The defining feature of this module involves being allocated to an 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 to provide members of the public with legal advice, assistance and guidance.
Due to the nature of the module’s Open Justice activities, the October 2026 presentation will be limited to 224 places, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
During this module, you'll work in a small group on a practical activity designed to contribute to the public good. You'll also explore important themes relating to access to justice, professional identity and legal values and ethics and develop key legal, employability and personal skills.
Your Open Justice activity will involve undertaking a project to promote 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 collaboration in a small group and demand significant commitment and initiative. As you may be working for members of the public, you will be representing both the OU Law School and the wider University. You will be required to approach your allocated project in a professional manner, which includes giving due priority to your participation.
After you register 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 2026 presentation of this module will be available to view here in February 2026. 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 pro bono
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.
The main part of your assessment is at the end 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:
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.
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.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available. You are expected to attend these to enable you to interact with other students and effectively carry out your Open Justice activity. The Open Justice Centre will help oversee your participation in your allocated project.
Course work includes:
You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying W360 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
Justice in action starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2030.
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