| Unit name | Environmental Law |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAWDM0013 |
| Credit points | 30 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Pieraccini |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
Not applicable |
| School/department | University of Bristol Law School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
This unit explores the foundations of environmental law by critically examining key environmental law concepts, institutions and regulatory approaches to protect the environment and promote sustainable development. Adopting a multi-level governance perspective, examples are provided from international law, EU law and domestic law. A law-in-context approach will be endorsed reflecting on how the law is shaped and is shaping policy, politics and contributing to environmental justice. Concrete examples of the ways in which the various principles and approaches are operational will be offered studying specific sectors in depth.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
The unit is a core unit of the LLM in Environment, Sustainability and Business, providing students with the foundational knowledge of environmental law and linking specifically with UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goals 6, 13,14,15 and 16. The unit links to the other core units in the programme (Legal Perspectives on Sustainability, Climate Law and Corporate Governance) and to other specialist units in the consideration of the theoretical and regulatory approaches to addressing the impacts of environmental law upon ecosystems, economies, and human health and wellbeing. It also serves as preparation for those interested in engaging in interdisciplinary research (in the dissertation and beyond) in this broad field.
Given the breath and cross-cutting nature of the unit, it is also an optional unit on all the other LLM programmes.
An overview of content
Topics studied include:
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
You will acquire substantive knowledge of environmental law frameworks as well as critical analytical skills to assess the legitimacy and effectiveness of environmental law frameworks. You will be able to hone your legal research and writing skills through the formative and summative assessments and have opportunities in seminars to develop your oral arguments and advocacy skills as well as improve your team-working skills by work collaboratively in groups of your peers.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit, a successful student will be able to:
The unit will be delivered through a mixture of lectures and seminars.
Lectures will seek to impart knowledge and develop understanding as well as encouraging individual critical thinking; group exercises in seminars will encourage critical assessment and evaluation. Students will be directed to read and sometimes watch and listen to relevant materials and class preparation may also require exercises, including research exercises, for instance. In interactive classes students will discuss and probe each other’s understanding and critical evaluation of materials taught. Classes will include reflections on the legal issues studied and their links to theoretical and societal concerns, supporting a law-in-context understanding.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Through teaching sessions and materials, you will be provided with a range of opportunities to develop your knowledge, understanding, critical thinking and analytical skills, as well as support in terms of undertaking appropriate research and approaching essay questions. Teaching sessions will offer different opportunities (including group work) for continuing feedback as you progress through the unit.
In addition, you will be able to do 1 x formative assessment comprised of an introduction of 300 words and an essay plan (max 1,000 words) released early in the term. You will receive formal written feedback on it alongside more generic feedback in teaching sessions. Collectively these activities are designed to prepare you for the summative exercise.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
1 x summative assessment comprised of a 4,000 word research essay. The assessment engages all ILO for this unit.
When assessment does not go to plan:
When a student fails the unit and is eligible to resubmit, the unit will be reassessed on a like-for-like basis with new assessment questions.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. LAWDM0013).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
