Duration
2 weeksWeekly study
2 hours100% online
How it works
Fundamentals of Human Rights, and Equality: Introduction to Law for Non-lawyers
Explore the protection of civil liberties, human rights, and equality in England
Dive into the foundations of civil liberties and human rights in the UK with this two-week course from the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX).
You’ll gain an understanding of how these rights are protected under UK law and explore key legal frameworks, including the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA 1998).
With these foundations, you’ll grasp how these instruments safeguard fundamental rights.
Gain the confidence to apply legal principles in real-world scenarios
Whether you want to enhance your legal knowledge or apply it in your professional role, this course will equip you with the skills to confidently navigate the legal landscape.
You’ll delve into the ways certain laws protecting civil liberties, human rights, and equality operate in practice, helping you understand their impact on society and your workplace.
Assess the Equality Act 2010 and its role in anti-discrimination law
You’ll also learn to identify the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 and assess how the law prevents discrimination in workplaces, public services, and daily life.
With the help of real-world examples, you’ll better understand how the Act has been enforced and challenged in court.
Apply your knowledge to everyday legal issues
Working through case studies on stop-and-search policies, privacy rights, and protest laws, you’ll hone your ability to analyse the relationship between human rights, police powers, and civil liberties.
You’ll come away with a fully developed understanding of how legal frameworks are applied and debated in modern society, giving you the confidence to apply what you’ve learned in real-time.
Syllabus
Week 1
Civil Liberties and Human Rights
Introduction
Welcome to the course.
Key terms
Here is some terminology that you need to be familiar with for the topics covered in this course.
The ideas of civil liberties and human rights
It is important to understand the difference between “civil liberties” and “human rights”. While these two ideas are closely related, and the substance of the two frequently overlaps, they represent very different approaches.
The European Convention on Human Rights
The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) was drafted in the aftermath of the Second World War.
The Human Rights Act 1998
HRA 1998 impacts the whole legal system.
Summary and confidence check
3 key points relating to civil liberties and human rights. Check your confidence in understanding this topic.
Knowledge check
Now for a quick quiz to check your understanding.
Week 2
Police Powers and Equality Act 2010
Human rights and civil liberties in relation to police powers
The powers of the police, and their role in the prevention and detection of criminal activity, poses a challenge to human rights. The law tries to achieve a balance between protection of individual rights, and effective policing.
Protecting equality: Equality Act 2010
The ECHR and HRA 1998 provide some protection against discrimination, but do not provide a comprehensive or systematic approach to this. The UK has separate legislation on equality, the Equality Act 2010.
Summary and confidence check
4 key points relating to police powers and the Equality Act 2010. Check your confidence in understanding this topic.
Knowledge check
Now for a quick quiz to check your understanding.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Describe the distinction between civil liberties and human rights
- Explore the background of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), it's key Articles and how they have been applied by the courts in practice
- Investigate key sections of the Human Rights Act 1998 in relation to the creation of legislation and its interpretation by the courts
- Identify the significance and purpose of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE 1984)
- Explain the framework of the Equality Act 2010, including the protected characteristics and the main forms of prohibited conduct
Who is the course for?
This course is part of a series for professionals in law-adjacent roles such as HR and legal services who want a clearer understanding of the legal system in The United Kingdom. It’s also ideal for those returning to law after a career break.
Who will you learn with?
Who developed the course?
Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX)
CILEX believes in creating more accessible opportunities to build careers in the legal profession.
By providing a range of flexible routes to qualification, campaigning for better working permissions for CILEX legal professionals, as well as ongoing support and representation for members post-qualification, CILEX is working to build a more inclusive legal sector which ultimately delivers a better service for clients.
Ways to learn | Buy this course | Subscribe & save | Limited access |
---|---|---|---|
Choose the best way to learn for you! | $54/one-off payment | $244.99 for a whole year Automatically renews | Free |
Fulfill your current learning need | Develop skills to further your career | Sample the course materials | |
Access to this course | tick | tick | Access expires 13 Mar 2025 |
Access to 1,000+ courses | cross | tick | cross |
Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
Certificate when you're eligible | Printed and digital | Digital only | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Subscribe & save
$244.99 for a whole year
Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Buy this course
$54/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Limited access
Free
Sample the course materials
- Access expires 13 Mar 2025
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply. |
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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