Assignment Brief
As part of the formal assessment for the programme you are required to submit a Law and
Ethics portfolio of tasks. Please refer to your Student Handbook for full details of the
programme assessment scheme and general information on preparing and submitting
assignments.
Learning Outcomes:
After completing the module, you should be able to:

1. Explain the relationship between morality and law
2. Identify the values underpinning the legal system
3. Evaluate the institutions, professional roles and ethics of the judiciary and legal
   professions
4. Appraise the ethical responsibilities of lawyers
   Your assignment should include: a title page containing your student number, the module
   name, the submission deadline and a word count; the appendices if relevant; and a
   reference list in OSCOLA format. You should address all the elements of the assignment
   task listed below. Please note that tutors will use the assessment criteria set out below in
   assessing your work.
   Maximum word count: 3000 words
   Please note that exceeding the word count will result in a reduction in grade proportionate
   to the number of words used in excess of the permitted limit.
   Warning:
   QLD Regulations require that unfair practice findings are referred to the SRA (Solicitors
   Regulation Authority) and BSB (Bar Standards Board) and can prevent admission as a
   barrister or a solicitor. Take your referencing seriously. Do not risk you career.
   Page 3 of 7
   Assignment Task
   This assignment consists of two parts, PART A and PART B. You must complete both
   PART A and PART B.
   PART A
5. To what extent do Professor Hart and Lord Devlin agree that the law should
   intervene in respect of criminalising harmful actions?
   In your answer you should refer to relevant theory and law.
   (1500 words)
   (50 marks)
   (LO 1 – 2)
   PART B
6. Charlie, a barrister is called to court to represent Lucy who has been charged with
   murder. Lucy shot her friend, Sally after discovering that she was having an affair
   with her boyfriend, Franklin. The crime was heinous and Lucy is known for being
   involved in organised crime. Charlie does not like Lucy and thinks that the way in
   which she lives her life is wrong and immoral. He did not want to take the case but
   did so reluctantly. Charlie goes and meets Lucy down in the cells. During the
   conference Lucy informs him that she is guilty but she wishes to plead not guilty.
   Identify the professional and ethical issues arising from the scenario above with
   reference to the BSB Code of Conduct and other relevant sources.
   (1500 words)
   (50 marks)
   (LO 3 – 4)
   Page 4 of 7
   Formative Feedback
   You have the opportunity to submit a plan of your tasks to receive formative feedback.
   The feedback is designed to help you develop areas of your work and it helps you develop
   your skills as an independent learner.
   If you are a distance learning student, you should submit your work, by email, to your tutor,
   no later than two weeks before the actual submission deadline. If you are a blended
   learning student, your tutor will give you a deadline for formative feedback and further
   details.
   Formative feedback will normally only be given once and will not be given to work submitted
   after the above date.
   Guidelines
   You MUST underpin your analysis and evaluation of the key issues with appropriate and
   wide ranging case law and ensure this is referenced using the OSCOLA system. The My
   Study Skills Area contains an OSCOLA Referencing Interactive Tutorial. You must use the
   OSCOLA referencing method in your assignment.
   Additional notes:
   Students are required to indicate the exact word count on the title page of the assessment.
   The word count excludes the title page, executive summary, reference list and
   appendices. Where assessment questions have been reprinted from the assessment brief
   these will also be excluded from the word count. ALL other printed words ARE included
   in the word count. Printed words include those contained within charts and tables.
   See ‘Word Count Policy’ on the homepage of this module for more information.
   Assignments submitted late will not be accepted and will be marked as a 0% fail.
   Page 5 of 7
   Your assessment should be submitted as a single Word (MS Word) or PDF file. For more
   information please see the “Guide to Submitting an Assignment” document available on the
   module page on iLearn.
   You must ensure that the submitted assignment is all your own work and that all sources
   used are correctly attributed. Penalties apply to assignments which show evidence of
   academic unfair practice. (See the Student Handbook which is on the homepage of your
   module and also in the Induction Area).
   Warning:
   QLD Regulations require that unfair practice findings are referred to the SRA (Solicitors
   Regulation Authority) and BSB (Bar Standards Board) and can prevent admission as a
   barrister or a solicitor. Take your referencing seriously. Do not risk you career.