THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2019/2020

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Law : Law

Postgraduate Course: Human Rights Clinic (LAWS11410)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Law CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe objective of the course is to enable students, primarily through research, discussion, writing and presentation in a practical setting, to acquire a thorough knowledge of advanced human rights protection at the national and international level. Through a strong link to professional human rights practice it will develop students¿ capacity to critically analyse how the human rights system works and the demands that it places upon the various actors, including civil society, government, legislatures and stakeholders. It builds upon the foundations delivered in International Human Rights Law.
Course description The Teaching Programme will include:

* Presentation of the Human Rights Clinic, allocation of research and writing continuous assessment exercises and timeline of deliverables
* National and international legal framework for the protection of human rights and children¿s rights.
* National policy frameworks for human rights and children¿s rights.
* The legal background of the project: Legal research and theory ¿ exploration of legal materials and allocation of project components to students.
* The role of NGOs in international advocacy and casework.
* Project Investigation ¿ evidence gathering, legal research and drafting the skeleton submission
* First draft of submission and student reflection
* Review and discussion of initial draft
* Feedback and discussion of the final draft
* Submission of final draft, oral presentation and question time
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2019/20, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  20
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 20, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 176 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Formative Assessment (does not contribute towards overall mark):«br /»
* A literature review (1000 words) underpinning the ultimate group written submission and presentation. «br /»
«br /»
Summative Assessment: «br /»
* Short Research Briefs = 30% of overall mark«br /»
* Presentations = 30% of overall mark«br /»
* Group Paper (5000 words) = 40% of overall mark
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. A critical understanding of the principle theories and concepts underpinning human rights law.
  2. A critical awareness of the current issues related to human rights on the micro and macro levels.
  3. A thorough understanding of how human rights law law sits in the broader context of international law and national law and policy development.
Reading List
Journal articles will be the primary assigned readings. The following is an indicative list of journal titles, to which the library already holds a subscription:

* American Journal of International Law
* Canadian Human Rights Yearbook
* Columbia Human Rights Law Review
* Harvard Human Rights Journal
* Harvard International Law Journal
* Human Rights Case Digest
* Human Rights Law Review
* Human Rights Quarterly
* European Journal of International Law
* European Journal of International Relations
* International and Comparative Law Quarterly
* International Journal of Constitutional Law
* International Journal of Human Rights
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills 1. Communication of complex legal issues to a range of audiences, including non-legal audiences.
2. Advanced written and oral communication of complex legal issues.
3. Plan and execute a research project utilising practice-relevant materials.
4. Critical legal analysis.
5. Identify and conceptualise contemporary problems and issues in terms of law and the pressures of societal opinion.
6. Navigate international jurisprudence databases, particularly the UN Human Rights documents databases.
7. Individual assessed work will allow the students to exercise personal autonomy and professional delivery of research findings.
8. Advanced critical research and communication skills.
9. Students will be able to plan and execute a research project both in a group and individual setting.
10. Advanced practical application of the law will be acquired through the course in both group projects and individual research.
KeywordsHuman Rights,Legal Framework,Policy
Contacts
Course organiserDr Kasey McCall-Smith
Tel: (0131 6)51 4524
Email: kasey.mccall-smith@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Kevin Duckworth
Tel: (0131 6)50 2002
Email: Kevin.Duckworth@ed.ac.uk
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