LED021

Introduction To Legislative Drafting

Law
100 level
3 credit units
118 pages
8 units

This course introduces the principles and practices of legislative drafting within the Commonwealth tradition, with a focus on Nigeria. It explores the roles and responsibilities of Legislative Counsel, emphasizing the importance of clear and unambiguous legal writing. The course covers various types of legislative instruments, statute classification, and the historical development of drafting techniques. Students will learn about grammatical conventions, drafting office organization, and the essential skills for effective legislative drafting.

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About this course

Difficulty: Intermediate
Study hours: 45 hours
Maths: None
Content: Theoretical, practical, case study
Practical work: Yes

How it is assessed

Assignments
Tutor marked assessments
Final examination

What you'll read

The real module and unit structure of LED021, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.

Module 1

Module 2

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

LED021 · UNIT 1 DRAFTING AND DRAFTERS

This Unit aims to give you a general background to the work of legislative drafting and to the task of writing legislative rules. We introduce some general themes which arise throughout the Course, not least in relation to the responsibilities of Legislative Counsel. We include seven precepts which you should think about in that respect.

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What you should be able to do

Describe the nature of legislative drafting in the Commonwealth tradition.
Explain the duties and responsibilities of Legislative Counsel.
Present an overall picture of why legislative drafts take the form they do.
Use correct expressions to describe the main features of grammar.
Explain the importance, requirements, and organization of a drafting office.

What it prepares you for

Careers

Legislative Counsel
Legal Drafter
Policy Advisor
Legal Consultant
Parliamentary Assistant

Where it is applied

Government
Law Firms
Legislative Bodies
Regulatory Agencies
Non-profit Organizations

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

Module 1:
Unit 4: Classification of Statutes
Unit 4 covers various statute classifications and requires understanding of the subtle differences between them, demanding careful attention to detail and legal terminology.
Module 2:
Unit 3: Importance of Grammar
This unit requires a thorough understanding of English grammar rules and their application in legal writing, which can be challenging for those not familiar with grammatical concepts.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 46 hours in total. Yours will differ.

Week 1Module 1:
- Unit 1: Drafting and Drafters · 2.5 hours
  Read Unit 1: Drafting and Drafters, focusing on the definition of legislative drafting and its importance.. Identify the responsibilities of legislative counsel and the seven precepts for fulfilling those responsibilities.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) for Unit 1..
Week 2Module 1:
- Unit 2: Writing Legislation · 2.5 hours
  Study Unit 2: Writing Legislation, paying attention to the factors influencing legislative expression.. Compare legislative expression with everyday communication and identify the constraints on drafters.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) for Unit 2..
Week 3Module 1:
- Unit 3: Types of Legislative Instruments · 2.5 hours
  Review Unit 3: Types of Legislative Instruments, focusing on the different types of legislative instruments in Nigeria.. Understand the bodies that have the power to make primary and subsidiary legislation.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) for Unit 3..
- Unit 4: Classification of Statutes · 2.5 hours
  Study Unit 4: Classification of Statutes, focusing on the features of primary legislation and the structure of Bills.. Familiarize yourself with the technical terms used to describe the characteristic features of Acts and Bills.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) for Unit 4..
Week 4Module 2:
- Unit 1: History and Development of Legislative Drafting · 3 hours
  Read Unit 1: History and Development of Legislative Drafting, focusing on the evolution of drafting practices in the Commonwealth.. Understand the influence of key figures like George Coode and Sir Henry Thring.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) for Unit 1..
Week 5Module 2:
- Unit 2: The Principal Characteristics of Commonwealth Drafting · 3 hours
  Study Unit 2: The Principal Characteristics of Commonwealth Drafting, focusing on the drafting objectives and how to achieve them.. Understand the principal characteristics of legislative drafting in Nigeria.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) for Unit 2, including Drafting Project 1..
Week 6Module 2:
- Unit 3: Importance of Grammar · 3 hours
  Review Unit 3: Importance of Grammar, focusing on the grammatical terms and common errors to avoid.. Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1 and compare your answers with Answer Box 1.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) for Unit 3..
Week 7Module 2:
- Unit 4: Drafting Office · 3 hours
  Study Unit 4: Drafting Office, focusing on the requirements and organization of a drafting office.. Understand the importance of a drafting office and the qualifications of drafters.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) for Unit 4..
Week 8Module 1:
- Review: Module 1 Units · 4 hours
  Review Module 1: Drafting and Drafters, Writing Legislation, Types of Legislative Instruments, Classification of Statutes. Focus on key concepts and principles discussed in each unit.. Prepare for Module 1 assessment..
Week 9Module 2:
- Review: Module 2 Units · 4 hours
  Review Module 2: History and Development of Legislative Drafting, The Principal Characteristics of Commonwealth Drafting, Importance of Grammar, Drafting Office. Focus on key concepts and principles discussed in each unit.. Prepare for Module 2 assessment..
Week 10Module 2:
- Drafting Project 1 · 4 hours
  Work on drafting project 1, applying the principles of legislative drafting learned in the course.. Focus on clarity, conciseness, and accuracy in legal writing.. Seek feedback from peers or instructors on your draft..
Week 11Final Revision
- Course Review · 4 hours
  Complete any outstanding assignments or readings for the course.. Review all Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) and feedback received.. Identify areas where you need further clarification or practice..
Week 12Final Revision
- Exam Preparation · 4 hours
  Practice answering exam-style questions based on the course content.. Focus on applying the principles and techniques of legislative drafting to hypothetical scenarios.. Review relevant case studies and examples..
Week 13Final Revision
- Final Revision · 4 hours
  Final review of all course materials and notes.. Address any remaining questions or concerns with instructors or peers.. Prepare for the final examination..

Preparing for the exam

What to do

Create concept maps linking Units 1-4 to understand the evolution and principles of legislative drafting.
Practice drafting simple legislative provisions based on examples from Units 2 and 3.
Review all Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) and feedback to identify areas of weakness.
Focus on understanding the grammatical rules and common errors discussed in Unit 3.
Allocate specific time slots for reviewing each module and practicing exam-style questions.
Create flashcards for key terms and definitions from all units.
Practice time management during mock exams to simulate the actual exam environment.

Questions students ask about this course

What is LED021 about?

How many units does LED021 have?

LED021, Introduction To Legislative Drafting, has 8 units across 2 modules, over 118 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is LED021?

LED021 carries 3 credit units, at 100 level in Law.

Is LED021 hard?

LED021 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical and case study work, and it has a practical component.

How long does LED021 take to study?

About 45 hours of study, spread across its 8 units.

How is LED021 assessed?

LED021 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.

What can I do with LED021?

Legislative Counsel, Legal Drafter, Policy Advisor, Legal Consultant and Parliamentary Assistant.