Foundations in Law 5 - GDL - LAW00109H
- Department: The York Law School
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: H
- Academic year of delivery: 2025-26
Module summary
This module enables students considering qualification as a solicitor or barrister to study the seven foundations of legal knowledge subjects, being: Criminal Law; Equity and Trusts; Contract; Tort; Property/Land Law; Public Law; and the Law of the European Union Law, and develop a range of essential skills applicable to legal practice.
Related modules
The Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) is solely focused on the seven foundations of English and Welsh law that are defined by the Bar Standards Board in the context of its academic component for professional qualification and which subjects are also a major component of the Solicitors Regulation Authority's Solicitor Qualification examinations. The GDL therefore comprises 6 Foundations in Law modules (numbered 1 to 6, and denoted "GDL"), all of which are core and thus compulsory.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 2 2025-26 |
Module aims
This module enables you to develop your understanding of key legal institutions, key areas of law (the foundation subject areas of: Criminal Law; Equity and Trusts; Contract; Tort; Property/Land Law; Public Law; and the Law of the European Union Law, and their interrelationships. You will develop skills in problem-based learning, the core learning methodology, as well as key academic and practical legal skills including problem analysis; legal research; the application of law to legal problems; the critical evaluation of the law; and the development of reasoned arguments. You will also develop oral and written communication skills in the context of law and legal advice.
Module learning outcomes
1. Demonstrate a positive and significant contribution to your learning and development, and those of others, through regular attendance and active participation in learning activities in GDL Foundations PBL workshops.
2. Critically analyse facts in a range of scenarios to identify key facts, client and stakeholder interests, and legal issues
3. Systematically identify and critically evaluate primary and secondary legal sources located through the application of advanced research strategies
4. Critically and systematically analyse concepts and principles of the foundation subjects of English law, the relationships between them, and interests, perspectives and contexts relevant to law
5. Apply principles and rules of law to develop comprehensive, reasoned and sophisticated analyses of, and solutions to, legal problems
6. Communicate, in a structured and coherent manner, and with high levels of clarity and precision, orally and in writing, the results of your research and work, advising on evidenced arguments and reasoned solutions
7. Demonstrate a deep and systematic understanding of the foundation subjects of English law
Module content
The foundation subjects and wider learning outcomes will be developed principally through problem-based learning, working in student law firms under the guidance of a tutor. Students will also have opportunities to develop skills in providing legal advice for clients.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 50 |
| Essay/coursework | 50 |
Special assessment rules
None
Additional assessment information
Formative opportunities available through:
- PBL activities, in which students can, with support, analyse, research and discuss the law that applies to scenarios and problems of the type that will form the assessment; and
- advising activities, in which students will develop skills in providing advice for clients on legal issues.
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 50 |
| Essay/coursework | 50 |
Module feedback
Students will be provided with individual feedback in writing on their assessment submissions, within the University's Turnaround Time.
Indicative reading
Foundations in Law 5 - GDL has a problem-based learning methodology. This does not involve the use of 'reading lists' in the conventional sense. A range of texts relating to the foundations subject areas of legal learning, namely Criminal Law; Equity and Trusts; Contract; Tort; Property/Land Law; Public Law; and the Law of the European Union Law, are available to students through the Law Trove resource to which YLS subscribes.