Students will be involved in investigating claims of factual innocence by alleged victims of wrongful convictions as part of a Miscarriage of Justice Project. Students work in small teams on a real life alleged miscarriage of justice case with a view to submitting an application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission for the case to be referred back to the Court of Appeal If the investigations show the convicted person is not innocent, the case will be closed. Students' work is supervised by academics in conjunction with practising solicitors, barristers and forensic scientists.
Upon successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1. To explore and apply legal rules, doctrines and concepts with real cases
2. To facilitate appreciation of legal ethics and values and the professional and socio-economic context in which legal services are provided
3. To develop a critical awareness of the dynamics of the criminal justice system and processes in advice and case work
4. To develop an understanding of how miscarriage of justice cases occur and can inform the debate on reform of the criminal justice system