module specification

Land Law II is a core module for the LL.B. and BA Law courses, which builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in the study of the LL4052, Land Law I. Students study further key principles of land law, which 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.

The module continues building on the critical understanding of legal concepts introduced in LL4052 Land Law I. Students study the distinction between a joint tenancy and tenancy in common and the different types of trusts of the family home; the distinction between a lease and licence; leasehold covenants; easements and freehold covenants. The module syllabus provides students with the opportunity to engage with critical enquiry into the experiences of some of society’s disadvantaged groups, clearly facilitating improvement in social justice by education.

The module aims for students are:

1. You will acquire knowledge of the basic principles of leases; the family home; and controls of land use in private law.
2. You will develop several key transferable skills including independent research, critical analysis and cogent academic writing in the context of land law, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources of land law.
3. You will experience enhanced student employability through the practice of written (including summative and formative) and oral communication skills (seminar) activities.
4. You will be immersed in an accessible curriculum that places students at the heart of the learning experience.
5. You will see yourself reflected in the curriculum by embracing and developing diverse perspectives.

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.

Each week the module will focus on a specific aspect of land law that will be taught via an explanation and analysis of the relevant legal principles and statutory rules. This is supplemented by a weekly seminar which requires application of the relevant law to problem-solving questions and essay topics.

Outside the classroom, it is essential that students study independently by reading the core texts from the reading list. They should also continue to participate on Weblearn via discussion boards and a wider range of activities, including reading of current literature and updates in the law.

Some seminar sessions will also involve group research presentation tasks, which requires peer review. This improves written and oral communication skills and fosters a sense of community in the classroom, alongside developing critical thinking and reflective learning.

Students must produce formative assessments to deadlines set during the course to be successful. This also encourages students to learn professional practice in meeting deadlines on time.

All these subjects pervade each of the Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3.

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 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
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.

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

1. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of leases, the family home and controls of land use in private law through study of cases and legislation.
2. Demonstrate the ability to critically discuss case study problems relating to the topics covered in the syllabus.
3. Demonstrate the ability to write critical, discursive essays relating to the topics covered in the syllabus.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/F7E813C4-DAFF-FADB-B45A-8EA7F4994497.html

CORE
• Martin Dixon, Modern Land Law 13th edn., 2023.
• Ben McFarlane; Nicholas S. Hopkins; Sarah Nield, Land Law: Text Cases and materials, 6th edn. 2024.
• Robert Megarry; William Wade, The Law of Real Property, 10th edn., 2024.
• Aruna Nair; Judith-Anne MacKenzie, Textbook on Land Law, 19th edn., 2023.

ADDITIONAL
• Land law: Text, Cases, and Materials, by Ben McFarlane; Nicholas S. Hopkins; Sarah Nield, 2024, 6th edition
• Blackstone's statutes on property law: 2025-2026, edited by Meryl Thomas, 2025, 33rd edition

DATABASES
Westlaw Edge UK
Lexis+ UK