This module introduces students to the system of Welsh devolution including Welsh law. Students will gain an understanding of the legal nature as well as the powers and responsibilities of the Welsh Government and of the National Assembly for Wales. This module also facilitates the understanding of the broader constitutional issues associated with devolution and draws comparisons between the devolved institutions in the United Kingdom.

On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:

1. Explain the functions and powers of the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Government.

2. Demonstrate awareness of devolution arrangements across the United Kingdom.

3. Explain the relationship between a body of law and relevant political, economic, social and cultural issues for the purposes of contributing to a contemporary legal debate on Welsh Devolution, with reference to appropriate primary and secondary materials.

4. Explain the political, legal, social and/or philosophical context of the evolution of Devolution in Wales, with particular reference to the influence of academic research/commentary, policy documents, official consultations, judicial decisions and legislative debates.

Teaching on this module consists of a combination of workshops and seminars.

Intellectual Skills

Without prior instruction, use a range of set primary and secondary legal materials to identify the legal rules relevant to a particular legal problem or contemporary legal debate and any law reform proposals which might inform a written essay or oral discussion of a topic.

Build on basic knowledge of a legal topic by independently identifying supplementary primary and secondary legal sources and applying them in a written essay or report, the presentation of an informed oral opinion, or in a written or oral response to a problem scenario.

Evaluate the success and/or shortcomings of an area of law in relation to taught policy perspectives and wider social/contextual issues and identify areas where law reform might be needed.

Use official publications, academic research and commentaries presented in a variety of formats in the construction of an argument relevant to a contemporary legal debate.

Practical Skills

Use appropriate legal research databases to identify independently primary and secondary materials of relevance to a topic for the purposes of supplementing reading lists and taught materials.

Produce written work on an independently researched topic which is accurately informed by appropriate primary and secondary materials.

Make a spontaneous or pre-prepared oral contribution to a tutorial or seminar group discussion on a taught topic that is coherent, substantiated by reference to primary and/or secondary materials and takes into account different perspectives

Present, alone or as part of a group, the basic legal elements of a new topic, as well as the key issues raised by the topic, to peers and produce a written summary of the legal rules and debates for the use of other students. The presentation and legal summary should equip students to respond to a relevant doctrinal question or plan an essay on the topic.

Transferrable Skills

Prepare and give an oral presentation (e.g. in the context of a tutorial or seminar group discussion) and provide clear and accurate supporting materials in an appropriate format.

Reflect on their own learning, identify gaps in their knowledge and describe the limitations imposed by knowledge gaps.

Use electronic methods for research and demonstrate general competency in IT skills when preparing and presenting written material.

Coursework I 50% (1500 words)

Coursework II 50% (1500 words)

Areas of study typically include:

•          Legal history of Wales

•          Devolution legislation

•          Administrative and executive devolution

•          Legislative devolution

•          Powers and functions of the Welsh Government

•          Legislative competence of the National Assembly for Wales

•          Supreme Court and Welsh devolution

•          Welsh jurisdiction

•          Constitutional change in the UK

• Details of the recommended texts will be available at the beginning of the module.

As well as completing essential reading tasks in preparation for tutorials or seminars, students are encouraged to engage in further reading to enhance their learning.  Further reading lists will be made available over the course of the module.