LL4050 - Contract I (2026/27)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2026/27 | |||||||||||||||
| Module title | Contract I | |||||||||||||||
| Module level | Certificate (04) | |||||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | |||||||||||||||
| School | Guildhall School of Business and Law | |||||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 150 | |||||||||||||||
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| Running in 2026/27(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
The Law of Contract I is one of the foundation subjects of English Law, as identified by the professional legal bodies, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board.
Students will study the principles of contractual formation and contents, including offer, acceptance, consideration, third party rights, terms and exemption clauses.
In its use of experiential workshops, the module will place students at the heart of their learning experience, allowing them to develop both personally and academically. This is in accordance with the Identity, Personalisation and Reflection aims of the ESJ Framework.
The aims of the module are as follows:
1. You will acquire knowledge of the basic precepts of contractual formation and construction;
2. You will develop your skills in finding, reading and understanding sources of law;
3. You will practise the practical and professional skills of legal research, legal analysis and legal writing.
This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.
Prior learning requirements
N/A
Syllabus
1. The Creation and Nature of Contractual Obligations
The Phenomenon of Agreement
Offer
Acceptance
Intention to create legal relations
Consideration
Privity of contract
Capacity
Formalities
2. The Contents of a Contract
Terms
Representations
Exemption clauses
3. Drafting a Letter of Claim in relation to a claim in contract.
All these subjects pervade each of the Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3.
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
Learning & 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;
• Oral presentation;
• Oral communication;
• Teamwork.
Blended Learning
All learning materials, previous examination questions and sample Q/A’s will be on blackboard 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 Plus, 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
Employability strategy will aim to acquaint students with a range of employment avenues both in the legal profession and in those professions into which legal qualifications and skills are transferable.
Student’s 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.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
1. Demonstrate understanding of the basic elements of contract formation.
2. Demonstrate a knowledge of the contents of a standard contract.
3. Demonstrate the ability to write a formal letter of claim in relation to a breach of contract.
Bibliography
https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/A77AC9E7-90D8-CBD1-E189-789CEB1C3876.html
Contract law, by Ewan McKendrick, 2025, 16th edition
Treitel on The Law of Contract, by Edwin Peel, 2025, 16th edition
OʼSullivan & Hilliard's The Law of Contract, by Janet OʼSullivan, 2024, 11th edition
DATABASES
Westlaw Edge UK
Lexis+ UK