An undergraduate course in Law.

Starting with law explores key legal concepts such as legal capacity and the rights and responsibilities of the individual, beginning with childhood, through to adulthood and finally into old age. You will examine how the law affects us at different points in our lives, and how we gain (and sometimes lose) our legal rights and responsibilities. This Openings course gently introduces you to OU study – ideal if you’re a beginner or returning to study. Also towards the end, you’ll try out learning online; the perfect way to gain the basic computing skills you’ll need for the next step in your studies.

Register for the course

What you will study

Whether you are simply interested in finding out about this fascinating and challenging subject or thinking of further study in law, this course has much to offer.

The law, as well as being a fascinating subject, underpins practically every aspect of modern life. From driving a car, to drinking a cup of coffee in a café, we are interacting with and affected by the law.

Starting with law introduces key legal concepts such as legal capacity and rights and responsibilities and develops your knowledge of the way the law works.

Starting with an orientation into the legal system, the early chapters of the course book examine why law matters, how laws are made and why we need laws. You will move on to look at the individual and consider questions like these:

• What are our rights as children?
• How do our rights and responsibilities change as we get older?
• Can we sometimes lose our rights as we get old or ill?

Throughout the course, you’ll focus on the members of a fictitious ‘family’ examining these topics from each member’s viewpoint.

Finally, in the two online chapters you will continue your study of law, looking at the key players in the legal system. In the first online chapter you will look at the role of solicitors and barristers, and in the second chapter, the roles of judges, jurors and magistrates. You will also have the opportunity to gain skills such as working with podcasts, using online forums and searching the internet for information relating to the subject. This experience will provide you with a gentle introduction to using a computer to support your study, and will equip you with the basic computing skills you will need for the next step in your studies.

You only need to use a computer for the last part of the course once you've completed the book, so if you don’t currently have one you’ve plenty of time to make arrangements. You can use your own computer or one at a library or drop-in centre. Please note that you can study and pass this course if you don’t have access to the internet and a computer.

Entry

Like all Openings courses, this course is ideal if you’re a beginner or returning to study, we will help you to develop your study skills and become a confident learner.

The study materials have been prepared with the needs of new learners in mind. No special knowledge or previous experience of studying is required. Taking examples from everyday life, this course enables you to use your general knowledge and interests, and gradually build up to university-level study. You will develop key study skills such as time management, note taking, reading for study purposes and reflection on your own learning.

This Openings course would be useful if you are interested in going on to study our key introductory 60-credit Level 1 course Rules, rights and justice: an introduction to law (W100). 

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.

If you have a disability or additional requirement

Alternative questions will be provided for any assignments that depend on visual or aural material. Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific or foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. The study materials are available on audio in DAISY Digital Talking Book format. Other alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.

To do the online element of this course you will need to make use of a personal computer and the internet. If you use specialist hardware or software to assist you in operating a computer or have concerns about accessing the type of material outlined, talk to the Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering about the support which can be given to meet your needs.

If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.

You can also find information about accessible study materials, the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website . It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.

Study materials

What's included

Course book, DVD and a website where you can access the online resources.

Digital copies (PDFs) of most study materials, and transcripts of the DVD can be found on the website. Transcripts are also available on the DVD itself if it is accessed through a computer.

You will need

Access to a telephone (preferably a landline) for contact with your tutor; and the equipment to play and watch a video DVD e.g. a television and DVD player or a personal computer with DVD drive.

You will need access to the internet and a computer to study the last two chapters of this course or if you wish to receive and send email and use our online services.

Computing requirements

This course includes optional, online, computer activities – you have to access these using a web browser with Flash and Java.

To take part in the online activities you will need a computer with internet access.

• If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer since 2006 you should have no problems completing the online activities.
• If you’ve got a netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device check our Technical requirements section.

You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will keep in touch by a combination of telephone, written correspondence and, if you want, email. There are no face-to-face tutorials; all tutorials are conducted between you and your tutor on the telephone. Your tutor will help you to plan your work and to think about the ideas explored in the course. Your tutor will also comment on and help you with your written work. At the end of the course you will discuss your progress with your tutor, and you will work together to review your learning.

Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.

You can choose whether to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and end-of-module assessment (EMA) on paper or online through the eTMA system. You may want to use the eTMA system for some of your assignments but submit on paper for others. This is entirely your choice.

The iCMA (interactive computer-marked assignment) must be submitted online.

Future availability

The course starts four times a year, in March, June, September and November. Each course lasts for a maximum of 20 weeks.

How to register

Unfortunately, we are unable to accept online registrations for this course. Please see Study explained for more information about our Openings courses including costs and how to register.

Distance learning

The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.

For more information about distance learning at the OU read Study explained.

Study explained

Time

– find out how much time is required to complete OU study. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.

Costs

- find out how much you can expect to pay.

Study explained

- all you need to know about studying with the OU.

Your questions

We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.

Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90 +44(0) 845 366 60 35

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