Justice in action
Qualification dates
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The defining feature of this module involves being allocated to a group Open Justice project where you will work collaboratively with other students under the supervision of a tutor. The Open Justice projects involve taking part in activities where you apply your academic knowledge to practical legal issues.
Due to the nature of the module’s Open Justice projects, the October 2025 presentation will be limited to 224 places, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
What you will study
During this module, you'll work in a small group on a practical legal activity. You'll also explore important themes relating to access to justice, technology, professional identity and legal values and ethics and develop key legal, employability and personal skills.
Your Open Justice Project will involve undertaking a project to explore legal awareness and access to justice. Participation in a group project is a compulsory part of the module and forms an important part of your assessment. All the projects require collaborating in a small group and demand significant commitment and initiative. You will be required to approach your allocated project in a professional manner, which includes giving due priority to your participation.
After you have registered for the module, you will be contacted by the Open Justice Centre and invited to express your preferences for particular projects. The Open Justice Centre will take these preferences into account, but you may not be allocated your preferred choice.
A summary of the Open Justice projects that we plan to offer for the October 2025 presentation of this module is available here and you can find more information about the Open Justice Centre on this website.
The module is divided into three blocks of work:
Block 1: Exploring justice in action
In this block, you'll consider social justice and its relationship with the rule of law, explore access to justice and pro bono, and examine why lawyers and law firms engage in pro bono. It will explore how this relates to professionalism and professional identity within the legal profession and look at how legal values and ethics can and should influence legal work. It also explores the relationship between technology and law, and considers the increasing digitisation of the courts. During this block, you will begin to think about how these issues will affect your own work during the module. You'll also undertake your own skills audit to enable you to assess both the skills you already have and those you need to develop for personal and professional growth.
Block 2: Open Justice projects
This is the longest section of the module, where you will undertake a practical project working collaboratively as part of a small group. During this block you will develop key legal skills relevant to your project. These may include skills relating to undertaking practical legal research, legal writing, report writing, negotiation and presenting legal information. During this section of the module you will need to be flexible and prioritise the demands of your Open Justice Project and work effectively as part of a group. You will continue to think about your skills development and the themes that were introduced in Block 1.
Block 3: Drawing it all together
In the final, shorter block of the module, you'll complete your project and relate it back to the themes you studied in Block 1. You'll complete your review of the skills you have developed throughout the module.
Launchpad
You will also access to have a range of online resources that will help you undertake your Open Justice Project.
The main part of your assessment is at end the of the module and it is based on a 3,000-word critical reflection of your participation in your Open Justice Project. Therefore, your full and active participation in your allocated project is essential to succeed.
You should only register on W360 if you:
- are sure that you are willing to work as part of a group with your fellow students
- will have the time to prioritise your participation in your allocated project
- are aware that the main method of assessment is a critical reflection on your participation in your allocated Open Justice Project
- are aware that although we will do our best to allocate you to your preferred project, we can’t guarantee that this will happen.
Considering studying this module as part of a law degree?
If you’re considering studying this as part of your law degree at the OU, you can find out more from the module team chairs and previous students from the recording of an online event, ‘Choosing your OU level 3 optional law module’. This is available in the Student Experience room on the Law Study home page. You’ll also be able to find out about the other optional law modules.
You will learn
You'll gain knowledge and understanding of the role of law and legal practice in society, including looking at ethics, values and access to justice and the importance of professionalism and professional identity. You will develop your ability to collaborate and work as part of a team and clearly communicate information about law in a variety of ways to a range of audiences. You'll also identify and develop other important skills required for both career and personal development.
Entry requirements
This module is only available if you are studying a law degree (LLB).
If you are studying this module towards the Academic degree or Foundations of Legal Knowledge route as part of the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (LLB) (R81) or Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (graduate entry) (LLB) (R82), then you will need to have studied or be studying on a presentation of Trusts law (W311) before enrolling on W360.
What's included
You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
- a week-by-week study planner
- module materials
- launchpad
- audio and video content
- tutorials and tutor group forums
- various online resources.
Computing requirements
- Primary device – A desktop or laptop computer. It’s possible to access some materials on a mobile phone, tablet or Chromebook; however, they will not be suitable as your primary device.
- Peripheral device – Headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone for online tutorials.
- Our OU Study app operates on supported versions of Android and iOS.
- Operating systems – Windows 11 or latest supported macOS. Microsoft will no longer support Windows 10 as of 14 October 2025.
- Internet access – Broadband or mobile connection.
- Browser – Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge are recommended. Mozilla Firefox and Safari may be suitable.