Public Law 2 – Coursework Portfolio

Learning Outcomes Assessed:

At Level 4:

1. Analyse themes in Administrative Law and other rights in Public Law and demonstrate an ability to apply this analysis to problem situations.

At Level 5:

1. Critically analyse themes in Administrative Law and other rights in Public Law and demonstrate competence in applying this analysis to problem situations.

Students on the module are required to produce four short case comments throughout the period of the module, and submit them as one portfolio. Each case comment takes the form of a 500-word discussion of a particular case, as required by your module leader. The deadline for this piece of coursework is 02 April 2010. You must use OSCOLA referencing. The portfolio will be assessed as a whole.

Case Comments

Each case comment you complete should address each of the following points for the case concerned:

  • What was the primary purpose of the party that sought judicial review?
  • What was the defendant's point of view with respect to that issue?
  • What argument(s) did the party seeking judicial review put forward?
  • What were the implications of the reasoning of the party seeking judicial review?
  • What were the fundamental elements of the decision made by the Court in the case?
  • What were the fundamental reasons given for the decision made by the Court in the case?
  • What were the social, political or economic reasons that underpin the decision made by the Court in the case, if any?
  • Did the case establish or follow any new trends or fundamental principles in administrative law?

Your Task: Produce a separate case comment for each of the following cases, and submit them as one portfolio:

R (Coughlan) v North and East Devon Health Authority [2001] QB 213
Porter v Magill [2001] UKHL 673
Ridge v Baldwin[1964] AC 40
R v Mulvihill [1990] 1 WLR 438