LAW37480 Personal Rights and the Law

Academic Year 2019/2020

This module considers topical issues in relation to personal rights. It does this by focussing in particular on gender and sexual orientation and on their treatment in Irish law. Some aspects of the legal discrimination encountered by women and the LGBT community historically are examined at the beginning of the module, setting the scene for an examination of contemporary issues. Among the potential issues covered by the module are the impact of judicial decisions in facilitating (or preventing) social change, the legal regulation of prostitution, the law on surrogacy, transgender rights and hate crime, and reforming sexual offences trials.

Students choosing this module should be aware that this module is taught by seminar rather than by lecture. There will be weekly assigned reading which all students are expected to discuss in a supportive and respectful environment. There are marks for weekly attendance and participation in the seminars. Participation means meaningful contribution to the seminars that demonstrates thorough reading and engagement with the literature. Each student will research and deliver an oral presentation to the class. There will also be a research assignment of 3,000 words.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
• Analyse some of the legal mechanisms used historically to subjugate women and members of the LGBT community.
• Identify trends in the changing treatment of women and LGBT people and remaining challenges to the achievement of equality.
• Engage with critiques of current Irish law as it affects particular groups in society.
• Suggest and appraise reforms of the law regulating issues covered in the module.
• Demonstrate the ability to research and deliver a presentation.
• Demonstrate improved independent research skills.

Indicative Module Content:

Among the potential issues covered by the module are the historical subjugation of women and LGBT people, the impact of judicial decisions in facilitating (or preventing) social change, the legal regulation of prostitution, the law on surrogacy, transgender rights and hate crime, and reforming sexual offences trials.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Seminar (or Webinar)

24

Specified Learning Activities

30

Autonomous Student Learning

96

Total

150

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Advance reading and in-class discussion
Debates
Student presentations
Persuasive writing 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

LAW10050 Constitutional Frameworks and LAW10060 Constitutional Rights


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Attendance: Participation and attendance Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

10

Assignment: Research project - 3000 words Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

70

Presentation: Class presentation Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

20


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback is provided individually to students on the in-class presentations, which count for 20% of the grade in this module. The presentations are linked to the content of the research project, so the feedback should be of assistance to students in completing their written work. Students should also note that the in-class discussions that occur in seminars present an opportubity for feedback on student ideas, both from the lecturer and from peers. Individual feedback is also available on the written projects after the release of final results.