1st year student handbook 2011.12

7/31/2019 1st Year Student Handbook 2011.12

1/43

www.york.ac.uk/ law

York Law School

Student Handbook

Year 1

2011 - 12


2/43

2

IMPORTANT NOTICES

You have received this Handbook alongside other materials, all of which serve their own

unique purpose for starting you off at York Law School. Whilst all this information is useful,

please do not feel that you have to read everything cover to cover immediately; certain

information you might not need until later on in your degree.

This Handbook is designed to guide you through your time at York Law School. This means

that it is not a guide through your experience at the University of York. For further

information about other aspects of university, such as tuition fees and support, it is advised

that you go to the Universitys website,www.york.ac.uk

This Handbook was written by staff and students of York Law School.

THIS HANDBOOK REALLY DOES CONTAIN

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

PLEASE MAKE AN EFFORT TO READ IT AT THE

BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAMME AND REFER

TO IT DURING YOUR TIME AT YORK LAW

SCHOOL

MANY OF THE QUESTIONS WHICH STUDENTS

COMMONLY ASK ARE ANSWERED IN THIS

HANDBOOK

THE INFORMATION IN THIS HANDBOOK IS

CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PRINTING (October

2011).

IF ANY ADJUSTMENTS NEED TO BE MADE, YOU

WILL BE NOTIFIED AT THE EARLIEST AVAILABLE

OPPORTUNITY. YORK LAW SCHOOL IS NOT

RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS

IN THIS HANDBOOK
http://www.york.ac.uk/http://www.york.ac.uk/http://www.york.ac.uk/http://www.york.ac.uk/


3/43


4/43

4

WELCOME TO YORK LAW SCHOOL

A very warm welcome to the University of York, and to York Law School (YLS). My

colleagues and I are very much looking forward to working with you on the LLB (Bachelor of

Laws) degree programme.

You should know from your previous dealings with us that our approach to legal education

is quite distinctive. We hope that you enjoy the learning activities which make up the

degree programme. We think they will help to equip you for your future career, whether in

law or in another field. We also think that the programme is intellectually stimulating, and

will help you to reflect upon the role law has to play in society and upon how professional

lawyers are involved in making and using law in the real world.

As with many things in life, the more you put into the experience of being at the Universityof York and YLS, the more you will get out of it. You will see over time that there are many

different ways to get involved in the life of YLS, and we encourage you to do so. YLS is a

community, and you are part of it.

Professor Stuart Bell

Head of YLS


5/43

5

TERM DATES

Term 1 10th

October 2011 16th

December 2011

Term 2 9th

January 2012- 16th

March 2012

Term 3 23rd

April 2012- 29th

June 2012


6/43

6

GETTING STARTED AT YORK LAW SCHOOL

HOW WILL YORK LAW SCHOOL CONTACT YOU?

Email:

When you enrol at the University of York, you will be given [email protected] email address.

This email address is the first port of call for all correspondence with YLS. Emails will often

include details of changes to the schedule of learning activities, special events and also

extra materials for upcoming sessions. Should you need to contact a member of the Law

School staff, a full list of contact details is available later in this document.

Yorkshare VLE:

The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) provides an online space for learning. The VLE is aplace useful learning materials are stored. These include plenary slides, sometimes with

additional comments, as well as digital copies of materials used in the degree, such as the

block guide or evidence from a Legal Skills case study.

Pigeonholes:

In YLS reception (located on the 2nd

floor of the Law and Management Building) there are a

series of pigeonholes for students. These pigeonholes are used for individual written

correspondence, which can include, for example, written feedback on assessed work.

Notice Boards:

In the PBL area of YLS are a number of notice boards which contain details of upcoming

events, including extra-curricular talks. There are also notices of book sales, where students

in higher years sell their used books to other students for lower prices, and other useful

information. Other notice boards can be found in the YLS Reception area.


7/43

7

CONTACTING YORK LAW SCHOOL

Academic Staff

Name Role Contact

Number

Room

Number

Email Address

Dr TT Arvind CSET Lecturer, Chair of

Graduate School Board

01904 325807 249 [email protected]

Professor Stuart Bell Head of School 01904 325801 261 [email protected]

John Bennett Teaching fellow, Programme

Leader: LLM International

Corporate and Commercial

Law


Professor Stefan

Enchelmaier

Director of

Postgraduate Taught

Programmes


Dr Laurence

Etherington

Lecturer and Director of

Professional Liaison


Ben Fitzpatrick Senior Lecturer, Director of

Learning and Teaching,

Chair of Board of Studies


Richard Grimes Senior Lecturer, Director of

Clinical Programmes


Dr Katarzyna

Gromek-Broc

Senior Lecturer 01904 325811 270 [email protected]

Professor SimonHalliday Professor of Socio-legalStudies, Director of

Research


Professor Caroline

Hunter

Professor, Chair of Board of

Examiners


Phillip Morgan Lecturer 01904 325822 255 [email protected]

Dr Charlotte OBrien Lecturer, Admissions Tutor 01904 325806 272 [email protected]

Dr Massimo Renzo Lecturer 01904 325815 250 [email protected]

Professor Jenny

Steele

Professor 01904 325814 247 [email protected]

Dr Sarah Wilson Lecturer 01904 325809 258 [email protected]

Dr Kathryn Wright Lecturer 01904 325816 279 [email protected]

Problem Based Learning Tutors

Name Role Email Address

Sarah Archer Problem-Based Learning Tutor [email protected]

Catherine Baker Problem-Based Learning Tutor [email protected]

Adele Batty Problem-Based Learning Tutor [email protected]

Richard Butterworth Problem-Based Learning Tutor [email protected]

Louise Gittins Problem-Based Learning Tutor [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:katarzyna.gromek-broc%40york.ac.ukmailto:katarzyna.gromek-broc%40york.ac.ukmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:katarzyna.gromek-broc%40york.ac.ukmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


8/43

8

Jenny Kent Problem-Based Learning Tutor [email protected]

Dr Wendy Laws Problem-Based Learning Tutor [email protected]

Andrea Morrison Problem-Based Learning Tutor [email protected]

Dr Martin Regan Problem-Based Learning Tutor [email protected]

Jane Tai Problem-Based Learning Tutor [email protected]

Alex Weston Problem-Based Learning Tutor [email protected]

Administrative Staff

Name Role Contact

Number

Room

Number

Email Address

Salwa Eweis Postgraduate and

Research

Administrator


Louise Prendergast Departmental

Administrator and

Disabilities Officer


Emma Watson Undergraduate

Administrator

01904 325802 Reception [email protected]

Library and Careers Support

Name Role Contact

Number

Email Address

Alison Kaye Academic Liaison Librarian 01904 324517 [email protected]

Clare Ackerley Academic Liaison Librarian 01904 324080 clare.ackerley @york.ac.uk

Chris Wilkinson Careers Consultant 01904 433127 [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


9/43

9

YOUR FIRST FEW WEEKS AT YORK LAW SCHOOL

The first few weeks at YLS York Law School are designed to help you settle in to your

programme of study and to get used to the different learning activities on offer.

Before you arrive at YLS, you will have been given your @york.ac.uk email address. It is

really important that you check this at least daily. It may seem daunting when you get a

timetable of events to attend during Freshers Week, especially if you thought that there

was nothing on during the first week. But rest assured, the events that are organised for

this week are really useful and start you off on the right foot.

During the first week, you will have the opportunity to meet your fellow students, and

especially those who will be in your Student Law Firm (SLF). The SLF is a key part of learningat YLS, and getting to know your SLF colleagues as soon as possible will prove helpful once

the core learning activities begin.

You will also be able to meet the staff at the Law School who will support you throughout

your programme of study. Not only does this mean meeting the academic staff who will

lead your learning, but also meeting your Personal Advisor, the Administration team within

the Law School.

So the first few weeks at York Law School are all about orientation. They are about creating

the right balance between showing what YLS is all about and allowing you time to adjust to

new surroundings. In the first week, there will be initial orientation sessions, and scheduled

learning activities, for example, relating to skills in using online legal databases and the

library. There are also more informal sessions organised, such as the welcome party held at

YLS in week 2.


10/43

10

YOUR DEGREE AT YORK LAW SCHOOL

WHAT IS THE LL.B?

At York Law School, the Bachelor of Laws degree (formally recognised as the LLB) integratesacademic, applied, practical and interdisciplinary perspectives on the law into a single,

coherent programme of study. Learning law is about much more than reading a series of

legal rules and understanding them; it is more important to understand the law in its

various contexts theoretical, social and practical. Accordingly, the LLB at YLS focuses not

just on legal rules, but looks at the complex network of relationships and transactions they

regulate. Focusing on law in the broader context requires different skills, and you will learn

how to analyse legal problems, and how to approach situations from ethical, political and

social viewpoints. While this is demanding, the degree is intellectually stimulating and, at

the end of the day, a lot of fun.

So what skills will you be developing, not just in your first year, but throughout your time at

YLS? The answer is many, and it is important to note that these skills will set you in good

stead whether or not you choose a career in law after your degree. The skills you will

develop include:

Oral and written communication skills Team-working Project management Advocacy Negotiation


11/43

11

WHAT IS A QUALIFYING LAW DEGREE?

A Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) is a law degree that exempts you from a stage of training

should you wish to go on to become a professionally qualified lawyer. A QLD means that

you do not have to complete the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) en route to becoming aqualified lawyer.


12/43

12

WHAT MAKES THE LL.B AT YORK LAW SCHOOL SO DIFFERENT?

Think back to when you were considering where to study your law degree. You may have

visited many places and heard about various different types of degree programmes. YLS, as

you will hopefully have seen, does not offer a traditional law degree, and that may be oneof the main reasons that you chose to study here. The law degree here is different in that a

significant proportion of the programme is built on Problem-Based Learning.

Problem Based Learningor PBL for short is a key element of the learning process at

YLS. Other material that you will be able to access in the first weeks at YLS is a Guide to

Problem Based Learning. This guide covers the PBL process in far greater detail than this

handbook will, but for now well give a brief overview of what PBL is all about.

PBL may be different from any form of learning you will have experienced before. In PBL

sessions, you will work with a realistic legal problem. In your Student Law Firm (SLF), you

will work through the problem, and come up with a number of Learning Outcomes. These

will form the basis of your self-directed study for that PBL cycle, after which, a week later,

you will have the opportunity to feed back to the SLF on your learning at a further PBL

session.

YLS is also different in that it is still a relatively small School. Compared to a number of

other law schools, the size of the intake here is relatively small. This means that students

and staff have the opportunity to get to know each other, which makes the learning

process more effective and enjoyable.

One of the key features of YLS is the Student Law Firm (SLF). SLFs are only partly

synonymous with traditional seminar groups that you may see on other degree

programmes. At YLS, the SLF is much more. First and foremost, the SLF is the group with

who you will spend most of your scheduled learning activities. We also hope that an SLF

will be a source of academic and pastoral support for its members.


13/43

13

WHAT WILL I STUDY?

In each of the three years of the LLB at YLS, you will study different, but related modules.

There is a strong element of progression in the programme in that your learning in each

year is intended to enable you to build on your learning from previous years.

On the LLB programme, there are a number of compulsory modules, and a number of

optional modules. The list of optional modules can change depending on a number of

factors. This is a breakdown of how the three years work, in terms of compulsory modules

and option choices.

Compulsory Modules Optional Modules

Year 1 Criminal law Introduction to Law and

Society

Legal Skills Obligations 1 Property Law 1 Public Law 1

No options in year 1

Year 2 Advanced Legal Skills Obligations 2 Professionalism & Ethics Property Law 2

2 optional modules, one inAutumn, one in Spring

Year 3 EU Law Public Law 2 Dissertation

2 optional modules, one inAutumn, one in Spring

Modules at York Law School are located in one of three streams. You will work across all

three streams during your LLB programme:

The Foundation Stream contains those modules which the relevant bodies of the legalprofessions require you to study in order to obtain a qualifying Law Degree.

The Law and Practice Stream contains those modules in which your Learning focuseson practical perspectives and often takes the form of simulated legal practice.

The Law and Society stream contains those modules in which you study relationshipsbetween Law and other disciplines.


14/43

14

Heres a guide to the modules youll study in your first year:

Criminal Law Crimes are behaviours which the state has decided to take an

interest in by prohibiting. You will consider how crimes are defined

and why certain behaviours are criminalised and why others are

not.

Introduction to Law

and Society (ILS)

Introduction to Law and Society helps you to see law as part of a

bigger picture. You will consider, for example, how law and legal

institutions relate to society, how law deals with culture and what

makes a law or legal system unjust.

Legal Skills Legal Skills involves study, practice and development of skills which

will help you integrate academic theory and law in practice.Obligations 1 The law of obligations considers legal relationships between two

parties. Obligations arise in a variety of relationships involving

private individuals, businesses and, in some cases, governments.

You will consider how obligations are formed and what happens

when they are breached.

Property Law 1 Property law deals with ownership and other rights in different

types of property. You will consider how these rights can be

created, how they are restricted, transferred and what happens

when entitlements conflict.Public Law 1 Public law refers in broad terms to the relationship between the

citizen and the state. You will consider how the institutions of

government are regulated and how human rights are protected by

law.


15/43

15

HOW WILL I LEARN AT YORK LAW SCHOOL?

At York Law School, there are a number of different ways of learning, some of which you

may be familiar with from previous learning experiences, others perhaps less so. Heres a

brief summary of what each is and what you can expect to get out of each:

PROBLEM BASED LEARNING SESSIONS: As mentioned earlier, you will be able to access the

York Law School Guide to Problem Based Learning. The following things are worth noting

at this point.

You will be a member of a Student Law Firm (SLF) when you arrive. Each firm will be

presented with different problems, including some brought by clients of the firm. These

problems vary in what they look at, from disputes between neighbours to corporate

commercial transactions. The aim of the firm is not necessarily to solve the problem

because the problem may not actually be solvable, and there is rarely just one single right

answer. The problems aim to give some context to the often abstract concepts that you will

meet on the degree, and serve to show realistic contexts for the operation of the law.

The SLF will work with a PBL tutor who acts as a facilitator to help the SLF identify the legal

issues in the problem, the facts that are known, the facts that are not known but need to be

found out and then, through this process of unravelling the problem, discover the legal and

contextual issues at the centre of the problem. These issues will be expressed as Learning

Outcomes which will form the basis of study for that PBL cycle. The issues are explored in

various ways, such as plenary sessions, individual study and collaboration among SLFcolleagues. The PBL cycle typically lasts a week, at which point the SLF meets again to

discuss their findings, before having the chance to reflect more deeply on the theoretical

issues raised by the problem.

PLENARY SESSIONS: Plenary sessions, as the name suggests, are sessions in which the

whole year group works together. They are not principally about the transmission of large

quantities of information, but they should raise questions about, and explore contexts for

issues raised by that weeks problem.

SKILLS SESSIONS: Skills sessions give you the opportunity to develop legal and other

transferable skills, often in the context of learning activities which involve simulated legal

practice. They present an opportunity to practise skills in a safe environment where you

can experiment, make mistakes and learn collaboratively.

ROUNDTABLES: Roundtables are activities in which you will have the opportunity to explore

issues in depth with colleagues from your Student Law Firm and from other SLFs.

Roundtables provide you with a good opportunity to develop a number of important

academic skills including structuring an argument, using evidence to develop an argument,

evaluating your views and those of others, and communicating ideas effectively in a variety

of different ways.


16/43

16

THE BIG PICTURE HOW DOES YEAR 1 FIT INTO THE REST OF MY DEGREE?

You should not underestimate the challenges of adapting to the different learning

environments which make up the first year of the LLB Programme. It is absolutely normal

to experience some difficulties with this transition. Your performance in assessment inYear 1 does not contribute to your overall degree classification. However, a lot of your

learning from Year 1 will help you, in many different ways, as you progress to later stages of

the programme, and beyond.

So what exactly does the first year of the LLB at YLS aim to achieve?

Introduce basic legal skills of critical reasoning and legal method, basic research andretrieval techniques, written and oral communication, an introduction to regulation andthe interpretation of different sources of law

Introduce different methods of learning, including Problem Based Learning Introduce different contexts for legal issues, including social, commercial and practical

contexts

Introduce the idea of reflective learning Provide knowledge and understanding of the foundations of legal knowledge to satisfy

the professional requirements for the academic stage of training

Develop a range of transferable, intellectual and practical skills that can be used toenhance understanding and knowledge of legal principles and also be used in a variety

of careers, both in law and related areas

Encourage you to take responsibility for your own learning as well as the developmentof reflective learning skills


17/43

17

A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF A YORK LAW SCHOOL STUDENT

To give you a sense of what this means in practice, three students have written about their

typical week in 2010-11. You should note that there have been some adjustments to the

timetable for 2011-12 which means that the format of your week will not be the same asToms (below):

1st

Year - Tom

Monday: Today is where the bulk of plenaries happen, though it is not as daunting as that

sounds. Theyre always really interesting and thought-provoking. Theres always a chance

to ask a question or spark a debate, and it never ends up in a situation of being talked at for

an hour! Theres usually an hour between the plenaries in the morning and afternoon to go

and grab some lunch from Heslington or the cafe on Hes East. After the plenaries are over,

its time to take stock of what weve been told and prepare for the PBL interim tomorrow.

Tuesday: After a plenary or two today, the afternoon is spent at the interim session of PBL.

Here, we collate our research about the two problems that we were given the previous

week. These are usually really helpful, as the plenaries from Monday and today usually

have some interesting extra information, and the firm members will often have found

something that I havent got! Tonight is spent trying to finish at least one of the problems.

Wednesday: This is a free day, where no planned learning activities occur. There may

sometimes be an ILS roundtable which are just large multi-firm discussions that are reallygood and a useful way of gaining skills such as presentation and discussion. Normally, I use

the day to finish the other PBL problem, so I can go out to Ziggys in the evening...

Thursday: Today we have the first feedback of the PBL problem, and are also given another

one. The feedback is really fun, and we all share our learning with each other in the firm

and our firm tutor. Theres loads of fun ways to get everyone involved and the feedback

process often includes packs of playing cards, top trumps and chocolate! We also then get

given the next problem, and go through the process of obtaining learning outcomes that

will shape our research and learning for the next week!

Friday: This morning is a 9.15am start (sometimes tough if, as normally, Ive gone out the

night before) for Legal Skills. This allows us to do things like negotiation, interviews, letter

writing and more. We do this as a firm and its really hands on and practical, making it an

enjoyable if not slightly early start to the weekend. The afternoon will be another PBL

feedback and where we will get the second and final problem of the week. Tonight is spent

winding down with a couple of games of FIFA.

Saturday: Not much work to be done today, maybe a bit of research for the two problems,

tentative at best. The football is on at 3 so its tough to get motivated for law, but thats


18/43

18

okay as once you get into the swing of researching the PBL problems, it doesnt take a huge

amount of time.

Sunday: Today is spent, after treating myself to a well deserved lie-in, researching via the

wonderful WestLaw, Lexis Library et al. This actually becomes really interesting after awhile and I tend to get a lot of my work done today, and I make sure a lot of it is done

before the inevitable 4pm kick off for the Sunday football on Sky!

2nd

yearMike

Monday: Monday is usually the day we have most of our plenaries. Depending on which

week it is, there can be up to four one hour plenaries. I wont do any work in the evening,

as I have a RAG committee meeting in the evening.

Tuesday: Tuesday morning there will usually be a plenary of some sorts, with the PBLinterim in the afternoon. The interim is always really useful, as more often than not therell

be something in my research that I havent looked at but somebody else in my firm

invariably will have, and vice versa. Tuesday night is the night that I will generally go out

with friends into town; having a complete break from work gets more important as you go

through YLS, and having one night where I just completely switch off is really useful.

Wednesday: Following the interim yesterday, this is a day that I will put aside for PBL work

generally. The interim will throw up at least a couple of things that I either havent

researched enough, or simply havent looked at. Like most univers ities, there are no

sessions timetabled for the afternoon on Wednesday, so its not uncommon for me to go

and play some sport with friends.

Thursday: Today is the day that we feedback on our PBL problem/s and also the

Professionalism and Ethics (P & E) problem (every other week). If its the week where the

P&E cycle ends, it can be a pretty long day, but if you keep concentrating then Thursday is

often the day where you can learn the most. Because theres a lot of work that requires a

lot of concentration, we always try and keep our sessions light-hearted and fun; have

regular breaks and dont be afraid to make jokes in the session. Theres usually quite a big

gap between the two sessions, so a group of us may go into Heslington for lunch.

Friday: Friday is set aside for Advanced Legal Skills, which is an extension of 1st

year Legal

Skills. ALS is a more practical way to end the week and is one of the modules that most

people on the course tend to enjoy, because we actually get to DO law rather than simply

having plenaries on abstract concepts. Friday evening is a quiet evening because, well, its

Friday night. Ill usually get together with my housemates and do something, either go out

for a film or get takeaway.

Saturday & Sunday: How busy I am at the weekend depends on the workload. If Ivemanaged to keep on top of the PBL cycle, Ill make a few more notes on that so I have

enough for the interim. If Im feeling particularly productive, I will look at the Block Guide


19/43

19

for the week just gone and attempt a learning portfolio task. This is something that I wish I

had done more in year 1 and started earlier in my 2nd

year, because it really does help when

it comes to the assessment period in summer term.

3rd

year

Tom

Third year is a bit different from your first two years as your timetable isnt as full. You have

a lot more time to focus on things like your dissertation that counts for 40 credits. If you

manage your time theres still plenty of time to enjoy yourself though. The assessments are

more spaced out than in the first year, so you have more time to prepare for assessments.

Monday: Mondays tend to be quite busy as I have my plenaries for EU law and Public Law

II. After my plenaries I tend to make sure Im up-to-date with all of my PBL work for the

week.

Tuesday: On Tuesday mornings I have my Company Law in Practice plenary/seminar. This

was one of the options I chose for third year. This session alternates between a PBL session

and a plenary week by week.

Wednesday: By Wednesday all of my plenaries for the week are done with. In the mornings

I usually have a bit of a lie in and then go through my PBL work for Thursday/Friday.

Sometimes we meet as a firm to discuss anything that were finding difficult in the PBL.

Wednesday afternoons are always free so I tend to head over to the sports centre for the

afternoon.

Thursday & Friday: On Thursdays and Fridays I have a PBL session for EU law and Public

Law II. These are usually about an hour and a half to two hours long and are a good chance

to check that you understand all of the work for that week. Its quite nice to catch up with

your firm and we try to make the feedback fun by bringing in food or making-up games to

choose who focuses on which learning outcome.

One of the best bits about being a third year is that you dont have any early starts on

Fridays so you can make the most of the student lifestyle! I use Fridays to work on my

dissertation. Its definitely worth starting in good time so that you can just chip away at it afew hours at a time. I tend to spend 6/7 hours on Fridays working on this and getting up-to-

date with anything I didnt have time to do earlier in the week. Friday nights are usually

filled with watching TV with my house or heading to the pub for a drink.

Saturday: If Im not going away to visit friends I usually use go to the gym and use the rest

of the day to get ready for the next week.

Sunday: On Sundays I run a YUSU Volunteering project called KEEN in the Sports Centre

where local children with severe and profound learning difficulties and/or visual

impairments come onto campus and we play sports games with them. There is never a dull

moment and its always good to have a break from the law work.


20/43

20

FEEDBACK AT YORK LAW SCHOOL

When people think of feedback in the context of a programme of study, they may first

think about a written response to a student based on a piece of their assessed work. This

is, of course, very important, but it is only one aspect of feedback. In YLS, we believe that

good feedback travels in all directions, from staff to students; from students to staff; among

staff; and among students. We also believe that feedback is most effective when it is

ongoing. So, try to imagine feedback as a conversation between you and staff and other

students in YLS. You will get feedback on your performance in all kinds of contexts,

whether it be written feedback on a piece of assessed work, or a conversation in a

scheduled meeting with your Personal Advisor.

In relation to assessed work, YLS works within the University Guidelines on feedback, in

that you will receive feedback on assessed work no more than six weeks after the

submission deadline. We are continually looking into the best ways to provide feedback on

assessed work to students and we would like to discuss this with you on an ongoing basis.

Please do be sure to give feedback to staff colleagues on which aspects of the programme

you think are working well, and which less well. We have already got a good tradition in

YLS of useful dialogue between students and staff, which has led to significant

improvements to the programme over the years. Regular sessions are held throughout the

year where students have the opportunity to voice their opinions and/or concerns about

their learning experience. There are also Board of Studies representatives amongst the

student body who act as a voice that represents the opinions of students on a formal basis.


21/43

21

ENGAGEMENT

At York Law School, it is expected that you will take an active part in your learning. This is

what we call ENGAGEMENT. Engagement is about more than attendance; it is about

participating as fully as possible in your formal learning activities and engaging in effective

study outside those activities. As is suggested at the very beginning of this handbook, the

more you put in to your programme of study, the more you will get out of it. Based on

experience over the past few years, YLS is adopting, for the first time in 2011-12, a policy in

engagement. It focuses on the attendance dimension of engagement, and you should

familiarise yourself with it. The policy is set out here:

York Law SchoolEngagement / Attendance Policy 2011-12

York Law School (YLS) has a policy on engagement and attendance which is intended to

support your learning. We expect you to attend all timetabled learning activities, and

your failure to do so may trigger a formal response from us. This policy is intended to

give some clarity on attendance requirements and on the consequences of non-

attendance.

We recognise that all members of YLS are adult learners who are capable of making their

own decisions about their learning. Nonetheless, we have a policy of compulsory

attendance at certain learning activities because of the nature of the curriculum. In YLS, a

significant proportion of your formal learning activities take place in groups (usually, but

not exclusively, your Student Law Firm). Group work can be a very effective way to learn,

but it creates obligations on members of the group: to attend, to engage and to

participate fully and fairly in the work of the group; and to deal professionally and

courteously with the group in situations where attendance, engagement or participation

are not possible. We have also designed the curriculum carefully such that there ought to

be a real benefit to you from attending learning activities (if there is not, we hope you

will let us know).

If you know you are going to be unable to attend learning activities or you miss an activity

for good reason, please inform the Law School Undergraduate Administrator, Emma

Watson, by e-mail ([email protected]) as soon as possible.

1. There are various different formal learning activities in YLS. This policy applies tosmall group learning activities such as PBL sessions, Skills sessions, Roundtables,

seminars, and other classes in option modules run by YLS. In those learning

activities, registers of attendance will be taken. These activities are referred to
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


22/43

22

below as compulsory learning activities. Attendance at all other learning activities

is expected and strongly advised.

2. If you are unable to attend or you miss a compulsory learning activity, you shouldreport your absence as soon as is reasonably practicable to the YLS UndergraduateAdministrator with a short written explanation of the reasons for absence. This

explanation will be placed on your student file.

3. If you are unable to attend or you miss two consecutive compulsory learningactivities without explanation, you may receive a request for an explanation for

your absence sent by the YLS Undergraduate Administrator on behalf of the Senior

Advisor.

4. If you receive such a request, you must send a written explanation for your absenceto the YLS Undergraduate Administrator within one week. Any written explanation

will be copied to your Personal Advisor and placed on your student file. You may

also find it helpful to arrange a meeting with your Personal Advisor to discuss your

absence.

5. If your Personal Advisor is of the view that the explanation for your absence issatisfactory, the matter will be closed and a note to that effect will be placed on

your student file.

6. If you do not respond to the request for an explanation for your absence within oneweek, or your Personal Advisor takes the view that your explanation is not

satisfactory, your Personal Advisor may decide that it is appropriate (a) to inform

other YLS staff including the Senior Advisor or Chair of the Board of Studies of your

absence; and (b) to refer you to other relevant support services within the

University.

7. If your unexplained absences persist, the Senior Advisor may seek an explanationfor your persistent absences or require you to attend a further meeting to discuss

your absences. If you do not attend this meeting or the explanation for your

persistent absences is not satisfactory, the Senior Advisor may refer the matter to

the Board of Studies. You should note that as a last resort, significant absence may

lead to you being treated as having withdrawn from your programme of study. Any

formal decision of the Board of Studies will be communicated to you as soon as is

reasonably practicable.

8. This policy and procedure does not affect any of your rights under the UniversityRegulations.


23/43

23

ASSESSMENT

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

YLS has a formal policy document, called the Written Statement on Assessment, which sets

out how its processes of assessment are operated within the University Ordinances,

regulations and guidelines, in accordance with Appendix A of the Guide to Assessment

Policies and Procedures. This is available online at:

http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/eto/exams/writtenst/writtenassessments.html.

For the purposes of this handbook, Let us reassure you that we have taken great care to

ensure that the assessment regime in YLS fits properly both with the subject-matter of your

programme of study and with the kinds of Learning you are undertaking. We use

assessment not just as a way of measuring your progress, but also as a way to help you

learn. This means that your assessment will take forms that make sense in the context of

your studies. Assessment also provides one of the most useful opportunities for us to give

you feedback on your progress (see above). You can see the YLS policy on Feedback in the

Written Statement on Assessment.
http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/eto/exams/writtenst/writtenassessments.hthttp://www.york.ac.uk/admin/eto/exams/writtenst/writtenassessments.ht


24/43

24

METHODS OF ASSESSMENT

You will receive information on modes of assessment, and what they actually mean in the

context of YLS, in a separate document. You will also be able to access an assessment

schedule which sets out deadlines for submission of assessed work. For now, you might be

interested in the overall picture of how your performance in modules you will study in Year

1 will be assessed:

Stream Assessment method

Criminal Law Foundation Learning Portfolio (40%) Examination (60%)

Introduction to Lawand Society

Law and Society 2 Assessed Tasks:

o Assessed Task 1 (30%)o Assessed Task 2 (70%)

Legal Skills Law and Practice Learning Portfolio (80%) Moot (20%)

Obligations 1 Foundation Learning Portfolio (40%); Examination (60%)

Property Law 1 Foundation Learning Portfolio (40%) Examination (60%)

Public Law 1 Foundation Learning Portfolio (40%) Examination (60%)


25/43

25

MARKING CRITERIA

Marking criteria for the various forms of assessment can be found in the Written Statement

on Assessmentavailable online

HOW DO MY MARKS CONTRIBUTE TO MY PROGRESS AND MY DEGREE CLASSIFICATION

As approved by University Teaching Committee, York Law School uses the following

undergraduate mark scale:

First-class Honours (a first) 70-100 Upper second-class Honours (a two-one) 60-69 Lower second-class Honours (a two-two) 50-59 Third-class Honours (a third) 40-49 Fail 0-39

PROGRESSION

A student must satisfy the requirements of each stage of his/her programme (a stage is

equivalent to a years full-time study) before progressing to the next stage. If a student does

not meet the stage requirements s/he will be required to leave the University; s/he may be

eligible for a Lower volume Award (see below).

To progress from one stage to the next a student must achieve 120 credits as specified in the

Programme Information.

Credit will be awarded upon passing a modules summative assessment/s (but see below

regarding compensation and reassessment). See above regarding the marking scheme.

Every stage of a programme generates, alongside the profile of module marks, a credit-

weighted total mark that is carried forward to degree classification, as appropriate (see

below), a process that occurs only if a student has met the progression requirements for

each stage (see below).

Final penalties arising from academic misconduct are subtracted at the point of degree

classification; it is recognised that a student may meet the progression requirements for all

stages but nonetheless fail the award for this reason.

A student will only be considered for transfer to a different programme, if s/he has met the

progression requirements plus any additional programme requirements relating to the new

programme of study. This may entail having made particular module selections to meet


26/43

26

PSRB (professional, Statutory or regulatory Body) or later pre-requisite requirements, where

these are essential to meet the overall programme learning outcomes.

Requests to transfer must be approved by the receiving department.

AWARD REQUIREMENTS

A University of York degree will only be awarded on the basis of credits accumulated as part

of an approved programme of study. However, a student may be eligible for a Lower volume

award than the award for which they are registered (for example, where they have Left the

programme early or have not achieved the required credits), provided that they have met

the requirements and are in good academic standing. These awards are generic University

awards (for example, Certificate of Higher Education) and will only be recorded as having

been passed.

The University award requirements, applicable to this programme, are:

Award Credit Volume Credit Levels

Honours Degree (Hons) 360 At Least 100 credits at level

H/6 (over stages 2 and 3)

Ordinary Degree 300 At Least 60 credits at levelH/6 (over stages 2 and 3)

Diploma of Higher Education

(DipHE)

240 At Least 90 credits at level

I/5 (or Higher)

Certificate of Higher

Education (CertHE)

120 At Least 90 credits at level

C/4 (or Higher)


27/43

27

DEGREE CLASSIFICATION

The bachelors honours is a classified degree. The mechanism for calculating degree

classifications is as follows:

Stage 1 marks are excluded from the classification calculation The mark, rounded to the nearest integer, is computed with the credit - weighted total

marks for stages 2 and 3 weighted in the ratio of 2:3

The classification will be determined by the position of this mark on the University scale(see above) unless it Lies in the borderline region, defined as the two points below a

classification boundary

In borderline cases, the next higher classification will be awarded if, and only if, themark, rounded to the nearest integer, with the credit - weighted total marks for stages 2

and 3 weighted in the ratio 1:1 OR 1:2 lies in a higher classification band. No further

second order conditions will be applied.

Final penalties arising from academic misconduct are subtracted at the point of degreeclassification; it is recognised that a student may meet the progression requirements for

all stages but nonetheless fail the award for this reason.

Ordinary degrees, Certificates and diplomas of Higher Education are not classified.


28/43

28

MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES

YLS attempts to ensure that students should not be unduly disadvantaged if their ability to

undertake the academic work expected of them is affected by adverse circumstances which

go beyond the normal difficulties of life. The University has a policy on Mitigating

Circumstances and you will be able to access a separate document which sets out the policy

and which gives further information about how it is applied in YLS. You should familiarise

yourself with the policy.

Please note that you should inform your Personal Advisor or a member of the

YLS Administrative Team as soon as is reasonably practicable if any

circumstances are affecting your academic work or ability to prepare for,

undertake or submit a required piece of assessment.

FAILURE AND APPEALS

If you fail to meet the academic requirements of the programme you may be excluded from

the programme. You will be given the opportunity to appeal against any exclusion.

Details of the appeals procedures are available at:

http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/sso/academic/scc/acappeals.html

and

http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/sso/academic/scc/acugappeals.html

This right of appeal does not extend to challenging the examiners' judgement but may take

mitigating circumstances into account.

Further details on the academic requirements for progressing from stage to stage of the

programme, and on degree classification, are set out in this handbook.


29/43

29

COMPENSATION

In the following circumstances credit may be awarded for failed module(s)

WHERE THE FAILURE IS COMPENSATED BY ACHIEVEMENT IN OTHER MODULE(S)

In stage 1, if a student fails one or more modules (i.e., achieves a module mark below

40) in the stage s/he may still receive the credit for the failed module(s) and progress

provided that:

1. s/he has failed no more than 40 credits, and2. no module marks are Lower than 30, and3. the rounded credit-weighted mean over all modules taken in the stage

(including the failed module(s)) is at Least 40.

In stage 2, if a student fails one or more modules (i.e., achieves a module mark below

40) in the stage s/he may still receive the credit for the failed module(s) and progress

provided that:

1. s/he has failed no more than 40 credits, and2. no module marks are Lower than 30, and3. the rounded credit-weighted mean over all modules taken in the stage

(including the failed module(s)) is at Least 40.

In stage 3, if a student fails one or more modules s/he may still receive the credit and

progress to classification provided that:

Please be aware that irrespective of the University rulesrelating to compensation which are set out here, being

compensated in certain law modules may affect your

ability to obtain a Qualifying Law Degree (see

Compensation and the Qualifying Law Degree below)

Ifyou pass a module with a mark of at Least 40% either

at first sit or resit, you will not need to be compensated

in it


30/43

30

1. s/he has failed no more than 40 credits, and2. no module mark falls below the threshold for compensation appropriate for its

level1, and

3. the rounded credit-weighted mean over all modules taken in the stage (including thefailed module(s)) is at Least 40.

COMPENSATION AND THE QUALIFYING LAW DEGREE

Students should be aware that the compensation provisions described here relate to the

award of a University Degree and that failure in modules that contribute to the

qualifying Law Degree has serious implications regarding eligibility to undertake the

legal Practice Course and Bar professional Training Course.

The professional regulation requirements provide for Limited discretion to be exercisedby the Solicitors Regulation Authority or Bar Standards Board with regard to the

marginal failure of one of the subjects which they refer to as the Foundation of legal

knowledge. In YLS, the Foundations of legal knowledge are covered:

1. In the Foundation Stream2. In other designated modules from the Law and Practice and Law and

Society Streams

For the purposes of this section of this Handbook, these modules are referred to as

QLD-relevant modules. The QLD-relevant modules are:

Foundation Stream:

Year 1 Criminal law Year 1 Obligations 1 Year 1 Property Law 1 Year 1 Public Law 1 Year 2 Obligations 2 Year 2 Property Law 2 Year 3 Law of the European Union Year 3 Public Law 2Law and Practice Stream

Year 1 Legal Skills Year 2 Advanced Legal Skills1For level C/4, I/5 and H/6 modules, the threshold for compensation is 30. For level M/7

modules, the threshold is 40.


31/43

31

Law and Society Stream

Year 1 Introduction to Law and Society Year 2 Professionalism and Ethics

As set out above, the University applies its own regulations governing

compensation for failures and reassessment. The provisions for

compensation for the purposes of the University award are more

generous than the limited discretion afforded to the professional

bodies. Accordingly, there are implications for students from the

marginal failure of QLD-relevant modules which do not apply in

relation to other modules

If a student fails one QLD-relevant module following reassessment

and is permitted compensation for the purposes of the University

Award, s/he will have to seek the exercise of discretion from therelevant professional body if they are to be exempted from the

need to undertake the Graduate Diploma in Law prior to the Legal

Practice, or Bar Vocational Course

This discretion can only be exercised where

There is failure in one (and one only) QLD-relevant

module, and the mark obtained in that module is 35% or

above

Where more than one QLD-relevant module has been failed, the

professional bodies will not have discretion to grant an exemption.


32/43

32

SCENARIOS

You should note at this stage that it would be possible to be eligible for compensation by the

University, but not eligible for the exercise of discretion by the professional bodies. Consider

the following scenarios:

Student A achieves a mark of 32% in Obligations 1 (a QLD-

relevant module) after reassessment. Depending on his or

her other marks, that students failure in Obligations 1

might be compensated by the University for the purposes

of the Award of an LLB. However, the Professional

bodies could not exercise their discretion in favour of

that student because the mark is below 35%. Therefore

Student A would NOT obtain a Qualifying law Degree

Student B achieves a mark of 38% in Public Law 1 and 37% in

Criminal Law (both QLD-relevant modules) after

reassessment. Depending on his or her other marks, those

failures might be compensated by the University for the

purposes of the Award of an LLB. However, the

professional bodies could not exercise their discretion in

favour of that student because there is more than one

failure in a QLD-relevant subject. Therefore Student B would

not obtain a Qualifying Law Degree


33/43

33

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

Producing work at University level requires you to comply with various rules and

conventions to do with, for example, acknowledging the authors of sources which you have

used, or producing a piece of assessed work individually rather than in collusion with others.

YLS will work with you to help you to avoid breaking these rules. For example, you will learn

in classes about what the rules mean; you will receive feedback on how well you are

progressing with learning how to acknowledge authors; and you will undertake the

Universitys online Academic Integrity tutorial. Further details will be issued, but you should

note that you must complete this in order to progress from Stage 1 to Stage 2.

You are responsible for ensuring that your work does not contravene the University's rules

on academic misconduct which are set out the University's Assessment regulations at

www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r5.htm . The University takes a very serious view of such

misconduct and penalties will be applied to students who attempt to mislead examiners.

University Regulation 5.4 defines academic misconduct:

The University regards any form of academic misconduct as an extremely serious

matter. Candidates must not, in relation to assessed work at any stage in their course:

Cheati.e. Fail to comply with the rules governing examinations e.g. By makingarrangements to have unauthorised access to information;

Collude i.e. Assist another student to gain an advantage by unfair means, or receive suchassistance;

Fabricate i.e. Mislead the examiners by presenting work for assessment in a way whichintentionally or recklessly suggests that factual information has been collected which has

not in fact been collected, or falsifies factual information;

Personate i.e. Act, appear, or produce work on behalf of another candidate in order todeceive the examiners, or solicit another individual to act, appear, or produce work ontheir own behalf;

Plagiarise i.e. Incorporate within their work without appropriate acknowledgmentmaterial derived from the work (published or unpublished) of another.

In relation to plagiarism, appropriate acknowledgment requires both that direct quotations

are placed in quotation marks (or other convention, as defined in Departmental regulations)

and that sources are fully attributed.

The penalties for academic misconduct will depend on the seriousness of the offence.

Students found guilty of academic misconduct may, for example, have their degree class
http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r5.htmhttp://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r5.htmhttp://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r5.htm


34/43

34

reduced, fail their degree or be asked to leave the University. If you have any queries about

what constitutes academic misconduct, and in particular about the proper attribution of

material derived from another's work, you should seek advice from your personal Advisor or

another member of staff. Let us stress again that York Law School will work with you to help

you to learn to act with what is sometimes known as academic integrity, thereby avoidingacademic misconduct.

Further details on academic misconduct can be found in the WrittenStatement on

Assessment. Unacknowledged use of material from the Internet also constitutes plagiarism.


35/43

35

REASSESSMENT

In stages 1 and 2, where a student fails modules and the progression requirement for the

stage cannot be met by application of the compensation rules, the student is entitled to

reassessment in a maximum of 90 credits-worth of failed modules (per stage) provided that

they have failed no more than 90 credits in that stage with no more than 50 credits-worth

of outright fail marks in that stage (i.e., module marks less than 30).

In stage 3, where a student fails modules and the award requirements for the stage cannot

be met by application of the compensation rules, the student is entitled to reassessment in

a maximum of 40 credits-worth of failed modules provided that they have failed no more

than 40 credits.

If, following the application of the compensation rules, a student has not met the overall

progression or award requirements then they may be reassessed in modules for which

potentially compensatable marks have already been achieved. This will simply be anopportunity (not a requirement).

Reassessment in modules for which compensatable marks have already been achieved is

simply an opportunity (not a requirement) for those who have not met the progression

or award requirements. A student may only be reassessed in a particular module on one

occasion. The following conditions apply to the treatment of marks after reassessment:

A) progression decisions following reassessment are made using the better of the original

and reassessment marks for each failed module;

B) following progression, however, where the original credit-weighted mean did not meet

the progression requirement, the credit -weighted total mark(see above) for the stage is

capped to the Lowest value consistent with the mean mark criterion for that stage;

C) following progression, where the original credit-weighted mean has already met the

progression requirement, the original credit-weighted total markfor the stage can stand.

Where a student is not permitted a reassessment opportunity (i.e., cannot meet the

specified progression requirements through reassessment as defined above) and there are

no mitigating circumstances s/he will usually be discontinued.


36/43

36

SUPPORT

From time to time at University, things may not always go according to plan. For when this

happens, the YLS and the University of York have a wide and varied support network. The

starting point in YLS for queries relating to support should be your Personal Advisor.

The University provides an extensive student support network. Each college has a welfare

team which includes the Provost and a college Dean who has special responsibility for

student welfare. In addition, the Student Support Office provides students with quick

and easy access to various sources of help and advice on all aspects of Life as a student.

Services available include counselling and advice on

Personal problems Academic study Disabilities General health issues including stress Childcare Equal opportunities Accommodation Council tax Finance Grants and benefits Student Loans Immigration Legal problems Disciplinary matters Careers


37/43

37

LIBRARY SUPPORT

Academic Departments each have and Academic Liaison Librarian (ALL). The ALL for

Law are Alison Kaye and Clare Ackerley. Library and research skills training, including

specialist training in using on-Line legal research databases, e.g.Westlaw, Hein online and

LEXIS/NEXIS form an integral part of your programme of study. Research skills are

developed throughout the programme.

THE OPEN DOOR TEAM

(see http://www.york.ac.uk/opendoor/)

The Open Door Team provides a single point of access for any student experiencingemotional, psychological or mental health difficulties

The team provides:

initial consultation Short term help for specific issues Signposting or referral to other services Case co-ordination

Students continue to have the option of discussing concerns with their college welfare

team or supervisor / personal Advisor.

The Open Door team is part of the Student Support Off ice. You can con tact the Open

Door team by email: [email protected] or by telephone on (01904) 433698.

IT SUPPORT

You will be given a computer username and password on registration. These provide access

to some University of York electronic resources, and, on campus, PC workstations

(including e-mail and internet access). IT support is provided by IT Services and

underpinned by a University-wide programme known as ILIAD (Information Literacy in ALL

Departments). ILIAD is an extra- curricular Learning programme designed to help you

maintain or acquire computer skills in the retrieval, management and presentation of

information. You can study a taught 10-hour course or use materials supplied for

independent study. The University examines the courses and is able to providecertification of students' results.


38/43

38

The use of IT is integrated into the LL.B Programme in various ways with students being

introduced to basic word-processing, presentation and project management software as

part of Year 1 and 2 modules.

DISABLED STUDENT SUPPORT

The Law school is committed to equal opportunities and believes that, if you have a

disability, you should have access to the full range of academic, cultural and social

activities which are on offer. We wil l do everything possible to meet both your general

needs for access and your specific needs if you wish to benefit from these activities and

it will take positive action to allow you to play the fullest part in the University s life. It

will ensure that you are adequately and appropriately consulted about your needs and

that your views are taken into account.

The Law School Departmental Disability officer is Louise Prendergast, who is based in

room LMB/281 and can be contacted on (01904) 325810 or by email on

[email protected].

The University's Manager of Disability Services is Penn Snowden.

Tel: (01904) 432637

E-mail: [email protected]

Website:http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/disability/.

The dys lexia Support Tutor can be reached on (01904) 434785

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

The international Student Support web pages can be found at

http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/sso/international/index.html

this will provide you with advice, information, news and publications.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION:

The International Students Association (ISA) is a student body that represents the

specific interests of international students at York. ALL international students,

undergraduate and postgraduate (including students from the EU), are automatically

members of the ISA, which is jointly financed by YUSU and the GSA. The ISA office is

Located in the first floor of Wentworth college. See the ISA website athttp://isayork.wordpress.com/.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.york.ac.uk/admin/disability/http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/disability/http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/sso/international/index.htmlhttp://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://isayork.wordpress.com/http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/sso/international/index.htmlhttp://www.york.ac.uk/admin/disability/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


39/43

39

MEDICAL ADVICE

Most students register with the University health Centre but you are free to register

with other medical practitioners if you prefer. If you have a medical problem that

affects your attendance or performance then it is your responsibility to inform thedepartmental Office and provide a medical certificate. The University health Centre

is familiar with the procedure. If you change your medical practitioner, then please

inform the office so that we can keep your records up to date.

DATA PROTECTION AND USE OF COMPUTERS

The University collects information about students for administrati ve, academic,

statutory and health and safety reasons. It conforms with the Data Protection Act

1998 in its collection, processing and disclosure of personal data. It cannot operate

effectively without processing information about you and requires your con sent to

do so. Your signature on your student registration form gives your agreement to

the processing of your personal data for any purposes connected with your

registration with the University, your health and safety or for any other legitimate

reason. Further information on Data Protection issues can be found at www .york . ac. uk /

ad min /dpc.

REGULATIONS FOR USE OF COMPUTING FACILITIES

These regulations apply to all computer users (staff, students, associates, and those

persons explicitly authorised) of the University of York, using equipment provided

either by the University (centrally or departmentally) or personally (when used for

University purposes or on University-managed premises). Guidelines to the Regulationsare

available. Seewww.york.ac .uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.html.

HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE

In respect of Health, Safety and Welfare, Students:

Shall at all times, whilst they are on University premises or taking part inUniversity activities, follow the Health, Safety and Welfare Policy and comply with

any health and safety instructions given to them by the Universi ty, its

Departments, the Students' Union, Athletic Union, Graduate Students

Association or Overseas Students' Association.
http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/dpc.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/dpc.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/dpc.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/dpc.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/dpc.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/dpc.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/dpc.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/dpc.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/dpc.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/dpc.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/dpc.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/aso/ordreg/r11.htm.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/dpc.http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/dpc.


40/43

40

Shall not, without the consent of the member of staff in charge of the area oractivity, introduce any equipment for use on University premises, a lter any fixed

installations, alter or remove health and safety notices or equipment, or

otherwise take any action which may create hazards for persons using thepremises or employees of the University.

Shall not, intentionally or recklessly, interfere with or misuse anythingprovided by the University in the interests of health, safety or welfare.


41/43

41

CAREERS

The University of York and YLS are able to provide support in relation to your career choices.

There is support both in relation to non-legal careers as there is for legal careers.

CAREERS SERVICE

The University of Yorks Careers Service is the universitys dedicated careers centre, and is

the first port of call for most students seeking careers advice. The Service offers 15-minute

sessions, as well as longer slots should that be necessary. Benefits of the Careers Service

include the annual careers fairs as well as being able to find you work experience in the local

community and even practice job interviews. For more info on the Careers Service, visit:

http://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/support-and-admin/careers/

THE LAW SOCIETY

The University of York is renowned nationally for its huge selection of student-run societies

(for more information, check outhttp://www.yusu.org/societies). One of these is the ever-

growing Law Society, consisting of both law and non-law students. For more on the Law

Society, the current President, Kris McGee (a third year law student) had this to say:

Hello! My name is Kris McGee and Im the new President of the University of York

Law Society.

The Law Society is now in its fifth year founded in 2007 by two history

undergraduates. Five years on, with the first intake of law students at York in 2008,

the Law Society is now one of the largest societies on campus and definitely one of

the more active societies. We have something for everyone in this society; from

workshops headed by professionals from some of the top law firms in the world to

fantastic nights out with plenty of free food and drink!

We hope to provide you with an unprecedented number of opportunities with

bigger and better social events for the budding socialite and more interactive andbeneficial workshops and presentations for the career-focused student.

Throughout the year, we will be visited by a multitude of firms, who will be coming

into the University and putting on workshops for you to learn and develop essential

skills such as negotiation and interview skills, as well as presentations on their firms

and the legal job market.

So if you want to boost your CV or win a summer vacation scheme, make sure

LawSoc is YourSoc for careers!
http://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/support-and-admin/careers/http://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/support-and-admin/careers/http://www.yusu.org/societieshttp://www.yusu.org/societieshttp://www.yusu.org/societieshttp://www.yusu.org/societieshttp://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/support-and-admin/careers/


42/43

42

Frequently Asked Questions:

WHAT TIME IS THE LAW SCHOOL OPEN AND WHERE CAN I WORK IF ITS SHUT?

Under current regulations, the Law School is open from 9am until 5pm, Monday to Friday.

The Law and Management Building (including the PBL area) is open from 8am-8pm Monday

to Friday. Outside of these hours, there are plenty of other spaces to work, both on

Heslington East and on the Main Campus. The Ron Cooke Hub is a space where you can

work at the weekend, and there is a list of Study Spaces online:

http://www.york.ac.uk/library/servicesandfacilities/studying/universitystudyspaces/

WHO SHOULD I CONTACT IF I HAVE A PROBLEM?

Your first port of call should be your Personal Advisor, for general queries. If you have a

problem that is specific to a module, then email the module leader (see contact details at

the front of this handbook). If you are not sure who to contact, either email your Personal

Advisor or one of the Law School Administrators.
http://www.york.ac.uk/library/servicesandfacilities/studying/universitystudyspaces/http://www.york.ac.uk/library/servicesandfacilities/studying/universitystudyspaces/http://www.york.ac.uk/library/servicesandfacilities/studying/universitystudyspaces/


43/43

MAPS AND GETTING AROUND

The University of York is split up into two

separate sites; Heslington West and

Heslington East. York Law School is located onthe smaller Heslington East site. Heslington

East is approximately a ten to fifteen minute

walk from main campus, which is where the

majority of first year accommodation is.

Goodricke college is currently the only college

to have accommodation on Heslington East,

with Langwith college due to move to

Heslington East by October 2012.

BUSES

Around campus, there are two main services that you will use; the FirstYork Number 4 and

the Unibus 44. Each of these buses runs a free campus hopper service, which takes you

from Heslington East to Wentworth college (and vice versa) free of charge. Both buses

continue into the town centre and to the railway station, with return tickets costing 2. Both

services also offer discounted prices if you wish to purchase a ticket for a week, term or

year.

1st year student handbook 2011.12

Documents