Program Overview

Laws' Connections (LAWS0008)

Key Information

• Faculty: Faculty of Laws
• Teaching department: Laws
• Credit value: 0
• Restrictions: This course is only available to Year 1 Undergraduate students in the Faculty of Laws.

Alternative Credit Options

There are no alternative credit options available for this module.

Description

This induction course is designed to introduce students to basic legal structures, pervasive legal concepts, and important legal skills, while also giving them a sense of what legal academics find most stimulating and important about the study of law. Looking at law through a social issue (such as climate change or the gig economy), students will engage in group work, critical and creative thinking, and careful reading of cases, academic articles, and legislation.

Laws' Connections has two elements:

1. Introduction to the Study of Law: Designed to familiarize students with the basic structures of the English legal system and introduce them to basic legal and study skills and methodologies. It includes pre-course preparation (around 10-15 hours) and a series of lectures in the first two weeks of term.
2. Case Studies: Students will take one case study in their first two weeks at UCL. Case studies usually include:

• Climate Change
• Fake News and Falsehoods
• Home and Family
• Homelessness
• The 2008 Financial Crises
• The Gig Economy
• Medical Accidents In the case studies, students will think critically about the role of lawyers and law in addressing significant social problems. The case studies will introduce students to important legal ideas and concepts, and also important legal skills - they will read their first cases, statutes, academic articles, as well as policy work and government publications. Students will also discuss ideas with other students and tutors in tutorial-type groups, write a short piece of work, and contribute to a short presentation.

Module Deliveries for 2026/27 Academic Year

• Intended teaching term: Term 1
• Undergraduate (FHEQ Level 4)

Teaching and Assessment

• Mode of study: In person
• Methods of assessment: 100% Other form of assessment
• Mark scheme: Pass/Fail

Other Information

• Number of students on module in previous year: 237
• Module leader: Professor Michael Veale

Last Updated

This module description was last updated on 10th March 2026.