Module manager: Dr Chloe Wallace
Email: c.j.wallace@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
A-level or equivalent in French, German or Spanish
LAW1255 European Constitutional Systems LAW2655 European Legal Systems
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module is a compulsory module on the LLB law with languages programmes. It is intended to introduce students to the different legal systems, legal cultures and educational systems which they will be studying during their year abroad, and to help them develop skills and strategies to learn effectively in that context.
The overall objective of this module is to introduce students to the different dimensions of the experience of studying law abroad: the different legal system; the different legal culture, including different approaches to legal reasoning; and the different political and social context. This will be done within the general framework of comparative methods as a way of understanding the relationship between the target legal system and the system of England and Wales. The learning of comparative method will be connected to legal cultures and socio-political contexts in such a way as to help students learn how such contexts impact the way in which research is done in law. The module is taught by means of lectures and workshops in order to introduce students to the history and culture of European legal systems, and to allow them to work collaboratively to access and read primary sources in the target language and produce comparative analyses of key features of the relevant legal systems.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
To analyse some key features of the legal systems of France, Germany or Spain in their legal cultural context.
To explain the legal dimensions of a contemporary political or social controversy in France, Germany or Spain.
To explain and apply comparative law principles.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
Manage a complex project, setting realistic goals and deadlines
Frame complex comparative law questions clearly, using comparative method to approach them.
Adapt communication styles to suit different audiences, including legal professionals and non-specialists.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| Private study hours | 180 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
180
A formal formative assessment opportunity will be provided for the summative assessment task, which is specifically pedagogically aligned to that task. As part of this, each student will receive feedback designed to support the development of knowledge and skills that will be later assessed in the summative task.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Coursework | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
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