This is a skills-based course intended for students new to the study of law at a tertiary level or new to the study of law in a common law jurisdiction. The course aims to:

• introduce students to the concept of law, the study of law and the role of legal skills in the law degree;
• familiarise students with the way the law operates in common law jurisdictions;
• develop students' ability to read and analyse common law cases;
• develop students' ability to interpret statutes and constitutional documents;
• develop students' legal research skills;
• develop students' legal writing skills.

The skills developed during this course will remain relevant throughout students’ academic careers, particularly during the study of ‘black letter’ law subjects. LLB and JD students are co-taught.

Continuous Assessment: 50%

Examination: 50%

Examination Duration: 2.5 hours

Grading of Student Achievement: Standard (A+, A, A-…F).

Further details of the assessment scheme will be provided during the first lecture.

Students will need to pay careful attention to their time management skills, and to the university's Academic Honesty policy:
http://www.cityu.edu.hk/provost/academic_honesty/rules_on_academic_honesty.htm

To pass this course students must obtain an aggregate mark of 40% and a minimum of 30% in each of the continuous assessment and the examination components of the assessment. Continuous assessment for this purpose means all activities and assignments other than the end of semester examination.

School Policy on Late Submission of Assessment Tasks

Unless there are valid extenuating circumstances under the Academic Regulations, late submission of coursework shall attract the following penalty: deduction of 5 marks (out of 100) for every single day (including public holidays) of delay up to maximum 7 days. Papers received later than 7 days of the submission deadline shall not be marked and will receive zero marks.

No penalty for late submission will be imposed in cases where a student can submit only a hard or soft copy of the coursework assignment by the specified deadline and provides an explanation to the course leader.