University of Dundee School of Law

The University of Dundee School of Law is a division of the University of Dundee in Dundee, Scotland responsible for the teaching of law. The School of Law and the Law Library are based in the Scrymgeour Building, one of the oldest buildings in the university's main campus.

The University of Dundee's School of Law has the distinction of being the only law school in the United Kingdom to offer qualifying LL.B degrees in both Scottish and English/NI law. Both LL.B degrees can also be taken as Law with Languages degrees in French, German and Spanish. In the 2009 Good University Guide's "universities by subject" tables, the School of Law was ranked eighth in the UK and second in Scotland. [ [http://www.thegooduniversityguide.org.uk/single.htm?ipg=6643 The top UK universities by subject – The Good University Guide ] ]

At a post-graduate level, the law school offers a wide range of LL.M courses and is also linked to the University's Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy, and the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science.

History

The teaching of law had a long history within the University of St Andrews, beginning with its foundation in the early 15th century. [ [http://www.dundee.ac.uk/law/school/ Law: Information About the School (University of Dundee) ] ] As with many of the University's "professional subjects", the teaching of law was in later years focused upon Queen's College, the part of the University situated in Dundee, founded in 1881. In 1967, the University of Dundee was created by Royal Charter out of the former Queen's College, including the law school. The transfer of power to Dundee effected, the University of St Andrews remains distinct amongst the ancient universities of the British Isles in not offering the study of law.

The School of Law was only created in its present form following the reorganisation of the University in August 2006 when the Faculty of Law and Accountancy was abolished and the Schools of Law and Accountancy were created in its place, within the College of Arts and Social Sciences.

Courses Offered

Undergraduate

* LLB Scots Law (Honours and Pass)

* LLB English Law (Honours and Pass)

* LLB Scots Law with Languages

* LLB English Law with Languages

* Two Year LLB in Scots Law (Accelerated Course)

* Two year LLB in English Law (Accedlerated Course)

Post-Graduate

*Diploma in Legal Practice

*LLM/PgDip in Commercial Law: Programme Director: Mr Stuart Cross

The Commercial programme at Dundee provides students with a detailed understanding of core issues relating to corporate law and allows for further specialisations in the fields of corporate governance, contract, intellectual property law and E-Commerce. The compulsory Company Law module provides a strong central core which links many of the other modules in the programme. This module focuses on the structure and development of company law in the United Kingdom in an international context. It covers the radical re-shaping of company law in the United Kingdom in 2006 which will almost certainly impact on the reform of corporate law in other jurisdictions which have shaped their corporate regimes on earlier UK legislation.

The company law module links closely with the Corporate Governance module which covers issues relating to the distribution of power within companies and looks at governance regimes across the world. The impact of Enron and Worldcom have made governance issues much more high profile than had previously been the case. Dundee’s strength in the field of corporations is reflected in the other modules in this area dealing with Financial Services and Markets Regulation and Corporate and Regulatory Crime. The commercial significance of intellectual property issues are recognised in the Intellectual Property Law module which examines the statutory and common law regimes in the United Kingdom which regulate and control copyright, patents, trademarks, and design rights. Consideration is also given to intellectual property issues in a digital environment and the significant role of the European Union in shaping and influencing intellectual property rules and principles in the United Kingdom. This module is closely linked to the Principles of E-Commerce module which focuses on emerging issues in the digital world and examines issues such as contracting in a digital environment, conflicts of law issues in relation to online transactions and consumer protection in an online environment.

The contractual issues arising in E-Commerce and Financial Services modules are complemented by the comparative contract law module: Principles of International Contract Law.

*LLM/PgDip in Environmental Law:Programme Director: Ms Andrea Ross

The programme aims to give law graduates and others a conceptual understanding of the main legal issues related to environmental regulation as well as knowledge of the subject sufficient to encourage the critical evaluation of current research and practice in the field. Students can choose from a range of modules designed to develop their knowledge and understanding of issues connected with the environment and the law. Possible modules include Sustainable Development, Environmental Regulation, Ecosystems & International Law and Environmental Justice.

*LLM/PgDip in International Commercial Law: Programme Director: Professor Peter McEleavy The ICL programme at Dundee provides students with a detailed understanding of core issues relevant to international commercial litigation and allows for further specialisation in fields of contract, trade and corporations. At the heart of the programme lie the compulsory modules of International Business Transactions [IBT] I & II. These focus on the resolution of business disputes and cover such areas as: commercial arbitration; jurisdiction in domestic, European and international litigation, the recognition of foreign judgments; the law applicable to contractual obligations within Europe; the role of the lex mercatoria; the law applicable to corporations and international insolvency actions.

The IBT modules are complemented by the comparative contract law course – Principles of International Contract Law – which considers not only the UN Convention on the International Sale of Goods but also developments in the USA and at European level. International Dispute Settlement focuses on inter-State dispute settlement with regard to commercial/economic disputes and also covers the settlement of disputes between corporate bodies and States. Intellectual Property Law examines the statutory and common law regimes in the United Kingdom which regulate and control copyright, patents, trademarks, and design rights. Consideration is also given to intellectual property issues in a digital environment and the significant role of the European Union in shaping and influencing intellectual property rules and principles in the United Kingdom.

Students may equally select from the broad portfolio of options dealing with corporations, an area where Dundee has particular expertise: Company Law; Corporate Governance; Corporate & Regulatory Crime Financial Services and Markets Regulation.

*LLM/PgDip in International Law:Programme Director: Ms Elizabeth Kirk

The International Law programme aims to give law graduates and others an in-depth understanding and appreciation of the law in relation to key international law subjects and areas and an understanding of the context within which international law operates. The programme provides an opportunity to develop understanding of the key elements of international law through the Principles of Public International Law Module and the International Dispute Settlement Module. Principles of Public International Law examines issues such as the sources of law, personality in international law, jurisdiction, state responsibility and the enforcement of international law. International Dispute Settlement provides a more detailed understanding of the mechanisms available to resolve international disputes and their operation.

In addition there is an opportunity to develop breadth and depth of understanding in the currently topical and controversial areas of the protection of human rights and international criminal law. There are three optional and complementary modules on human rights - International Human Rights; International & Comparative Human Rights & Civil Liberties; and Rights in Europe and one on international criminal law - Individual Criminal Liability In International Law. In addition students may choose one option from another LL.M. programme offered by the School of Law.

*LLM/PgDip in International & European Law:Programme Director: Ms Carole Lyons

This programme aims to give students an in-depth understanding and appreciation of the law in relation to key International and European law subjects and areas, and an understanding of the various contexts within which International and European Law operate, both separately and together. Modules available include Governance in the EU, Principles of Public International Law and International Business Transactions.

*LLM/PgDip in Law and Government:Programme Director: Professor Janet McLean

The Law and Governance programme at Dundee introduces students to the idea of a multilayered system of formal government at national, European and international levels. Principles of Public and International Law and International and Comparative Human Rights and Civil Liberties provide a broad introduction to institutional mechanisms of government while International Human Rights Law and Rights in Europe offer a more detailed analysis of how these institutions work in practice in the area of human rights protection. A different perspective on government in its different layers and of the relative roles of public and private mechanisms of regulation is given in Financial Services and Markets Regulation. Students may also select from the broad portfolio of options dealing with corporate law, international law and human rights law.

*LLM/PgDip/PgCert in Human Rights Law: Programme Director: Dr Patrick Ford

The Human Rights LLM programme at Dundee aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding and appreciation of major issues in contemporary human rights law. The programme is structured around two compulsory taught modules – in addition to the Legal Research Skills module, which is compulsory for all LLM students – and a compulsory Dissertation. The two compulsory taught modules are International Human Rights Law, which introduces students to the law and institutions which exist at international level for the protection and promotion of human rights and examines the protection of a selection of specific rights at both global and regional level; and International & Comparative Human Rights & Civil Liberties, which considers the rule of law and associated concepts as a prelude to looking on a comparative basis at both international and national mechanisms for the protection of human rights and civil liberties.

The compulsory taught modules are supplemented by two optional taught modules. Understanding Human Rights seeks to promote students’ understanding of the concept of human rights by considering its historical development in Western thought and then reflecting on its contemporary black-letter application in the United Kingdom in the light of the work of four major legal and political theorists. Rights in Europe focuses on the two regional legal systems governing and affecting fundamental rights in Europe, namely the European Union and the European Convention on Human Rights and their associated institutions. It is open to students to select in place of either or both of the optional taught modules a module from outside the Human Rights cluster (such as Individual Criminal Liability in International Law or Principles of Public International Law). The Dissertation will be of 15,000 words, in a subject directly related to one of the four taught Human Rights modules.

*LLM/PgDip/PgCert in Criminal Justice: Programme Director: Professor Fiona Raitt

The Criminal Justice programme at Dundee provides students with a detailed understanding of contemporary issues relating to criminal justice with the opportunity to study modules which explore their topic from both a UK and an international perspective. In an increasingly global world, where organised crime transcends national boundaries and poses particular obstacles to detection, investigation and prosecution of crime, it is no longer possible to confine the study of Criminal Justice to narrow jurisdictional confines.

The programme offers four modules. International Human Rights provides an overview of international human rights law and systems through a review of international instruments, jurisprudence and literature produced by scholars, governments, non-governmental organisations and inter-governmental organisations. Individual Criminal Liability in International Law focuses on the principles of individual liability and procedures in regard to the International Criminal Court, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Corporate and Regulatory Crime examines critically the criminal liability of companies and the structure and use of regulatory offences. Aspects of UK Criminal Justice examines current topics in the law and practice of the criminal system in the United Kingdom, seeking to make comparisons between the three UK jurisdictions. The module considers a variety of issues such as models of criminal justice, and key procedural issues such as arrest and detention, the prosecutorial role, juries and jury selection, and victims.

*Distance Learning LL.M./Diploma/Certificate in Healthcare Law & Ethics Programme Director: Professor Pamela Ferguson In addition to the wide range of campus-based Masters the School of Law also offers a distance learning LL.M. in Healthcare Law & Ethics. Healthcare Law and Ethics is concerned with how the law regulates certain aspects of healthcare practice, why it does so, and whether it does so effectively, and in accordance with ethical principles. This programme has been devised to accommodate busy healthcare professionals; unlike other programmes, this one is not open to law graduates but has been designed specifically for those whose first degree is in a healthcare subject. The programme aims to give students an understanding and appreciation of law and ethics as they apply to professional practice. It will help students understand legal and ethical concepts, terminology and sources of law. Students can choose from a range of modules such as Treating Children & Incompetent Adults and Controversies in Healthcare Law & Ethics.

This programme is only available on a distance learning basis and takes 1-3 years to complete dependent on preferred exit route. [http://www.llmstudy.com/institution/333/]

Deans of the School of Law

Current Teaching Staff

Professorial Staff
Professor C Alice Belcher
Professor Robin Churchill
Professor Pamela Ferguson
Professor Peter McEleavy
Professor Janet McLean
Professor Fiona E Raitt
Professor Colin T Reid

Senior Lecturers
Mr David A Brand
Mr Stuart R Cross
Mr Cowan Ervine
Ms Sue Farran
Ms Elizabeth Kirk
Ms Carole Lyons
Dr Alasdair Maclean
Ms Andrea Ross
Ms Anastasia Vakulenko
Mr Robin White

Lecturers
Mr Gordon Cameron
Mr Brian Dempsey
Dr Patrick Ford
Ms Aude Fiorini
Mr Mark Mackarel

Associate Director Diploma in Legal Practice
Mrs Lynne Mannion

Mooting

The University of Dundee School of Law has a very active mooting society. The society organises an internal competition and competes in various Scottish and UK external competitions.

See also

* University of Dundee

* Legal education in the United Kingdom

* Scots Law

* English law

External links

[http://www.dundee.ac.uk/law Official Website]
[http://www.dundee.ac.uk University of Dundee]
[http://www.dundee.ac.uk/law/research/ School of Law Research]

Notes