Module LAW2004C for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
LAW2004C: Contract Law
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
This module examines the use of English law of contract in action drawing, where relevant, on materials from other jurisdictions. We will look at the formation of contractual relations, the requirements for enforceability of contracts, the rights of third parties, terms and interpretation of contracts, performance and breach of contracts, vitiating factors and remedies. The module primarily examines the law of contract in a commercial and organisational setting.
The module aims:
(a) To allow you to develop a detailed understanding of the different aspects of law of contract;
(b) To encourage you to think practically in this field, and apply the legal rules and principles you have learned to specific situations; and
(c) To enable you to develop the skills to make, use and enforce contracts.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
---|---|
Module-Specific Skills | 1. demonstrate a detailed understanding of the main areas of English law of contract 2. examine contracts and contractual clauses and apply the law of contract in analysing the documents and clauses 3. demonstrate the skills necessary to conduct contractual negotiations |
Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. collect, synthesise and apply legal knowledge to a problem/case study to inform a choice of solutions |
Personal and Key Skills | 5. use feedback to adapt your actions to reach a desired aim and review the impact of your adaptations 6. demonstrate awareness of your personal responsibilities and of professional codes of conduct in relation to client management |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:
• Formation of Contract (Formal Requirements; Offer and Acceptance)
• Consideration
• Intention to Create Legal Relations
• Certainty and the interpretation of contracts
• Privity of Contract
• Terms of the Contract
• Exception Clauses
• Performance and Breach
• Misrepresentation
• Mistake
• Unequal Bargaining (Duress; Undue Influence; Unconscionable Bargain)
• Frustration
• Illegality
• Remedies
• Negotiation
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
---|---|---|
60 | 240 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
---|---|---|
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 20 | 20 x 1 hour lectures |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 18 | 9 x 2 hour seminars |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 10 | Workshop activities |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 12 | 12 x 1 hr peer led law firm meetings |
Guided Independent Study | 88 | Lecture preparation |
Guided Independent Study | 90 | Seminar and workshop preparation |
Guided Independent Study | 12 | Formative essay preparation |
Guided Independent Study | 50 | Summative assessment preparation |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|
You will receive feedback on your oral contributions during seminars and workshops | 9 x 2 hours and workshop time | 1-6 | Immediate feedback from self, peers and tutor |
Action Plan for development of negotiation skills during module | 750 words | 3, 6 | Individual indicative mark and individual written feedback, with supplementary oral feedback available. General comments given in a lecture or on ELE |
Answer Plan for Part 1 of Portfolio of work in Summative Assessment | 750 words | 1, 2, 4 | Individual indicative mark and individual written feedback, with supplementary oral feedback available. General comments given in a lecture or on ELE |
You will receive feedback on your written work during seminars and workshops which will form part of your portfolio | 9 x 2 hours and workshop time | 1-6 | Tutor guided self and peer in- class assessment. Written tutor feedback where appropriate |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
---|---|---|
100 | 0 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|---|
Portfolio of work divided into 4 part submission | 80 | 4,500 words or equivalent | 1, 2, 4, 5 | Individual written feedback, with supplementary oral feedback available. General comments given in a lecture or on ELE |
Reflective Commentary on Skills Development | 20 | 1,200 words | 3, 6 | Pre submission feedback given Individual written feedback, with supplementary oral feedback available. General comments given in a lecture or on ELE |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Portfolio of work | Resubmission of portfolio (4,500 words) | 1-5 | August/September reassessment period |
Skills Assessment | Resubmission of reflective commentary on development of Professional Skills during module (1,200 words) | 3, 6 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
Basic reading:
- Richard Stone and James Devenney, The Modern Law of Contract 13th Ed (Routledge, 2019)
- Euan McKendrick, Contract Law 13th Ed (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019)
- Mindy Chen-Wishart, Contract Law 6th Ed (OUP, 2018)
- Sir Jack Beatson, Andrew Burrows and John Cartwright, Anson’s Law of Contract 31st Ed (OUP, 2020)
- Elizabeth Macdonald and Ruth Atkins, Koffman and Macdonald ‘s Law of Contract 9th Ed (OUP, 2018)