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Shaveen Bandaranayake

Learn Criminal Law in 120 minutes.

Whether you are a new student starting the Criminal Law this year or someone who is just about to sit for your Criminal Law examinations, "The Law Simplified" course on Criminal Law will give you a fast-track summery of the subject.

Many students who study the Law, find it difficult to connect all of the pieces together. Thus, this course will give you a "bird's eye" overview of the entire subject.

What's more, you will have access to 55+ pages of case summaries, specifically designed to help you understand all the legal principles.

Read more

Learn Criminal Law in 120 minutes.

Whether you are a new student starting the Criminal Law this year or someone who is just about to sit for your Criminal Law examinations, "The Law Simplified" course on Criminal Law will give you a fast-track summery of the subject.

Many students who study the Law, find it difficult to connect all of the pieces together. Thus, this course will give you a "bird's eye" overview of the entire subject.

What's more, you will have access to 55+ pages of case summaries, specifically designed to help you understand all the legal principles.

This course has been adapted to suit the needs of LLB students worldwide.

Remember, this is not a substitute for thorough learning, but it will be a great resource for students who want to recap the entire Criminal Law syllabus and for those who want a better, clearer and more concise understanding of the principles.

Features:

- Digestible chunks of knowledge: everything you need to know on each topic, simplified

- Downloadable "spider graphs" that will give you the bigger picture of the subject

- 55+ pages of case-law, developed in a simplified and direct manner.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • You will learn the important principles of criminal law
  • Clarification on "learning gaps" you may have
  • Learn how to make your own "spider graph" for your examination

Syllabus

Welcome to Criminal Law in 120 Minutes!
Let's Begin!
Introduction
Elements of an Offence
Read more

How to Effectively Answer a Question on Homicide

In this video, we will have a look at how to understand a question in Homicide and how best to apply the Law in answering it.

How to Effectively Answer a Question on Aggravated Assault

In this video, we will have a look at how to understand a question in Aggravated Assault and how best to apply the Law in answering it.

Note: Please download the "Sample Answers" from the 'Additional Resources' section in this video.

Congratulations on completing The Law Simplified course on Criminal Law!

If you are interested in further learning and taking your 'Pass' to an 'Ace', watch this video and see how other students have benefited from the Tutoring Masterclass Programme

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides case summaries, which can be helpful for students preparing for law examinations or seeking a concise understanding of legal principles
Offers downloadable "spider graphs" to provide a visual overview of the subject, potentially aiding in understanding the connections between different legal concepts
Designed as a fast-track summary, which may be most beneficial for students who need a quick recap or a high-level understanding of criminal law
Includes guidance on answering questions effectively, which is useful for students preparing for law exams and seeking to improve their exam performance
Intended as a supplement to thorough learning, so learners should not rely on it as a primary source of information or a substitute for in-depth study

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Reviews summary

Fast track criminal law overview

According to learners, this course offers a fast track overview of Criminal Law principles, particularly useful for those needing a quick recap or a bird's eye view. Students find it helpful for linking concepts and providing a concise summary before exams. The included case summaries and spider graphs are frequently highlighted as valuable resources. However, reviewers consistently note that the course is not a substitute for in-depth study and is too brief for comprehensive learning, making it better suited for revision rather than initial, foundational understanding. Its utility varies based on prior knowledge and expectations.
Better for revision than initial learning.
"Perfect for my exam revision, exactly what I needed to consolidate."
"As a beginner, I found it a bit too fast and assumed prior knowledge."
"Helped me, an experienced student, link concepts and fill minor gaps."
"Would not recommend this as the first exposure to criminal law."
Case summaries and graphs are valuable.
"Loved the case summaries, very helpful for understanding application."
"The spider graphs were a great visual aid to see how topics link together."
"The supplementary materials added significant value to the quick lectures."
"Case briefs are well-explained and easy to grasp."
Provides a quick summary of key topics.
"Great for a quick refresher before exams, covers the essentials fast."
"Helped me connect the dots and see the whole subject structure quickly."
"A concise summary of the core principles I needed to review."
"Perfect for a rapid revision session, saves a lot of time."
Not suitable as a primary learning source.
"Definitely need other resources; this only scratches the surface."
"Doesn't go into enough detail for exam preparation on its own."
"This is a good starting point but requires much more detailed study elsewhere."
"If you're a complete beginner, this will move too fast and lack the necessary depth."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Criminal Law in 120 Minutes: A Fast Track Course with these activities:
Review Elements of an Offense
Reinforce your understanding of the fundamental building blocks of criminal offenses before diving into more complex topics.
Browse courses on Criminal Law
Show steps
  • Review the definitions of actus reus and mens rea.
  • Study examples of different types of actus reus and mens rea.
  • Complete practice questions on identifying the elements of an offense.
Read 'Criminal Law' by Jonathan Herring
Expand your knowledge of criminal law principles with a comprehensive textbook.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Criminal Law' by Jonathan Herring.
  • Read the chapters relevant to the course syllabus.
  • Take notes on key concepts and case summaries.
Compile a Case Law Summary
Deepen your understanding of criminal law by creating a comprehensive compilation of case summaries related to the topics covered in the course.
Show steps
  • Gather case summaries from the course materials and external sources.
  • Organize the summaries by legal principle or offense.
  • Write a brief analysis of each case, highlighting the key facts and legal reasoning.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice Applying Legal Principles to Hypothetical Scenarios
Sharpen your ability to apply criminal law principles by working through hypothetical scenarios and identifying the relevant legal issues.
Show steps
  • Find or create hypothetical scenarios involving criminal offenses.
  • Identify the relevant legal principles and elements of the offense.
  • Apply the law to the facts of the scenario and reach a conclusion.
Create a Presentation on a Specific Offense
Solidify your understanding of a specific criminal offense by creating a presentation that explains the elements of the offense, relevant case law, and potential defenses.
Show steps
  • Choose a specific criminal offense to focus on.
  • Research the elements of the offense, relevant case law, and potential defenses.
  • Create a presentation that clearly and concisely explains the offense.
  • Practice delivering the presentation.
Read 'Blackstone's Criminal Practice'
Gain a deeper understanding of criminal procedure and evidence with a comprehensive guide.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Blackstone's Criminal Practice'.
  • Focus on sections relevant to the course syllabus, such as evidence and procedure.
  • Take notes on key concepts and practical applications.
Tutor Other Students
Reinforce your understanding of criminal law by tutoring other students who are taking the course.
Show steps
  • Offer to tutor other students who are struggling with the material.
  • Prepare for tutoring sessions by reviewing the relevant topics.
  • Explain concepts in a clear and concise manner.
  • Answer questions and provide feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete Criminal Law in 120 Minutes: A Fast Track Course will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Tutor
A tutor who specializes in law courses, such as criminal law, might benefit from this course. This course provides a fast track summary of the entire subject, which helps a tutor develop a bird's eye view of the topic. The course touches on all the important principles of criminal law, and includes case summaries, which may be particularly helpful for a tutor seeking to expand their own knowledge base. The course content can help clarify any learning gaps a tutor may have about criminal law.
Paralegal
A paralegal assists lawyers with legal research, document preparation, and case management. This course, with its focus on providing a fast-track summary of criminal law, including elements of offenses, defenses, and specific crimes, helps a paralegal to quickly grasp the key concepts they'll encounter in their work. The course emphasizes a 'bird's eye overview' which can help paralegals develop a comprehensive understanding of the law when engaging in case preparation. Furthermore, the case summaries and spider graphs provided will be incredibly useful in understanding legal principles and organizing information efficiently.
Legal Researcher
Legal researchers conduct in depth investigations in various areas of the law, and this course can be helpful to a researcher who may be required to work in the realm of criminal law. The course provides a concise overview of key areas of criminal law, ranging from elements of offences, defences to specific crimes such as homicide, theft and assault. The course's emphasis on case summaries and spider graphs may be helpful for a researcher learning about the applicable law. The course improves a researcher's understanding of the foundations of criminal law.
Legal Assistant
Legal assistants perform administrative tasks related to legal proceedings. To effectively support lawyers, a legal assistant needs a foundational knowledge of legal concepts. This course is designed to provide a concise overview of criminal law, which includes important principles of criminal law, and elements of an offense. This course would help a legal assistant become more familiar with the terminology and concepts of criminal law, which is helpful when managing cases and assisting lawyers. The course's focus on digestible chunks of knowledge can make learning this area more manageable for an assistant.
Law Enforcement Officer
Law enforcement officers must understand the legal framework within which they operate, including criminal law. This course can be helpful to a law enforcement officer by providing a quick overview of criminal law, covering topics such as elements of an offense, defenses, and specific crimes like homicide and theft. The course’s emphasis on understanding legal principles and providing case summaries will make it much easier to approach real-world scenarios. The spider graphs will also help organize legal concepts in a way that can help them see patterns in the law.
Compliance Officer
A compliance officer is responsible for ensuring that a company adheres to relevant laws and regulations, which may include aspects of criminal law. This course's overview of criminal law, with coverage of elements of offenses, defenses, and specific crimes like theft, can be advantageous for a compliance officer. The course helps them understand what constitutes criminal activity and how to identify potential risks within a company's operations. The course material on learning gaps may be useful in identifying vulnerabilities.
Court Reporter
Court reporters create transcripts of court proceedings, and they must have a good understanding of legal terminology and procedures. This course's focus on summarizing criminal law, including elements of an offense, defenses, and specific crimes, aids a court reporter in comprehending the context and language used in court. This knowledge helps increase the accuracy of transcripts and helps them contextualize what they are transcribing. The course's 'bird's eye' view can help a reporter understand the overall structure of legal arguments and testimonies.
Victim Advocate
Victim advocates provide support and resources to individuals who have experienced crime. To be an effective advocate, it is valuable to have some knowledge of criminal law. The course, which provides a fast-track summary of criminal law, covering topics like homicide, assault, and sexual offenses, provides the fundamental information that every advocate needs. The case summaries may help some advocates contextualize the legal journey and options of their clients. The course can help advocates better understand the nature of the crimes their clients have experienced.
Probation Officer
Probation officers supervise individuals who have been convicted of crimes and are serving probation. This role requires a good understanding of criminal law. This course, with its comprehensive overview of the legal principles, and its thorough coverage of elements of an offense, defenses, and specific crimes, may be useful to a probation officer by helping them understand the basis for the terms of probation. Additionally, the course's case-law summaries serve to put the law into a helpful real world context. The course improves one's foundations in criminal law.
Private Investigator
Private investigators often work on cases that involve criminal activity and therefore knowledge of criminal law is an asset. This course on criminal law, covering a wide array of topics from elements of offenses to specific crimes such as homicide and theft, may help a private investigator understand the intricacies of an investigation. The case summaries and spider graphs can improve one's understanding of legal principles. A more comprehensive understanding of the law is helpful in conducting thorough and legally sound investigations.
Security Specialist
Security specialists assess and mitigate risks to protect people, property, and information. A familiarity with basic criminal law is helpful, and this course can be useful in helping security specialists understand what constitutes criminal behavior. By learning the elements of an offense, and understanding the definitions of crimes, a security specialist can better assess potential security threats. The course's emphasis on the bigger picture may help them to look at recurring vulnerabilities.
Social Worker
Social workers who deal with families and individuals involved in the criminal justice system require an understanding of criminal law. This course's overview of criminal law, including elements of offenses and specific crimes like assault and theft, can help social workers understand the legal contexts of their clients' situations. The course may be useful in preparing them to better support their clients. Having a 'bird's eye' view will allow social workers to see how one case may fit into a larger trend.
Journalist
Journalists who cover crime and legal matters should have an understanding of the subject. This course's fast track summary of criminal law, including an overview of elements of offenses, defenses, and specific crimes, may be helpful to a journalist. The course's focus on making the law more accessible and clear will assist a journalist in better conveying legal matters to the public. The case summaries and spider graphs help ensure that a journalist's reporting is more accurate and well informed.
Human Resources Specialist
Human resource specialists sometimes encounter situations that involve legal matters. This course's introduction to criminal law may help a human resources specialist understand legal boundaries and potential liabilities in the workplace. This course provides a concise overview of criminal law, which may be useful in helping them identify situations that may need legal input. A human resources specialist who has taken this course can better understand the basic legal principles and terminology.
Teacher
Teachers at the secondary and post-secondary levels often require some legal awareness, and this course's overview of criminal law can be helpful. While not directly related to standard curriculum, understanding criminal law, including key concepts and case summaries, may assist teachers who interact with students or handle disciplinary matters. In addition, an understanding of criminal law helps educators develop a more comprehensive view of the world they serve. This may be particularly useful in a civics context. The course improves a teacher's foundational knowledge of this area of law.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Criminal Law in 120 Minutes: A Fast Track Course.
Provides a comprehensive overview of criminal law principles, offering a deeper understanding than the fast-track course. It is widely used as a textbook in universities and provides detailed analysis of key cases and legal concepts. Reading this book will help solidify your understanding of the subject and prepare you for more advanced study. It is particularly useful for students seeking a more in-depth understanding of the nuances of criminal law.
Comprehensive guide to criminal procedure and evidence. It valuable resource for understanding the practical aspects of criminal law. While it goes beyond the scope of the introductory course, it provides a deeper understanding of how criminal law is applied in practice. It is best used as additional reading for those interested in pursuing a career in criminal law.

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