This version of the course guide is provisional until the period for editing the new course guides ends.

Logo UAB

Criminal Litigation

Code: 45034 ECTS Credits: 9
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Legal Profession and Legal Representation OB 1

Contact

Name:
Antoni Cardona Barber
Email:
antonio.cardona@uab.cat

Teachers

Juan Carlos Gavara de Cara
Fermin Morales Prats
Maria Jesus Garcia Morales
Josep Riba Ciurana
Jaume Antich Soler
Antoni Cardona Barber
Daniela Gaddi
Mònica Aguilar Romo
Abel del Carmelo Andrade Ortiz
(External) Blanca Ruiz-Zorrilla Cruzate
(External) Enric Bertolín Ponsa
(External) F. Christian di Nardo
(External) Jordi Puigvert Terra
(External) Josep Maria Torras Coll
(External) Marc Pérez Bou
(External) Mercedes de la Peña Oliete
(External) Mónica Aguilar Romo
(External) Oriol Rusca Nadal
(External) Pilar López Fondón

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

In order to follow this module, there is no special requirement, in addition to the general requirement for access to the master's degree, consisting of the possession of a law degree. Therefore, it is assumed that the student has the basic knowledge in criminal law and criminal procedure previously acquired during the studies of degree or degree.

The teaching will be given taking into account the perspective of the Sustainable Development Goals.


Objectives and Contextualisation

To gain specific skills on the subject matter of special interest for the legal practice. 


Learning Outcomes

  1. KA02 (Knowledge) Determine the most suitable judicial solution to represent the interests of the client before criminal jurisdiction.
  2. KA03 (Knowledge) Identify the most suitable jurisdictional instance, action and criminal procedure for the professional defence of the client's rights.
  3. SA07 (Skill) Understand the techniques for defending the client at police headquarters and before a magistrate's court.
  4. SA08 (Skill) Understand the techniques used in investigation and to establish the facts in the different types of criminal proceedings, especially the production of procedural documents, in interrogations and in giving expert evidence, with special attention to the gender perspective.
  5. SA09 (Skill) Properly apply procedural techniques in criminal jurisdiction with special attention to deadlines and form.
  6. SA10 (Skill) Understand the different petitions that can arise in criminal proceedings.
  7. SA11 (Skill) Draft appeals against the verdicts of criminal courts.
  8. SA12 (Skill) Present facts in writing and orally and use arguments to extract legal consequences, while paying attention to the context and addressee, in keeping with the standards of each procedural area.

Content

 

I. EFFECTIVE JUDICIAL PROTECTION

Maria Jesús García Morales

 

 II. GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS ON CRIMINAL LAW

Fermín Morales Prats

 

 III. INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURAL LAW

Oriol Rusca Nadal

 

IV. INITIATION OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDING AND INVESTIGATION OF THE CRIMINAL OFFENCE

 Marc Pérez Bou

 

V. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

Jaume Antich Soler

 

 VI. CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS DURING THE INVESTIGATION OF THE CRIMINAL OFFENCE

 Juan Carlos Gavara de Cara

 

VII. THE INTERMEDIATE PHASE OF THE PROCEDURE

 Oriol Rusca Nadal

 

VIII. ORAL TRIAL (I): PRELIMINARY DEFENCES

Enric Bertolín Ponsa

 

IX. ORAL TRIAL (II): THE BURDEN OF PROOF AND EVALUATION OF THE EVIDENCE

 Pilar López Fondón

 

X. ORAL TRIAL (III): FINAL REPORT AND JUDGEMENT

Jordi Puigvert Terra

 

XI. COURT’S DECISIONS AND JUDICIAL REMEDIES

Josep Maria Torras Coll

 

XII. CASSATION APPEAL

 Mercedes de la Peña Oliete

 

XIII. ANNULMENT OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND "AMPARO" TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

 Abel Andrade Ortiz

 

XIV. EUROPEAN JUDICIAL GUARDIANSHIP

Christian di Nardo

 

 

XV. EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND PAROLE

Pilar López Fondón

 

XVI. FULFILLMENT OF SENTENCES

Blanca Ruiz-Zorrilla Cruzate

  

XVII. SPEEDY TRIALS

 Jordi Puigvert Terra

 

XVIII. PROCEDURE AGAINST MINOR OFFENCES

Jordi Puigvert Terra

  

XIX.  THE JURY

Monica Aguilar Romo

 

XX.  CIVIL LIABILITY AND CONFISCATION OF GOODS

Antoni Cardona

 

XXI. RESPONSABILITY AND CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS OF MINORS.

Josep Riba Ciurana

 

XXII. RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.

Daniela Gaddi.


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Case studies 19 0.76 SA11, SA12, SA11
theoretical lessons 38 1.52 KA02, KA03, SA07, SA08, SA09, SA10, SA12, KA02
Type: Supervised      
evaluation of case studies 12 0.48 KA02, SA10, SA11, SA12, KA02
Type: Autonomous      
exam preparation 32 1.28 KA02, KA03, SA07, SA08, SA10, KA02
Readings 106 4.24 KA03, SA07, SA08, SA10, KA03

The teaching method combines theory and practice. 

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Case law and drafting of procedural writs 50% 16 0.64 KA02, KA03, SA07, SA08, SA09, SA10, SA11, SA12
test 50% 2 0.08 KA02, KA03, SA10

 

– 50% (up to 5 points) Official-format multiple-choice exam (25 questions plus 2 reserve questions, 4 answer options, only one correct, with a 0.33-point penalty for incorrect answers). A minimum score of 4 out of 10 on the test is required to pass the course. In case of failure, a re-assessment opportunity is available.

 

– 50% (up to 5 points) Continuous assessment:

 

a) Three graded practical activities: drafting legal documents, solving case studies, etc., scheduled on dates published in the course calendar at the beginning of the semester (up to 3 points).

 

b) Various short quizzes: brief questions, multiple-choice tests, etc., conducted in most sessions, on a surprise basis, without prior notice of dates or times (up to 2 points).

 

Students may skip up to a maximum of three quizzes within the criminal litigation module.

 

Absences from these activities, whether justified or not, cannot be made up. This rule may only be waived in exceptional cases (e.g., extended absences due to health or similar serious reasons).

 

Re-assessment: test only.

 

Single assessment

 

Students who choose the single assessment system will be evaluated based on the following components:

 

  • Multiple-choice exam with 50 questions (50% of the final grade)
  • Completion of two procedural legal documents (e.g., appeal, complaint, lawsuit, criminal report, etc.) (50% of the final grade)

 

The second test will last between 4 and 5 hours and will take place at a time specifically scheduled by the module coordinator. During this exam, students may consult legal texts but may not access digital or online resources.

 


Bibliography

Basic literature:

CUGAT/BAUCELLS/AGUILAR (coords.), Manual de Litigación penal. Materiales para la prueba de acceso a la profesión de abogado, 2ª edición, Tirant lo Blanch, Valencia, 2022.

Complementary literature:

GIMENO SENDRA, V., Derecho procesal penal, 2015, Castillo de luna.

QUINTERO OLIVARES, G. (dir.), Compendio de la Parte especial del Derecho penal. Adaptada al programa de ingreso en las carreras judicial y fiscal, Aranzadi, 2016.

QUINTERO OLIVARES, G./MORALES PRATS, F., Parte general del Derecho penal. Adaptada al programa de ingreso en las carreras judicial y fiscal, Aranzadi, 2015.

RAMOS MÉNDEZ, F., Enjuiciamiento criminal: undécima lectura constitucional, Atelier, 2014. 

Links:

www.boe.es

www.fiscal.es

www.poderjudicial.es


Software

The subject does not require any specific software


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(TEmRD) Teoria (màster RD) 1 Catalan first semester afternoon
(TEmRD) Teoria (màster RD) 2 Catalan first semester afternoon