module specification

Consumer Rights Law is a 15-credit module providing students with a thorough understanding of modern consumer rights in relation to the acquisition of goods and services. As well as studying the traditional requirements of a sale of goods contract, students will also examine the law on statutory liability for dangerous and defective products, the law regarding the unfair trading practices and the principles and responsibility for regulation of the consumer market.
 
The module will be of interest to all students who wish to develop a comprehensive understanding of modern consumer rights and responsibilities in relation to goods, services and digital content. The module is relevant to a range of careers in law, retailing and consumer advice and marketing of goods and services.

There will be a formative in-class assessment which will test the students’ basic understanding of key legal principles and concepts. This will be designed to ensure that their knowledge is adequate for the summative assessments to follow.

The aims of the module are as follows:

1. To provide detailed, critical and evaluative knowledge of laws which regulate modern commerce.

2. To enable students to appreciate the regulation of the consumer market.

3. To create an awareness of consumer advice roles.

The syllabus includes the following:

Introduction  LO1, LO2 and LO3

• Commercial awareness of consumer sale transactions in a modern economy

Regulation of the Consumer Market  LO1, LO2 and LO3

• The powers and work of the Competition and Markets Authority and Trading Standards Departments
• Codes of Practice

Consumer Sales Contracts (goods and digital content) and Supply of Services Contracts  LO1, LO2 and LO3

• The Consumer Rights Act 2015
• Formation of consumer contracts
• Express and implied terms
• Exclusion clauses and unfair contract terms
• Passing of ownership and risk
• Rejection and financial remedies

Supply of Services Contracts and Consumer Remedies  LO1, LO2 and LO3

• Liability for dangerous and defective products in tort
• The Consumer Protection Act 1987
• The General Product Safety Regulations 2005

Unfair Trading Practices  LO1, LO2 and LO3

• Misleading advertising and price descriptions
• Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008

Learning and Teaching Strategy

Weekly two-hour lecture and one-hour seminar. 

The lecture will be used for:

• Dissemination of knowledge through an overview of each topic with detailed guidance on appropriate aspects;
• An introduction to relevant academic literature;
• Guidance on learning strategies;
• Use of WebLearn and IT resources;
• Whole group questions and discussion.

The seminar will be used for the development of skills necessary to attain the module learning outcomes through:

• Written and oral questions/answers designed to reinforce fundamental rules, principles and cases;
• A range of step-by-step analytical exercises;
• Problem solving;
• IT tasks, such as research of cases and statutes;
• Legal writing.

Blended Learning

All learning materials, previous examination questions and sample Q/A’s will be on WebLearn for use in directed private study.

Student engagement will be encouraged in both lectures and seminars through weekly use of WebLearn for access to all of the above materials.

There will be required use of the professional legal databases, especially Westlaw and Lexis Library, for legal research.

Opportunities for reflective learning/pdp

Each weekly seminar will contain space for students to reflect on what they have learnt in relation to the overall syllabus. There will be frequent feedback opportunities structured into the timetable and a range of sample answers posted onto WebLearn.

Employability

Knowledge of the topics covered will enhance students’ employability both within the legal profession and more generally in a range of consumer related activities. These include legal advice work (e.g. in Consumer Advice or in a Trading Standards Department), retailing (e.g. liability for defective products), and consumer regulatory bodies such as the Competition and Markets Authority. After studying this module, students will possess a substantial body of relevant legal knowledge applicable to the consumer sector. They will appreciate the importance of legal liability and regulation in relation to goods and services. 

Students’ Study Responsibilities

The need for attendance, punctuality, preparation and engagement will be emphasised with particular reference to written and IT research, problem-solving, team-work, discussion, debate and critical awareness of the subject.

On successful completion of this module, the students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate critical thinking skills in the context of the legal principles applied in a realistic modern commercial environment.

2. Interpret primary and secondary sources of consumer rights law.

3. Present a critical analysis in the form of a properly drafted and referenced written essay or report.

Written coursework (2,000 words maximum)

The assessment will be a piece of written coursework which focuses on a practical application of legal principles in a commerce environment. A flexible simulation will be used which will allow students to demonstrate knowledge of legal principles applied in a realistic simulated modern commerce environment.

The link to the Talis reading list will be provided when the module is due to start running