This document outlines the preparatory tasks and learning outcomes for a lecture on the criminal courts in England. Students are asked to do a group presentation on the role, selection, and advantages and disadvantages of trial by jury. They are also assigned a quiz on the topics covered in the first four weeks and asked to add new legal terms to their glossary. The learning outcomes include outlining the court hierarchy, key differences between criminal courts, and roles of magistrates, judges, and juries as well as criminal offenses and sentencing powers.

1. Foundation Law 2013/14
1
Lecture 4
The Criminal Courts
Reading List:
 Jacqueline Martin, “GCSE Law”, 5th
edition, Chapters 3, 4 and 5
 Jacqueline Martin, “GCSE Law”, 5th
edition, Chapter 9- Juries
 Glanville Williams, “Learning the Law”, 15th
edition, pages 4-16
Preparatory Tasks for Seminar 4 (w/c 28th October 2013):
1. Group presentations- the role, selection and advantages/disadvantages of having a trial by
jury.
2. Quiz 1 (available on Moodle) - multiple choice questions consolidating the topics studied
in weeks 1-4.
3. Add to your glossary of legal terms any new terms that you have learnt this week.
Learning Outcomes:
 Outline the overall hierarchy of the English courts and the different civil & criminal courts;
 Outline the key differences between the two criminal courts;
 Describe the role and selection of the magistrates, the crown court judges and the jury;
 Explain how a jury is selected and critically discuss the advantages & disadvantages of having a
trial by jury;
 Show knowledge & understanding of the different categories of criminal offences; and
 The sentencing powers available to judge/magistrates and the aims of sentencing.