module specification

Family Law aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of key legal rules and principles of family law and develop in students a critical perspective of contemporary issues and proposed law reforms.

The topics covered are: nullity of marriage, ending marriage by divorce, financial remedies on divorce, protection through the courts against from domestic violence, and comparison of legal remedies of married couples and cohabiting couples. [Civil partnership and dissolution of partnership will be referred to in outline only.]

The aims of the module are:

1. To facilitate students’ acquisition of a sound knowledge and understanding of some of the key rules and principles of family law and their development through statute and case law.

2. To promote the development of students’ transferable skills of legal problem solving, independent legal research using primary and secondary sources, critical analysis of contemporary issues, and cogent academic writing in the context of family law.

3. To enhance students’ employability by the development of these skills and by the practice of both oral and written communication throughout the module.

1. What is a Family?

2. Nullity of marriage – void and voidable marriages

3. Ending marriage by divorce – the ground for divorce and the five divorce Facts

4. Financial and property remedies on divorce

5. Court orders for protection from domestic violence

6. Comparison of the legal rights and remedies of those who are married with those who are cohabiting

Learning Outcomes LO1 - 3

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.

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:

1. Demonstrate a sound knowledge of key rules and principles across a range of topics of family law.

2. Be able to apply their knowledge to realistic scenarios, in order to provide correct and comprehensive advice to a (fictitious) client in a formal written opinion.

3. Be able to analyse critically the approach/es taken by family law to contemporary issues.

Legal Writing (2,000 words maximum)

A formal written advice to a client, based on a fictional case study.

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