Modern Legal Controversies

Overview

Law develops essentially by two means; legislation and case law. The latter is uniquely important in the English legal system, as large areas of law have been developed primarily by judges, with comparatively little legislative input. Even if legislation is passed, much of it contains ambiguities (sometimes deliberately!), and it is the role of the judiciary to establish the meaning of the words used, and the intention of Parliament. In theory, the judiciary merely interprets and applies existing law, but in practice much of English Law is judge-made. Does the law keep pace with social and political change, particularly as judges traditionally come from a narrow stratum of society?

Since 1945, the volume and variety of legislation has increased vastly. Governments must be seen to be ‘doing something’ in response to public concerns, if only in pursuit of electoral advantage. In consequence, legislation may be pushed through in a hurry without sufficient thought. International law, though not necessarily binding at domestic level, is a further element. This course looks at the way the law has developed in various areas of controversy, the context of this development, and the position at present. 

We begin by looking at the ways in which the law develops (Week 1), followed by a topic of controversy each week.

Programme details

Course starts Tuesday 30 September 2025

This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Tuesdays, 2-4pm.

Week 1: How law develops – is English law judge-made?

Week 2: Covid and the law – lockdowns and movement restrictions

Week 3: Getting rid of a Prime Minister

Week 4: Balancing privacy and freedom of speech

Week 5: Decriminalising abortion

Week 6: Modernising the House of Lords

Week 7: Assisted dying

Week 8: Removing royal titles

Week 9: At what stage in criminal proceedings should suspects be named?

Week 10: Miscarriages of justice

Digital Certification

Academic credit

Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS Points)

Please note, students who do not register for assessment and accreditation during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun. If you wish to gain credit from completing this course you must register to do so before the course starts.

Only those who have registered for assessment and accreditation will be awarded CATS points for completing work to the required standard. Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail.

Learn more about the Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme.

If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education at the Department you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee for assessment and accreditation.

Digital certificate of completion 

Students who are registered for assessment and accreditation and pass their final assignment will also be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Information on how to access the digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course attended. You will be able to download the certificate and share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Fees

Description Costs
Course fee (with no assessment) £300.00
Assessment and Accreditation fee £60.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. See details of our concessionary fees for short courses.

 

Tutor

Miss Ann Lyon

Ann Lyon was educated at the Universities of Newcastle, York and Durham before training as a solicitor. She has been passionate about history for, literally, as long as she can remember, and developed a particular interest in Constitutional History during the 25 years she spent teaching Law. She is also keenly interested in current affairs - the more controversial the issue, the better!

Course aims

  • To introduce students to the way in which law develops and is shaped by events and the ideas of its time in a range of areas of particular controversy.
  • To examine the ways in which law is made, enforced and changed.
  • To consider the factors influencing the development of the law.

Teaching methods

One two-hour session each week, comprising:

  • A one-hour lecture
  • A one-hour seminar

Additional reading:

As this course deals with very topical issues, there is a limited amount of material available in the form of books and journals. In consequence, students will be expected to read the following available online, in addition to newspaper articles:

  • Case reports
  • Parliamentary debates

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will have been given the opportunity to have learnt how to:

  • analyse the state of the law in specific areas and the factors underlying it;
  • understand the interplay between politics and the law; and
  • understand the mechanisms by which law is enforced, and their limitations.

Assessment methods

Only those students who have registered for assessment and accreditation, in advance of the course start date, can submit coursework/assignments for assessment.

Assessment

One essay of 1,500 words.

Application

How to enrol

Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.

How to register for accreditation and assessment

To be able to submit coursework and to earn credit (CATS points) for this course, if you wish to do so, you will need to register and pay an additional £60 fee. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. 

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun.

If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education at the Department you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

Level and demands

The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, ie first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.