CL6326 - Devolution in Practice: Welsh Law

& Politics Work Placement

School

Cardiff Law School

Department Code

LAWPL1

Module Code

CL6326

External Subject Code

M190

Number of Credits

30

Level

L6

Language of Delivery

English

Module Leader

Dr Einion Dafydd

Semester

Double Semester

Academic Year

2016/7

Outline Description of Module

This course provides a theoretically grounded, yet practice-oriented introduction to devolved governance in
Wales. By undertaking a 20-day work placement at an organization that plays a key role in Welsh governance,
and by participating in a series of lecture seminars delivered by leading practitioners and academic experts in
the fields of Public Law and Politics, students are afforded a means of experiencing the workings of public
administration in Wales at first hand. Through their participation, students will broaden their empirical
knowledge and understanding of the legal and political dimensions of governance in Wales, develop highly
valuable transferable skills that will be key to their employability and career development, and forge long-term
professional relationships within the relevant sectors.

This module is capped at 10 participants. Students wishing to enroll on this module are required to submit an
application form and a statement of no more than 300 words which sets out why they wish to undertake a
work placement and how they feel they would benefit from participating on this module. A shortlist of
applicants will be interviewed in the School of Law and Politics in the Spring. Only students studying towards a
degree for which a major component is Law and/or Politics and who gained an average mark in the 2:1
category or above in Year 1 are eligible. The work placement partners may also consider whether to accept
applicants, and successful applicants will need to receive the relevant security clearances. The work placements
provide an opportunity for students to gain valuable experience of operating in a professional setting, and
students will not receive remuneration for their participation.

On completion of the module a student should be

able to

Understand the main functions of the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Government and the
key processes used by these institutions.

Understand and explain the role and motivations of Assembly Members, political advisors, and civil
servants.

Describe the organizational structure of the organization at which the student undertook the work
placement, and explain the role of that organization within the broader context of the Welsh political
system.

Relate key issues that feature within the academic literature on Welsh Law and Politics to events and
situations that they encountered during their work placements.

Draw on a range of newly-developed transferable skills to undertake tasks such as writing policy,
briefing, and research papers.

Communicate orally and in writing in a manner that is suitable for a professional setting.

How the module will be delivered

Students will participate in a series of lecture seminars delivered by leading practitioners and academic experts
in the fields of Public Law and Politics (8 x 2 hours) and will undertake a 20-day work placement at an
organization that plays a key role in Welsh governance. Completion of the 20-day work placement and
attendance at all lecture seminars are compulsory.

Skills that will be practised and developed

Professional networking, interpersonal skills, and teamwork. Information retrieval and interpretation of
empirical data. Applying concepts to events and developments. Identifying the factors and variables that shape
events. Professional writing skills, including writing policy, briefing, and research papers.

How the module will be assessed

Two summative assessments:
Analytical Learning Diary (2,500 words) (40% of module)
Policy or Research Paper (2,700 words) (60% of module)

Assessment Breakdown
Type

% Title

Duration(hrs) Period Week

Written
Assessment

Devolution In Practice: Welsh Law & Politics Work

40
Placement - Analytical Learning Diary (2,500 Words)

N/A

N/A

Written
Assessment

60

Devolution In Practice: Welsh Law & Politics Work

Placement - Policy Or Research Paper (2,700 Words)

N/A

N/A

Syllabus content
The following provides an outline of the lecture seminars:
1. Introduction: Professional Research Skills and Forging a Career in Law and Politics
2. The Competences of the NAfW and the Welsh Constitution
3. The Structure of the NAfW
4. The Legislative Process and ExecutiveLegislative Relations in Wales

5. Legal Wales and the Idea of Wales as a Separate Legal Jurisdiction

6. The Function of Plenary Sessions: Deliberation, Scrutiny, and Voting
7. Financing Devolution and the Welsh Budget
8. The WG, the NAfW, and External Relations: Wales as a Global Actor

Essential Reading and Resource List

Mitchell, James (2011) Devolution in the UK (Manchester: Manchester University Press).

Background Reading and Resource List

Wyn Jones, Richard & Scully, Roger (2011) Wales Says Yes (Cardiff: University of Wales Press)
Rawlings, Richard (2003) Delineating Wales (Cardiff: University of Wales Press)
---------------------------- Cardiff University