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Criminal Litigation

Code: 45034
Credits: 9
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Legal Profession and Legal Representation OB 1

Contact lecturer

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

Teaching staff

Juan Carlos Gavara de Cara
Fermín Morales Prats
María Jesús Garcia Morales
Antonio Cardona Barber
Daniela Gaddi
Abel del Carmelo Andrade Ortiz

Teaching staff (external to UAB)

Mónica Aguilar Romo
Josep Riba Ciurana
Mercedes de la Peña Oliete
Jaume Antich Soler
Enric Bertolín Ponsa
Blanca Ruiz-Zorrilla Cruzate
F. Christian di Nardo
Arnau Xumetra Subirana
Oriol Rusca Nadal
Jordi Puigvert Terra
Victor Muñoz Casalta
Pilar López Fondón
Marc Pérez Bou

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the 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

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

Learning outcomes

  • KA02 (Determine the most suitable judicial solution to represent the interests of the client before criminal jurisdiction.) Determine the most suitable judicial solution to represent the interests of the client before criminal jurisdiction.
  • KA03 (Identify the most suitable jurisdictional instance, action and criminal procedure for the professional defence of the client's rights.) Identify the most suitable jurisdictional instance, action and criminal procedure for the professional defence of the client's rights.
  • SA07 (Understand the techniques for defending the client at police headquarters and before a magistrate's court.) Understand the techniques for defending the client at police headquarters and before a magistrate's court.
  • SA08 (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.) 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.
  • SA09 (Properly apply procedural techniques in criminal jurisdiction with special attention to deadlines and form.) Properly apply procedural techniques in criminal jurisdiction with special attention to deadlines and form.
  • SA10 (Understand the different petitions that can arise in criminal proceedings.) Understand the different petitions that can arise in criminal proceedings.
  • SA11 (Draft appeals against the verdicts of criminal courts.) Draft appeals against the verdicts of criminal courts.
  • SA12 (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.) 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.

Contents



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


Arnau Xumetra Subirana




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


Victor Muñoz Casalta




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.

Learning activities and methodology

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

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

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight 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, 2025.

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

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TEmRD) Teoria (màster RD) 1 Catalan/Spanish first semester afternoon
(TEmRD) Teoria (màster RD) 2 Catalan/Spanish first semester afternoon