LLB Law with Economics

This module introduces students to microeconomics, macroeconomics and the context of economic analysis. Students will get a good grounding in microeconomic theory and will understand the principles used in mainstream rational choice and perfect competition theory.

The course will cover preference theory, demand and supply, income and substitution effects, cost and revenue curves, perfect competition and partial equilibrium theory. The focus here is the internal consistency of neoclassical microeconomics as exemplified in rational choice theory and competitive markets, and its use of logic. Arguments showing the context and limited nature of neoclassical economic tools in explaining the economic and social reality will be discussed throughout these weeks. 

Then students will be taught topics of macroeconomics. In this section, the focus will be on the following specific concepts: national accounting, inflation, unemployment and business cycles. The analysis of these concepts will be through the use of contemporary schools of economic thought (New Classical, New Keynesian, Post Keynesian, and Monetarist) and their analytical frameworks. By viewing these concepts through these different frameworks, the student is introduced into open-ended discussions on these topics as different answers are equally valid as long as students can clearly identify the theoretical frameworks that he/she is using.

Finally, students then will learn about the social, political and business context of economic theory through the discussion of case studies and real-world examples.

21st-century lawyers need to be equipped with a dynamic mix of critical thinking and practical legal skills, as well as a sound understanding of how new technologies are beginning to impact on professional settings, legal research and legal analysis. 

This module will introduce you to the use of legal databases, academic referencing and other key writing and research conventions in the discipline. It covers:

• concepts of big data and AI (artificial intelligence), and how these can be deployed to construct legal cases
• the development and use of digital communications, social media, electronic videos and blogs appropriate for legal professionals
• writing conventions from across the curriculum, notably creative writing techniques which will allow you to use the English language with care and accuracy
• the art of public speaking and principles of negotiation and mediation
• law firms as businesses and relevant etiquette
• key principles of comparative law
• practical legal skills including client interviewing, advocacy/persuasive oral communication, case analysis and legal drafting 

You will have opportunities to learn from leading personalities in Law and high-impact professionals and the module will draw on Goldsmiths' unique tradition of excellence in the arts and humanities, and the dynamic network of academics and legal experts collaborating with Law at Goldsmiths.

The module is assessed through a written portfolio which may include advocacy exercises or simulated negotiations and mediation; provision of written advice to a fictional client; producing a case comment or bibliographical list; researching and writing blog posts; researching and drafting skeleton argument; preparing legal bundles in the context of mooting exercises.

This module will explain the principles of English Contract Law, covering everything from the formation of a contract to the remedies available for breach. It will identify key questions and issues underlying the philosophy of Contract Law, drawing on the latest research in the field. 

Case studies will extend to niche and contemporary developments such as smart contracts (for example a computer code capable of monitoring, executing and enforcing an agreement), negotiating complex, highly lucrative, contracts (such as in multi-million television rights deals in sport or ‘on demand’ television) or studying the formation of contractual duties in the context of specialised art market transactions.

Where relevant, you will also be introduced to examples from the Contract Law of foreign jurisdictions, inviting you to reflect on cross-cultural differences and similarities in practice and in relation to wider theoretical principles.

This module critically explores the definition, scope and application of criminal offences and the theories that underpin them. You will gain a systematic understanding of the practical, cultural, ethical, institutional and socio-political context within which these apply, with reference to feminist and human rights perspectives. Analysis will be continually informed by reference to criminalisation theories, with a view to identifying, and critically reflecting upon, liberal or more conservative interpretations. The need for reform will be critically assessed from a normative and practical, evidence-based, perspective.

We will explore themes such as general principles of criminal liability, homicide offences and non-fatal violent offences against the person, sexual offences, property offences and secondary participation in crime. Key discussions will include engagement with police station procedure and suspects’ rights, prosecutorial discretion, pleas, pre-trial hearings, and trial procedure including the exclusion of improperly obtained evidence.

The key aspects of criminal law theory that you will cover in the module are in line with relevant qualifying exam guidance, particularly the SQE1. The module also incorporates activities such as guest lectures and workshops delivered by criminal justice professionals, study visit(s) to the Old Bailey and/or local Magistrates and Crown Court, participation in relevant VR experiences and observation of/participation in mock Crown Court trial and mooting.

This module introduces the theoretical principles, institutional structures and legal practices that underpin Constitutional and Administrative Law in the UK, and their intricate relationship with human rights law.

You will develop a contextual understanding of this area, with significant emphasis on the constitutional crisis generated by Brexit. Through this you will explore fundamental constitutional law concepts from the angle of the current ‘political crisis’: parliamentary sovereignty; the Royal Prerogative; the relationship between the House of Commons and House of Lords; the separation of powers; the role of the UK Supreme Court in constitutional matters and challenges to judicial independence; devolution; the absence of a written Constitution. 

Significant emphasis is placed on the effect of the Human Rights Act on common law doctrines in public law. You will investigate the links between Brexit and the debate on the repeal of the Human Rights Act from a historic and socio-legal perspective, with direct reference to Eurosceptic and isolationist trends in the UK. The module also examines the range of public law processes that regulate the relationship between the individual and the state, with a focus on judicial review.

To bridge the gap between theory and practice, the module integrates research and public engagement activities undertaken as part of the ‘Britain in Europe’ think tank and ‘Knowing Our Rights’ (KOR) research project. This may involve meeting MPs, select committee and ‘Britain in Europe’ experts; attending research events; taking part in human rights workshops delivered at local schools as part of KOR (selected groups of students); visiting Parliament, when in session, or attending select committee hearings.

As part of the assessment strategy for this module you will have the opportunity to take part in a simulated parliamentary debate.

One of the paradoxes of the EU referendum in the UK, and the decision to leave the European Union, was that EU law has become overnight a hotly debated and controversial area of law, and one that future lawyers practising in the UK will need to continue to master, arguably for years, if not decades, to come (whereas in the past, EU law was often devoid of attention, at the socio-political landscape at least). The Law programme at Goldsmiths takes a novel and dynamic approach to teaching this area of Law, fully equipping future lawyers with the knowledge and skills that you will be required to possess, at a time when the UK has disentangled itself from thousands of pieces of EU legislation and designed domestic legislation to substitute for them.

The ‘EU Law and the UK’ module will introduce you to the key EU institutions and EU law fundamental principles, for example with regards to the legislative mechanisms by which EU law is produced and incorporated in Member States, and the relationship between EU law and domestic law. But it will take you further than that. It will place the operation of EU law in the UK in its, critical, historical and current socio-political context, asking whether the often-obscure institutional mechanisms and characteristics central to EU law played a part in, or actually facilitated, the negative representations to which it was subjected in British media.

The EU referendum will be examined as a case study for the analysis of Eurosceptic challenges facing the application of EU law today in several EU member states, with a view to suggesting avenues for enhancing transparency and accessibility of EU law and its institutions. It will take a forward-looking approach, exposing you to challenges and opportunities concerning the UK’s future relationship with the EU, e.g. in relation to future trade agreements, citizens’ rights, free movement etc.

To achieve the above, the module will take you outside and beyond the classroom, bringing you in contact with key players in current debates on EU law e.g. MPs, Members of European Parliament (MEPs), Human Rights NGO experts, policymakers and members of EU institutions. This will be in the context of: (a) guest lectures by visiting fellows in the Goldsmiths law programme and EU officials; Law at Goldsmiths is privileged to count MEPs and key European policy experts amongst its fellows; (b) participation in research and public engagement events organized at Goldsmiths and in legal London; (c) participation in simulation-based activity, e.g. regarding EU-UK negotiations, or EU trilogies between the key institutional parties.

This module provides an introduction to a complex area of law, which forms part of the foundations of legal knowledge in UK law. It will take areas of certainty, based in statutory law, as its starting point, and will expose you to modern developments underpinned by case law.

Key themes include:

• registration of title
• the transfer of freehold land
• adverse possession
• consecutive and concurrent interests in land
• co-ownership
• leasehold estates
• mortgages
• easements
• protection of interests in land
• registered land and unregistered land

Special workshops led by legal professionals will address aspects of functioning legal knowledge relevant to Land Law, in line with the requirements of the new solicitors qualifying examination (SQE).

This module equips students with a sound understanding of, and the ability to critically analyse and apply, the theories underpinning the law of Tort. It introduces students to the concepts of civil wrongs and injuries, compensation, the protecting of interests in property, reputation and personal freedom.

Key themes will include: the law of negligence (where students will explore key concepts such as omissions and acts of third parties, duty of care, standard of care, breach of duty of care), special liability regimes (occupiers’ liability, product liability, employers’ liability, breach of statutory duty), personal torts (invasion of privacy and defamation), land torts (trespass), vicarious liability and damages for death and personal injuries.

The module will offer students opportunities to engage with the intellectually challenging philosophical questions which define how far liability under Tort should extend, for example the extent to which a person should be vicariously held accountable for the mistakes of others or whether liability should be negligence-based or stricter. It will also expose students to international and foreign law perspectives, placing English law in a global context. European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence will provide a key point of reference, concerning human rights violations by states and businesses.

This module introduces the idiosyncratic concept of Trusts in English law. You will be exposed to the philosophies that underpin the institution of Trusts, and invited to think critically about the application of Trusts in practice, some of which raise significant ethical concerns, such as their application in the context of tax havens. 

Key themes include the creation and recognition of trusts, the regulation of trusts, trusts and third parties, and equity.

Special workshops led by legal professionals will address aspects of functioning legal knowledge relevant to Equity and Trusts, with a focus on Wills and the Administration of Estates and Trusts, in line with the requirements of the new solicitors qualifying examination (SQE).

In this module, you'll learn to place international law within its political context. You will consider how international relations and politics impact on the contours of international law, and how international law can be used as a tool for conducting international relations.

It asks the following questions: is international law really law or is it a mere continuation of politics? How does international law affect how we live in the UK? Is Palestine a State? Can Catalonia or Scotland lawfully breakaway from, respectively, Spain and the UK? Is the ICJ an independent Court or is it controlled by States? Is international law patriarchal? Is it inclusive of the global South? Or does it merely represent the views of the ‘West’, of the rich and powerful? To explore these questions, the module provides a brief introduction to the theory and nature of international law. The nature of some political ideologies is explored with reference to their consequences for international law and in particular on international institutions, security and today’s global issues.

You will:

• Investigate how political ideologies shape various conceptions of international law and its sources
• Explore which entities can pretend to the status of State, the politics involved in the recognition of new states, as well as the implications of the principle of self-determination for groups seeking independence
• Explore the role of international organisations and non-State actors and entities such as individuals, corporations or military factions in international law
• Look at the politics of dispute settlement, the legitimacy of the use of private justice and examine the political dimension of the ICJ’s jurisdiction
• Look at the relationship between domestic and international law

To achieve the above, you'll be taken outside and beyond the classroom, getting contact with key players such as NGO experts, policymakers and members of international institutions. This will be in the context of e.g. (a) guest lectures by visiting fellows in the Goldsmiths law programme and other officials; (b) study visits or other involvement with London based UN agencies such as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees UK, the UN Global Compact Network UK or the IMO; (c) participation in simulation-based activity (model UN activities, participation in international law moots such as the Jessup).

This module will be beneficial because of the ever-widening reach of international law, there is a growing demand for practitioners and in-house lawyers with knowledge of the field. In addition, this module will be of appeal to those interested in a career in foreign affairs and the public service, the UN and other inter-governmental organisations as well as the NGO sector.

This module builds on the first year module, Introductory Economics, by discussing, in depth, key theoretical insights from alternative schools of economic thought. This objective is achieved by focusing on a canon of key texts in the history of the subject, and tracing the evolution of the ideas emanating from, or strongly related to these texts, through time. The five main texts analysed are: Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations, David Ricardo’s Principles of Political Economy and Taxation, Alfred Marshall’s Principles of Economics, Wicksell’s Interest and Prices and John Maynard Keynes’ The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money. Each text is used as a starting point for a discussion on the evolution of the following economic concepts: specialisation and gains from trade, distribution theory, theory of the firm, theory of money, and the theory of aggregate macroeconomic relationships. Finally, the module discusses the link between past and contemporary economic thought, contextualising it within a broader perspective that includes points of view such as those of feminist economics and from geographically diverse traditions, and the use of these theoretical structures in analysing contemporary economic problems.

This module’s central purpose is to investigate the methods of historical enquiry useful for an economist and give a survey of the economic and social conditions from the industrial revolution until the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The first week covers historiography with special emphasis on the techniques economists and economic historians use. This week will focus on the various methods economic historians use, from statistical and data analysis, to economic theory applications and narrative histories, analysing the strength and weakness of each approach for different types of enquiry.

The rest of the module provides an overview of key economic and social changes in Europe for the period from the start of the industrial revolution until the fall of the Berlin Wall. You will learn about the economic, social and technological changes that occurred during these 250 years. You will learn about changes in wealth, aggregate income and income distribution, consumer habits, wages, trade and monetary aggregates. You will also learn about institutional changes (Labor and Poor Laws, Welfare State) and social changes (family structure, workers unions, literacy) and the interplay between institutional/social and economic structures. Finally, you will discuss the changing technological conditions of society during this period and its ramifications for the social and economic organisation of society.

This module not only gives you general knowledge of the economic and social evolution of Europe, but also provides context and gives you an understanding of why economic theory developed the way it did.

This module introduces students to economic reasoning and basic issues in economic methodology.

The module starts off with a concise introduction to key questions in the philosophy of science, such as explanation, laws, inductive and deductive reasoning, verification and falsification, scientific paradigms, and theories and models. These tools are then used to discuss the epistemological status of economics.

The following two weeks are devoted to what economics studies, and how. Competing definitions are presented, with a special focus on production and exchange paradigms, and the types of reasoning associated with them (economic change and systemic coherence vs. equilibrium and optimal allocation).

The next two weeks focus on levels of analysis (micro, macro, and intermediate) and methodological issues associated with them, such as individualism vs. holism.

The fourth part of the module addresses the dichotomy, which has divided economic analysis since the Methodenstreit, between general principles and historical contingency. It discusses the divide between economic theory and economic history, as well as possible ways ahead.

The last two weeks are devoted to rationality. They cover classical rationality, forms of bounded rationality, the problem of determination and freedom, and possible ways to overcome existing dichotomies and limitations.

The aim of this module is to introduce students to different paradigms in development economics as well as to practical issues in current development policy. This module builds on insights from the modules Economic History, Intermediate Macroeconomics, Applied Quantitative Economics and International Economics. The general sequence of the module is to start from a discussion of the notion of development, its historical origins and different measurements followed by four weeks of lectures on alternative development paradigms and their context, in particular state planning, structuralism and dependency theory, classical and neoclassical development theory, and institutionalist approaches are considered.

The second half of the module focuses on specific policy issues such as poverty, hunger and agriculture; global inequality; international trade; aid, finance and development banks; climate and environment; education; and the role of big and small businesses. Each week a general overview of these policy issues is presented and followed by an in-depth discussion and analysis of major recent reports or data in the field. Lectures are complemented by seminars which teach the students basic techniques of compiling policy briefs and other relevant forms of policy documents widely used by development agencies.

This module introduces you to various attempts to clarify and understand the links between economic and political processes which come under the banner of ‘political economy’. As a whole, the module is intended to draw out the links between the broad “school”-level approaches (such as Marxism, economic sociology, methodological individualism and institutional economics) and contemporary issues and analyses (concerning questions of resource scarcity, predation, coordination failures and trust).

To this end, the module is split into two broad parts. The first part guides you through the main thematic approaches to political economy in order to examine the principle concepts theorists have used to understand and explain economic processes. The second part seeks to apply these concepts to contemporary economic issues and questions.

It seeks to both clarify and examine the various understandings of the market and the state which have shaped the direction of economic research, so that you can finish the module with a clear understanding of the various ideas, concerns and beliefs which motivate real-world political economic arguments.

The Law with Economics dissertation is a structured piece of writing, supported by sustained investigation of topics relating to law and economics and/or their interactions. 

The dissertation requires careful planning, the investment of a significant number of hours dedicated to research, the ability to work independently, but also the ability to create a productive partnership with your tutor, listening and responding to advice, and generate original work in the process. 

An important aspect of the dissertation is undertaking the research that will enable you to define a sufficiently narrow topic within the wider area of law and economics, which will be prone for detailed analysis and will lead you to engage critically with and add value to scholarship in the area. 

The dissertation also offers a unique opportunity to put into action the writing, legal reasoning and research skills acquired over the course of your degree. 

This module includes lectures and seminars, where you are provided with guidance on how to research and structure your dissertation, and where you are exposed to developments and contemporary debates within criminal justice and human rights.  

These seminars provide students with a unique opportunity to work with Law academics, Goldsmiths academics from other departments, Visiting Professors, and other external partners, who have leading expertise within criminal justice and human rights. 

Companies play a critical role in modern society, as the key mechanism for the conduct of business. How companies are regulated and operate has major ramifications for the economy of a country and the wellbeing of its citizens, particularly from the viewpoint of the protection of their fundamental rights as consumers and individual human beings.

This module will provide you with a thorough grounding in the key principles and jurisprudence underpinning UK company law. It will introduce you to European dimensions of company law and generate discussion on regulation post-Brexit, considering that UK company law has been influenced and shaped for over 40 years by legislation inspired and developed by the EU.

Ethical issues deriving from analysis of failures in corporate governance will also attract attention, particularly with reference to the relationship between directors and shareholders, and companies’ responsibility to society more generally.

Other topics discussed will include corporate personality and limited liability; raising capital; the constitution of the capital; corporate management; corporate governance; corporate rescue and liquidations.

Finally, in line with the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), the module will provide you with elements of functioning legal knowledge relevant to business law and practice, and will give you the opportunity to hone relevant skills in experiential learning activities. This could include advising a business start-up to meet a business’s objectives or applying the understanding of principles of contract law to advise a business client entering into a contractual arrangement.

This module extends your knowledge on key microeconomic topics and gives you an interdisciplinary perspective. It focuses on social questions and introduces, in a critical manner, the types of answers economic theory provides. The four core questions investigated are:

• What goods should the government provide, and how should this provision be funded?
• How do we account and care for future generations?
• How do we deal with environmental issues?
• How does the government decide what action to take in a democratic society?

This module combines resources from three fields of economic theory: macroeconomic analysis, history of economic thought and economic history.

The first seven weeks focus on six episodes in economic history, ending with the current (post 2007) crisis. The writings of different schools of economic thought are used and contrasted in order to see how different theorists understood and analyzed the crises and the types of solutions they offered to solve them. Discourses from outside economics (from psychology or/and sociology or/and anthropology) will also be utilized as competing interpretations that explain different aspects of these crises not captured by economic analysis.

Finally, the last three weeks will focus on the general concept of economic crises, and related concepts of risk and uncertainty, and discuss how these events alter our understanding of the workings of the market economy.

This module compares and contrasts the behaviour of individuals and institutions. It provides a more detailed understanding of the various levels of analysis that you have encountered throughout the degree and provides an applied discussion of the issues surrounding methodological individualism, including the social construction of the individual from different geographical and disciplinary traditions.

The first eight weeks of the module cover four levels: i) the individual; ii) firms and organisations; iii) the state; and iv) the supranational and international level.

The last two weeks are devoted to how individuals and institutions cope with uncertainty. The view of uncertainty as risk is integrated and contrasted with theories of strong and fundamental uncertainty, as well as perspectives from other social sciences.

This module expands on the topic of macroeconomics and focuses on the nature of money and credit in the modern economy. It covers the different public and private institutions that govern behavior in the modern financial economy, and their historical evolution in different parts of the world.

For example, it discusses the central banks of US, UK, Japan and the Eurozone, as their decision making structures, capacities and occasionally objectives, are partly determined by their different histories.

Furthermore, the module covers the theoretical analysis underpinning the modern operation of central, commercial and investment banks. It covers topics of exchange rates, the supply of money, interest rate setting, and the evolving institutional political economy that banks operate in.

It introduces students to central bank balance sheet analysis in relation to liquidity and capital assets. Finally it presents key aspects of the recent literature on regulation that has substantially altered operations in the financial sector since the 2008 crisis.

The aim of this module is to introduce students to different paradigms in development economics as well as to practical issues in current development policy. This module builds on insights from the modules Economic History, Intermediate Macroeconomics, Applied Quantitative Economics and International Economics. The general sequence of the module is to start from a discussion of the notion of development, its historical origins and different measurements followed by four weeks of lectures on alternative development paradigms and their context, in particular state planning, structuralism and dependency theory, classical and neoclassical development theory, and institutionalist approaches are considered.

The second half of the module focuses on specific policy issues such as poverty, hunger and agriculture; global inequality; international trade; aid, finance and development banks; climate and environment; education; and the role of big and small businesses. Each week a general overview of these policy issues is presented and followed by an in-depth discussion and analysis of major recent reports or data in the field. Lectures are complemented by seminars which teach the students basic techniques of compiling policy briefs and other relevant forms of policy documents widely used by development agencies.

This module develops an understanding of economic theory in a real world policy context. Students are introduced to some key theories of economic policy that deal with the complex relation between the state and the market in a variety of real world situations.

The first few weeks discuss broad theoretical approaches that conceptualize the interaction between the private and public sectors. These range from theories that see the two sectors antagonistically (for example government action as constraining market activity) to theories that see them as complementary or/and collaborative and even symbiotic (for example the state as an entrepreneurial entity that works with the private sector).

After this initial presentation of theories of state/market interaction, we see how these alternative paradigms inform policy design. These different approaches are used to discuss a variety of real world policy issues. These include the following topics: environmental issues, industrial policy, provisioning for sectors of the population (healthcare and aging support provision, housing, etc), labor relations, and national and supranational political economy.

Lectures are complemented by seminars which teach the students basic techniques of compiling policy briefs and other relevant forms of policy documents widely used in government.

This module gives you an understanding of the international economy that integrates the real and monetary sides, and the economic and the political spheres. Different traditions of economic analysis will be used to shed lights on three main issues: the European Union and the Eurozone, China’s trade policy, and the international monetary system since Bretton Woods.

The first five weeks concentrate on trade. They cover the standard tools (comparative advantage, neoclassical trade theory, and new economic geography) as well as analytical and historical perspectives on international competition. It focuses on different insights concerning economic analysis and policy, as well as the integration with the political dimension.

The last five weeks focus on the international monetary system. By combining the standard tools of international macroeconomics with historical and analytical perspectives, the aim is to understand the evolution of the international monetary system since Bretton Woods, and its effects on national economies. Special attention is given to currency areas, especially the Eurozone, and to the connection between monetary arrangements and real and political aspects.

This module will provide students with an understanding of key issues in the field of contemporary radical political economy.

It will outline and critically evaluate orthodox economic approaches to globalisation as well as challenges from the anti-capitalist movement. Marxist, autonomist and green economics will be examined and criticised.

You'll look at the effects of global capitalism on poverty, equality and environmental sustainability. Alternatives to the market and state regulation of economic activity such as commons regimes, open source and social sharing will also be put under the microscope. 

This module focuses on the political and cultural economy of finance through the empirical lens of the global economy. It seeks to foster a deeper understanding of finance as a technical practice but also as a powerful transformative process that shapes politics and public policy.

*In order to study this module you must have taken Economics modules at levels 4 and 5.

This module seeks to equip students with the capacity to think critically about ethical and economic approaches to environmental protection issues and the relationship between the two.

It will examine human rights, eco-centric, utilitarian and economic perspectives both at the theoretical level and in the practical context of policy arguments over the appropriate role of regulatory, community-centred, and market-based forms of environmental decision-making.

This module offers an alternative take on the politics of liberalism, through emphasizing the concept of government, as it has developed since the late 18th century. While optimistic and normative theories of liberalism stress its commitment to individual rights and legal freedoms, the approach taken by this module is to view it more sociologically and empirically, in terms of the instruments of control and intervention which make it possible to influence and know how seemingly autonomous individuals will behave.

This is a theoretical and empirical approach commonly associated with the work of Michel Foucault, which will be covered in the module, in addition to other similar critical perspectives. By focusing on government (and, later in the module, governance), students will be invited to view liberalism partly as a problem of expertise, scientific knowledge, identification of socio-economic problems, measurement and management. It will suggest to students that the history of liberal politics is inextricably entangled with efforts to achieve scientific knowledge of those who make up a liberal society. 

This forward-looking module draws on Goldsmith’s strengths in the areas of technology and creativity, and its rich heritage of fostering original thinking and innovation. The module asks novel questions about rapidly changing, highly sophisticated technologies, their impact on society and how they risk (or promise) to transform the legal profession.

Law is always playing catch-up with modern technology and this module will provide you with the technological, systemic, ethical and cultural understanding to keep abreast of new technologies, and to provide critical responses to them, including in relation to the risks for fundamental human rights.

Teaching on the module will be interdisciplinary. You will engage with tech experts and firms leading in the development, proliferation and use of such technologies, who will provide an essential understanding of how these technologies work in practice, what they aim to do and how they affect us. Legal experts will then raise critical questions about how law can (and whether it should) regulate such technologies, and the logistical and ethical challenges that arise when attempting to do so.

Specific areas of discussion will range from year to year. Key debates will include:

• data protection, and how the EU’s new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is changing the existing landscape
• the challenges and opportunities in the use of Big Data; the ‘Cambridge Analytica’ scandal will provide an important case study. The class will reflect on the implications of global corporations and governmental authorities obtaining access to such data
• cybercrime and the regulation of internet communications, particularly in the social media environment; these will be analysed through the lens of the conflict between privacy and freedom of speech
• the impact of disruptive technologies on existing markets, and how far can regulation go: ‘Uber’, ‘Netflix’, the ‘Blockchain’ technology and regulation of crypto-currencies like ‘bitcoin’ will provide interesting case studies
• cloud computing and the risks for data protection and the right to privacy
• AI’s implications on the workplace: the first stages in the recruitment process may soon have little human interaction or AI may be used to defeat latent bias in recruitment and reduce the gender pay gap; how should Law respond to these developments?
• Ethics and AI: can artificial intelligence make a value judgment in a ‘lesser evil’ scenario, for example would a self-driving car be programmed to protect its passengers at all costs and what should be the implications where it decides to do so at the cost of an innocent bystander? Or how should we conceptualise criminal liability where it is a robot that has committed a mistake, for example in conducting a medical operation?

This module offers students an outstanding opportunity to put legal theory into practice, hone legal skills, obtain a solid understanding of potential career destinations and develop a professional ethos and other transferable skills.

The module involves spending 14 days in total on a work placement.

Students complete the 14 days of work placement (112 hours) over the summer between year 2 and year 3 of their programme (exceptions may be possible if significant placement opportunities arise over the course of Year 2 of the programme and a student’s timetable allows them sufficient time to undertake such an opportunity).

During the spring term, students participate in relevant workshops, delivered by the Careers Service, that prepare them for placement.

Also during the spring term, students complete 10 hours of trial observations, which must take place in at least two different courts; the choice of courts is entirely of the student taking the placement module.

The module offers students placement opportunities in relevant legal firms and organisations such as solicitor firms, barrister chambers, legal advice centres, Citizens’ Advice Bureaus, social justice organisations, human rights NGOs, Law Clinics.

The department may also offer placements with an academic research emphasis, for example as part of work undertaken in the Britain in Europe thinktank and Knowing Our Rights research project that it hosts.

Commercial Law is continuously evolving, with new legal concepts and frameworks being designed to offer businesses sufficient flexibility in an increasingly competitive globalised environment. This module will introduce you to the key philosophies and practices that underpin this process.

Key themes will include: the law of agency (creation of the agency relationship, the authority of an agent, relations between principal and agent), the law relating to the domestic sale of goods (transfer of title, perishing of goods, delivery and payment, implied terms and statutory rights) and methods of payment, finance, and security.

Significant emphasis will be placed on international trade agreements, particularly in the context of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. First, the module will analytically inquire about the possibilities, challenges and opportunities in relation to trade with the EU after Brexit. It will look at the Customs Union and solutions that may lie outside the latter when pursuing a strong trade agreement with the EU. EFTA, GATT and WTO Law will be examined in that respect.

Analysis will then move on to non-EU trade, investigating how UK businesses could be offered certainty while the UK will be transitioning the dozens of trade agreements that the EU has in place with third countries, and considering the legal and logistical obstacles to agreeing new trade deals. Plans for bilateral agreement with the United States, India, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Switzerland will provide the focus of much discussion in this part. From a wider philosophical angle, the above will create scope for critical reflection on the idea of this ‘new age of bilateralism’ as a populist device.

The pioneering Art Law module at Goldsmiths is strongly grounded in the university’s rich heritage in the creative arts. The Department of Art, which has a leading reputation internationally and whose academics, students and graduates form part of London’s dynamic art world, provides a unique backdrop against which students in the LLB (Hons) Law will critically explore the interactions between their discipline and the world of art.

The module will start by introducing students to essential knowledge and understanding of contemporary art. It will then focus on providing you with a sound understanding of the legal principles that concern the operation of the commercial art world, and the ability to engage in critical analysis and evaluation of contemporary issues in art and law. You may explore the formation of contracts in art market transactions, corporate practice in the art world, the application of intellectual property law (for example copyright and moral rights) to artistic work, artists’ rights in relation to their work, and cultural heritage restrictions to the international trade of art, among other topics. 

Graduates from the LLB (Hons) Law programme who take Art Law as an option will be well placed to pursue a career in commercial art galleries, auction houses, fine art insurance, museums and similar. This is a competitive but lucrative and continually growing area of law, with the UK performing for many years as the second largest art market in the world.

This module will provide you with a solid foundation for the second stage of the new solicitors qualifying examinations (SQE2), and the Bar qualifying equivalent.

It will introduce you to the five practical legal skills assessments that form part of SQE2:

• Client Interviewing
• Advocacy/Persuasive Oral Communication
• Case and Matter Analysis
• Legal Research and Written Advice
• Legal Drafting

The teaching and assessment of these skills will be set in the following contexts:

• Business Practice
• Wills and the Administration of Justice 

The module adopts an innovative ‘assessment by student participation’ method, where students are given marks for the quality of their participation in relevant legal practice activities.

This module is designed in line with the ‘SQE – Draft Assessment Specification’ document published in June 2017. Appropriate adjustments will be made to the content of this module to accommodate any changes in related SRA guidance and forthcoming guidance by the Bar Standards Board.