LL6009 - Family and Child Law (2017/18)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2017/18 | |||||||||||||||
| Module status | DELETED (This module is no longer running) | |||||||||||||||
| Module title | Family and Child Law | |||||||||||||||
| Module level | Honours (06) | |||||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 30 | |||||||||||||||
| School | Guildhall School of Business and Law | |||||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 300 | |||||||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2017/18(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
The current law concerning families, children and related issues.
Module aims
This module aims to provide students with: knowledge of the legal principles relating to marriage, family breakdown/divorce, nullity, ancillary relief, and domestic violence. In addition, the module will provide students with a thorough understanding of child law, including both public law (role and involvement of local authorities) and private law issues, such as disputes about paternity, relocation, contact orders and assisted reproduction.
Syllabus
Topics will include: Cohabitation, Nullity, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Financial Provision, Private Law disputes concerning children, Child Abduction, Adoption, Public Law, Assisted Reproduction and Parenthood.
Learning and teaching
Weekly two-hour lectures and one-hour seminars including analysing problems and active class participation which could include oral presentations.
The module is structured in a way to enable students to address issues concerning children specifically, followed by matters concerning relationship breakdown. As these are areas of law that are often highly topical/controversial and that change quite quickly, students are encouraged to keep abreast with legal and policy developments. This enhances their interest in the subject matter and serves to deepen their understanding of the area.
There is a virtual learning environment (VLE) containing module handbooks, lecture notes, links to recent cases, developments and topical issues in the area and past assessments.
The topics covered will ensure that students will have a sound knowledge base that will enhance their employability both within the legal profession and the NGO/Advice sector bodies specialising in Family Law. A number of students who undertake this module also do their Law Project in a related area, which can further enhance their employability.
Students are expected to attend all lectures, prepare for seminars and participate in the discussions. Students are also expected to undertake all formative and final assessments.
Learning outcomes
To understand and be able to apply the current law relating to families and children. To consider the changing nature of family life and law in the 21st century.
Assessment strategy
Coursework - to be submitted in January .
Unseen Exam - at the end of the academic year.
The coursework that will be due in January will focus on one of the most important topics in the module - Financial Provision. This assessment will constitute 30% of the final mark.
The exam at the end of the year will have a range of problem and essay questions. A total of three questions must be attempted. Students may attempt two problem questions and one essay or three problem questions. The exam will be 2 hours and 30 minutes. This assessment will constitute 70% of the final mark.
A student can pass the module on aggregate.
Bibliography
Most recent editions:
Family Law Statutes 2016-17
Bromley’s Family Law, 10th edition, Lowe and Douglas, Oxford University Press 2015
Cretney’s Family Law, 8th edition, Sweet and Maxwell
Herring, Family Law, 7th edition, Longman Law Series
Online Resources
Familylaw.co.uk
LexisNexis
Westlaw