Advanced Comparative Administrative Law

This advanced module in administrative law is aimed as a follow up to Public Law. In the first place the coverage is designed to provide partly from a comparative perspective an introduction to the functioning of governmental and administrative institutions but as an over arching theme this module seeks to provide a critical understanding of the mechanisms for the control of public power in the United Kingdom and a range of other jurisdictions.

The first term will be concerned to survey the functioning of what might be termed the ‘administrative state’ with special attention devoted to the role of Parliament, freedom of information and the grievance chain comprising ombudsmen, tribunals and alternative dispute resolution (ADR). The second term will concentrate on evaluating the role of the courts in providing judicial remedies and in the protection of citizen rights.

A task that will be approached with in depth study of judicial review and frequent comparative reference to other nations. It will appeal to students interested in public law, human rights and politics both from a domestic and international perspective.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

• Advanced knowledge of the academic debate surrounding the application of administrative law
• Engage with the various academic debates in administrative law
• Be able to analyse both legal and political controls on governmental bodies and their decisions
• Be able to critically analyse the various control mechanisms on public power
• Have a clear understanding and provide a critique of the principles of judicial review
• Be able to apply these legal principles to sophisticated legal problems

Workload

• Weekly 2 hour lecture/workshop

Method of assessment

• 100% Coursework
• Assignment 1: Research project: compiling a report related to administrative law (50%)
• Assignment 2: Judicial review problem question (50%)

Suggested reading

• P Leyland and G Anthony  Textbook on Administrative Law, 8th end, Oxford University Press, 2016.
• C Harlow and R Rawlings Law and Administration, 4th Revised edition, Cambridge University Press, 2021.

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.