| Unit name | Socio-Legal Studies |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAWD30122 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Cowan |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | University of Bristol Law School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Socio-legal studies has emerged as an important set of diverse approaches to the study of legal phenomena over the past thirty or forty years. The general concerns of socio-legal studies are about the practical operation of law in society and how society is reflected in law. From a diverse range of disciplinary perspectives, socio-legal approaches usually do one or more of the following (all of which go well beyond traditional doctrinal analysis): 1) they study 'law in action' as opposed to 'law in the books', often emphasising the gap between the two; 2) they investigate the place of law in relation to other social institutions: for example, what is the role of law in the workplace, or how does law shape family dynamics, or what effect does law have on local government?; 3) they consider law in the context of broader social theories, for example, those of Marx, Weber, Durkheim or Foucault.
By the end of the unit, a successful student will be able to:
a) illustrate a general familiarity with a range of different sociological approaches to law
b) select the most appropriate theoretical and methodological approaches for their own research in sociology of law
c) understand and apply different sociological theories and empirical to key areas of law
d) apply core debates over research methods and research ethics to practical research questions.
Students should be able to summarise theoretical tenets accurately, to contrast and compare theoretical principles from different theorists and approaches, and to think critically about the implications each theory has for law and legal institutions in a modern context.
The first coursework essay will test their understanding of the conceptual dimensions of the theories they have learnt, while the second will support them in developing a research proposal that will apply selected theories and approaches to a particular legal area of interest to them.
Ten 2 hour seminars and a one-hour introductory lecture, plus enhancement sessions.
Two summative pieces of coursework of 2,000 words, the first contributing 40% to the final mark and the second contributing 60% to the final mark. Students will also have the opportunity to submit one formative essay.
