This is a skills-based course intended for students new to the study of law at a tertiary level or new to the study of law in a common law jurisdiction. The course aims to:

• introduce students to the concept of law, the study of law and the role of legal skills in the law degree;
• familiarise students with the way the law operates in common law jurisdictions;
• develop students' ability to read and analyse common law cases;
• develop students' ability to interpret statutes and constitutional documents;
• develop students' legal research skills;
• develop students' legal writing skills. 

The skills developed during this course will remain relevant throughout students' academic careers, particularly during the study of 'black letter' law subjects. JD and LLB students are co-taught.

End of Semester Examination (CILO No.1, 3-5) - 3 hour unseen examination testing students' ability to describe and compare precedent, to analyse cases, statutes and constitutions, and to write and edit for a legal audience. To be completed individually.

Grading of Student Achievement: Standard (A+, A, A-...F).

Further details of the assessment scheme will be provided during the first lecture.

Students will need to pay careful attention to their time management skills, and to the university’s Academic Honesty policy: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/pvdp/ah/uni-ah-req.htm

Applicable to students admitted from Semester A 2022/23 to Summer Term 2024

To pass this course, students must obtain an aggregate mark of 50% across the entire course and a minimum of 50% in each of the above assessment tasks for this course.

Applicable to students admitted before Semester A 2022/23 and in Semester A 2024/25 and thereafter

To pass this course, students must obtain an aggregate mark of 40% across the entire course and a minimum of 40% in each of the above assessment tasks for this course.

Artificial Intelligence

The use of Generative AI tools is not allowed in completing any assessment tasks for this course.