Announcements

 

Academy Documents

Kindly access the Students' Policies & Forms by clicking on the button below. The following documents, among others, can be found there: Student Handbook, Student Code of Conduct, Students' Privacy Notice, Deferral, Suspension, and Cancellation Policy, Assignment Extension Policy, Re-Sit Policy, Complaints Procedure Policy, Equality Policy, and Student Disciplinary Policy.

Students' Policies & Forms

 

Online Sessions Link

To join the online sessions for this module, please click on the button below. If you are not already signed in to your Zoom account, you will be prompted to register your attendance. You will also need to enter the password provided below.

Join Session

Meeting ID: 850 4294 1088
Passcode: 353617

Please ensure that your name and surname appear as registered for the study programme, as this is essential for recording your attendance.

 

Lecture Schedule & Notes

Lecture notes will be available during the week following the respective lecture. Schedule dates are indicative and may change. All changes, if any, may be communicated via email, SMS or telephone calls.

LectureDateTimePresentationNotes (If Any)Session Recoring
Lecture 017 October 202617:30 to 20:30hrsPresentation 01Request
Lecture 0214 October 202617:30 to 20:30hrsPresentation 02Request
Lecture 0321 October 202617:30 to 20:30hrsPresentation 03Request
Lecture 0428 October 202617:30 to 20:30hrsPresentation 04Request
Lecture 054 November 202617:30 to 20:30hrs
Lecture 0611 November 202617:30 to 20:00hrs
Lecture 0718 November 202617:30 to 20:00hrs

 

Lecturer 

Dr Franklin Calleja

 

Lecture Summaries & Suggested Reading 

Lecture 1 - Principles of Criminal Law (1)

  • The principles of criminal law serve as the foundation for defining crimes, determining
    responsibility, and ensuring fairness in the justice system. The themes that will be
    discussed in the first introductory lecture are:
    Criminal Offences
    o The distinction between Criminal Offences and Civil Wrongs
    o Definition of a criminal offence
    o The classification of criminal offence
    Penal Laws
    o Justification of punishment
    o Interpretation
    o Rules pertaining to Criminal Law
    The Subject of a Criminal Offence

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Antolisei, F. and Grosso, C., 2016. Manuale di diritto penale. Milano: Giuffrè.
  • Horder, J., 2019. Ashworth's Principles of Criminal Law. 9th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

 

Lecture 2 -Principles of Criminal Law (2)

  • The operation of criminal law is carefully structured to balance effective enforcement with
    fairness, ensuring that only those with capacity and culpability are held responsible under
    the principles of criminal liability. In this sense, criminal law is subject to certain limitations
    and conditions to ensure fairness and proper application. In the second lecture we will
    delve in the limitations in operation of criminal law both in terms of time and jurisdiction.
    The theory of criminal liability will also be covered in this lecture.
     Operation of Criminal Law
    o Limitation by Time
    o Limitations by Territory
    o Exemptions
     Theory of Criminal Liability

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Antolisei, F. and Grosso, C., 2016. Manuale di diritto penale. Milano: Giuffrè.
  • Horder, J., 2019. Ashworth's Principles of Criminal Law. 9th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

 

Lecture 3 - Exemptions from Criminal Liability and General

Grounds of Defence

  • Exemptions from criminal liability and general grounds of defence are important aspects
    of criminal law that limit or remove liability in certain situations. They exist to ensure
    fairness, recognizing that punishment should not apply where blameworthiness is absent
    or where an unlawful act was justified or excused
  • Age
  •  Insanity
  •  Intoxication
  •  Mistake of law & Mistake of fact
  •  Casus
  •  Legitimate Defence

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Stefano Filletti, Criminal Law Handbook, Kite Group.
  • Horder, J., 2019. Ashworth's Principles of Criminal Law. 9th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

 

Lecture 4 - Important Aspects of Criminal Law

  • In this lecture we will discuss different aspects that are intrinsic to the understanding of the
    mechanisms of Criminal Law. In this lecture, the following topics will be discussed:
    Attempts
    An attempt occurs when a person, with the intention to commit a crime, takes
    substantial steps toward carrying it out but ultimately fails to complete the offense.
    The law punishes attempts because they demonstrate criminal intent and pose a
    threat to public safety, even if the intended harm is not fully realized.Complicity
    Complicity refers to the liability of individuals who aid, encourage, or otherwise assist
    another person in committing a crime. An accomplice can be held just as responsible
    as the principal offender, as their actions contribute to the commission of the
    offense.
    Conspiracy
    Conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to commit an unlawful act
    or to use unlawful means to achieve a lawful goal. Unlike attempts, the crime of
    conspiracy is complete once the agreement is made, regardless of whether the
    planned crime is carried out.Punishment
    Punishment in criminal law is the legal consequence imposed on offenders who
    violate the law. It serves several purposes, including retribution, deterrence,
    rehabilitation, and protection of society, aiming to balance justice for the victim with
    fairness to the offender.

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Antolisei, F. and Grosso, C., 2016. Manuale di diritto penale. Milano: Giuffrè.
  • Horder, J., 2019. Ashworth's Principles of Criminal Law. 9th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

 

Lecture 5 - Substantive Criminal Law (1)

  • Substantive Criminal Law
    Substantive criminal law is the branch of law that defines crimes and prescribes the
    punishments for them. It sets out what conduct is considered criminal and establishes
    the elements that must be proven to convict someone, including the required mental
    state (mens rea) and physical act (actus reus). In this lecture we will be considering the
    following offences:
    -Forgery
    -Theft

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Antolisei, F. and Grosso, C., 2016. Manuale di diritto penale. Milano: Giuffrè.
  • Horder, J., 2019. Ashworth's Principles of Criminal Law. 9th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

 

Lecture 6 - Substantive Criminal Law (2)

  • This lecture will be a continuance of the previous lecture, focusing on substantive criminal law
    but with regards to the following offences:
    Crimes against the person
    - Homicide
    -Bodily Harm
    Sexual Offences

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Antolisei, F. and Grosso, C., 2016. Manuale di diritto penale. Milano: Giuffrè.
  • Horder, J., 2019. Ashworth's Principles of Criminal Law. 9th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

 

Lecture 7 - Criminal Procedure

  • Procedural criminal law governs the process through which the state investigates,
    prosecutes, and adjudicates crimes, ensuring both effective law enforcement and the
    protection of individual rights. It sets out the rules for each stage of
    proceedings—investigation, indictment, trial, sentencing, and appeals—while upholding
    key principles such as legality, due process, presumption of innocence, equality of arms,
    proportionality, and the right to defence.
    Police, prosecutors, judges, defence counsel, and victims each play defined roles within
    this framework. Safeguards like the right to be informed of charges, to remain silent, to
    legal counsel, to a fair and speedy trial, and to appeal are central to balancing state
    authority with individual freedoms.
  •  Procedures in the Court of Magistrates
  • Procedures in the Criminal Court
  • Procedures in the Court of Criminal Appeal

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Antolisei, F. and Grosso, C., 2016. Manuale di diritto penale. Milano: Giuffrè.
  • Horder, J., 2019. Ashworth's Principles of Criminal Law. 9th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

 

Methods of Assessment

2 Assignments 100% of final score

 

Assignment

You are required to choose two of the four questions available in the Assignment Submission Form made available by clicking the button below. The assignment must be submitted no later than Thursday, 28 January 2027, along with the Assignment Submission Form. Please ensure that you indicate the question you have addressed on the Assignment Submission Form.

Assignment Submission Form

For guidance on how to plan, draft, and submit your assignment, please refer to the 21 Academy presentation on Writing and Submitting Your Assignment by clicking the button below.

Writing and Submitting Your Assignment

We are also providing the 21 Academy's Assignments Rubric for your reference. This rubric is a performance-based assessment tool that tutors will use for grading, and it will help you understand the requirements of the assignment and how it will be assessed.

Assignments Rubric

For referencing purposes, please use the OSCOLA Referencing Guide available by clicking the button below.

OSCOLA Referencing Guide

 

Submitting Assignments - Turnitin

The Academy will notify you via email when the assignment questions become available. Shortly after, you will receive another email from Turnitin, likely on the same day, confirming your enrolment in a "class" where you can upload your assignment(s).

Please ensure that your assignments are submitted no later than 23:59 on the assignment submission deadline, as indicated on the Assignment Submission form or in the Turnitin "class."

At 21 Academy, you have the option to submit multiple drafts before the final submission deadline. The version uploaded at the deadline will be treated as your final submission for assessment.

Assignment Preparation and Submission Instructions

All students must follow the procedure below when preparing and submitting assignments. Please read these instructions carefully to ensure that your assignment is completed, formatted and submitted correctly.

1. Write Your Assignment Using Turnitin Clarity

You must write and complete your assignment using Turnitin Clarity. All drafting and development of your assignment must take place within this platform.

For guidance, watch the following video:

Clarity for Students

 

Ensure that you click Submit to complete the required submission process.

2. Transfer Your Completed Assignment to Microsoft Word

Once you have finalised your assignment in Turnitin Clarity:

  1. Copy the complete text of your final draft.
  2. Paste it into a Microsoft Word document.

3. Format Your Assignment in Microsoft Word

Use Microsoft Word to only format your assignment in accordance with the official Assignment Guidelines.

Ensure that you include the following, where applicable:

  • Submission form: Complete the submission form and tick the question you are answering.
  • Cover page: Add the required cover page.
  • Table of contents: Include a contents page where required.
  • Headings and subheadings: Format these appropriately.
  • Document layout: Apply the required font, font size, line spacing and margins.
  • Page numbering and referencing: Ensure that these are correct and consistent.
  • Refernce List on a fresh page
  • Final checks: Verify that the assignment meets all the requirements specified in the Assignment Guidelines.

Refer to the official guidelines here:

Assignment Submission Guidelines

 

Important: Microsoft Word should be used for formatting and presentation purposes only. Do not add, remove or substantively change any assignment content after completing your work in Turnitin Clarity. If you do please make sure that these changes are also made on Turnitin Clarity and resubmit.

4. Submit Your Assignment Through Turnitin Standard As Well

Once you have completed the formatting, upload your final document to the relevant Turnitin Standard assignment submission area.

This is the formally submitted version that will be forwarded to the assessor.

File naming convention

Your file must be named using your full name followed by the question number answered.

For example: Joseph Borg Q3

Before uploading, check that your document is complete, correctly formatted and saved under the required file name.

5. Important Rules for Turnitin Standard Submissions

Please observe the following submission rules:

  • Multiple drafts: You may submit multiple drafts before the final submission deadline.
  • Final submission: The version uploaded at the submission deadline will be treated as your final assignment for assessment.
  • 24-hour restriction: Turnitin evaluates the same assignment twice within a 24-hour period. Any additional submission made during this period will not be reviewed until the 24-hour period has elapsed. Plan your submissions accordingly.
  • Similarity threshold: Your final submission must not exceed 20% similarity. Pay particular attention to the use of direct quotations and ensure that all sources are properly acknowledged.

6. Consistency Between Turnitin Clarity and Turnitin Standard

Both the version in Turnitin Clarity and the version uploaded to Turnitin Standard will be used for assessment purposes.

It is therefore essential that the assignment text in both versions is identical.

The only differences should relate to formatting and presentation, such as the submission form, cover page, table of contents, headings, page numbering and overall document layout.

Do not introduce new content, remove existing content or make substantive changes to the assignment in Microsoft Word after completing it in Turnitin Clarity. If you do, please update the version on Turnitin Clarity and resubmjit from there too.

Final Checklist

Before considering your assignment complete, ensure that you have:

  • Written and completed the assignment in Turnitin Clarity.
  • Clicked Submit in Turnitin Clarity.
  • Copied the final assignment into Microsoft Word.
  • Formatted the document in accordance with the Assignment Guidelines.
  • Completed the submission form and ticked the relevant question.
  • Checked the assignment's content against the version in Turnitin Clarity.
  • Confirmed that the similarity score does not exceed 20%.
  • Saved the file using the correct naming convention.
  • Uploaded the final, formatted document to Turnitin Standard before the deadline.

Please note: Failure to follow these instructions may affect the assessment process. Students are responsible for ensuring that both versions are consistent and that the final assignment is submitted correctly and on time.

Follow this very short video to understand how to submit your assignment through Turnitin - Submitting a Paper

To understand the similarity report generated by Turnitin follow this 1 minute video - Understanding the Similarity Report

 

Referencing Style

Law students should use the OSCOLA referencing style as it is the standard citation system for legal writing in Malta. It ensures consistency, accuracy, and clarity when referencing legal sources, which is essential for academic and professional work. The video below provides detailed guidance on how to reference using OSCOLA. Please also refer to the OSCOLA Referencing Guide by clicking the button below

OSCOLA Referencing Guide