Module: Introducing Law

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Introducing Law
Module Code	LAW1010 (ITS: LG142)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	Law & Government
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	10

Description

: This module introduces students to important legal concepts and guides students on how to find, use, and understand key legal sources. The module equips students with important research skills that are fundamental in conducting legal research. It also focuses on developing essential transferable skills that will enable students to write, cite, and present legal arguments with clarity. On completion of the course, students will be equipped with essential research skills and be aware of the main foundations and features of both the common law legal system and the basic principles of Irish Law.

Learning Outcomes

1. 1E266894-F22D-0001-A3EA-87D5D410147B
2. Reference work according to strict academic standards
4. 7,15,6,13
5. 1
6. 1E266894-F8A0-0001-8F22-D12511101AA5
7. Describe, and explain foundational concepts in Law
9. 7,12,6,19
10. 2
11. 1E266895-0ADB-0001-5C7B-F6B03CFE14ED
12. Put forward an argument and use evidence to defend it
14. 22,17,20,7,16,8,14,11,9,10
15. 3
16. 1E266895-1959-0001-694E-D80DF26AC900
17. Analyse and evaluate others' arguments
19. 22,17,20,12,16,8,21,11,9,10
20. 4
21. 1E266895-2861-0001-56F6-17841A202A30
22. Apply knowledge to a novel puzzle, and in so doing create new knowledge
24. 22,17,20,12,16,15,8,21,11,9,10
25. 5
26. 1E266895-32DF-0001-5A91-1C10A0101CA1
27. Gather and apply data to questions in law
29. 22,17,20,7,12,16,15,6,13,8,19,21,14,11,9,10
30. 6

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	10	No Description
Tutorial	10	No Description
Assignment Completion	36	No Description
Directed learning	10	No Description
Independent Study	184	No Description
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	10881	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	100%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Andrew Forde	Module Teacher	James Gallen, Tanya Ní Mhuirthile

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Group presentation	Students are paired randomly within their tutorial group at the outset of the module. At the beginning of each tutorial one group presents a discussion of a court case that is currently reported in the press. They follow this presentation with a short 150 words reflection in a journal entry on Loop. Students will not receive a grade for this, but it is based on pass/ fail. To pass they need to have arrive prepared at the tutorial to present their case and submit the written	5%	n/a
Completion of online activity	Each week, students are set six tasks they must complete. This includes watching lectures, attending workshops (when relevant), reading the assigned reading, preparing responses to tutorial questions, posting 100 words in the journal in response to the tutorial questions and participating in the tutorial. They will be awarded 1% per week for successful completion of these tasks.	10%	n/a
Loop Quiz	Students must complete an online quiz focused on correct use of the OSCOLA citation system	25%	n/a
Essay	Students must complete a 1000 word essay casenote on an assigned case.	60%	Week 6

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

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Indicative Reading List

Books:

Tanya Ní Mhuirthile, Catherine O’Sullivan and Liam Thornton: 2016, Fundamentals of the Irish Legal System: Law Policy and Politics, 1, Thomson Roundhall, Dublin,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None