarisation of someone else’s opinion, you need to cite the place where the person in question originally expressed their opinion. If it is something else, then you should cite the handout itself. In general, though, footnoting to a lecturer’s handout makes your work look sloppily researched. The ideas in the handout will normally be culled from the reading list for the lecture. Do the reading, and cite the source it was derived from. My lecturer said something really cool in class. Do I need to footnote that too? See the answer to the previous question. If it was a generally known fact (question 3 above explains this further) you do not need to footnote anything. If it was a reference to someone else’s opinion or to published literature, you need to hunt that down and cite that. This book/article is out of copyright. Do I still need to cite it? Yes, you do. Plagiarism is about using someone else’s ideas or research, and has very little to do with the law of copyright. Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law
25 PLAGIARISM AND COLLUSION (CONTINUED) I’m not using a published book or article, it’s an essay someone else wrote for a similar assignment. Is that ok? That has to be cited too. In general, any work which is not yours has to be cited. It does not matter who it is by, or whether or not it is published. An article I read discussed something which someone else said in a different article/book. Is it OK if I directly cite the second article/book, even though I haven’t read it? No, it is not. In your footnote, you must cite the second article or book, and specify that it was quoted or discussed in the first article/book. Plagiarism is not just taking someone else’s ideas or words, but also taking their research. If you directly cite the second article or book, it gives the impression that you went out and read it. If you did not, you should not give that impression. An article I read discussed a lot of cases. I can’t find those cases. Can I just cite them anyway, based on the article? See the answer to the previous question. You will need to cite the article, because the author of the article is the one who has done the research into the cases. I don’t have a footnote, but I did put the work in my bibliography. Is it plagiarism? Most certainly. The fact that the source was in your bibliography may lead to a slightly less strict punishment (or it may not – do not count on it), but it will still be treated as plagiarism. I have a question which isn’t covered here! Can I assume it’s OK and I won’t be plagiarising? No, you most certainly cannot! The examples here are illustrative, and are intended to cover the most common problems we come across. There are, of course, other ways in which plagiarism can occur, and you need to figure out for yourself whether or not something you are doing is plagiarism or not. We hope this document will help you, but it cannot be exhaustive. As a guide, always ask yourself: ‘Am I borrowing someone else’s ideas or words in any way? Am I taking the work someone else has done and giving the impression that I’ve done it myself?’ If the answer to either of these questions is ‘yes’, you are likely to be plagiarising unless you cite the source. Always remember – when in doubt, cite the source in a footnote! Over citing sources is always better (and more intellectually honest) than under citing. Remember, if in doubt, you can always check with your adviser, your seminar leader, the Senior Adviser, or the Course Director! You can access plagiarism awareness resources on the UEA Portal. Postgraduate-Taught Handbook www.uea.ac.uk/law
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