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.

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.

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

All these subjects pervade each of the Learning Oucomes 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 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.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to do the following:

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.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/9BCB1F58-B4C2-7398-519C-490BB1E4C021.html

CORE
Family Law: Text, Cases, and Materials, by R George et al, 5th edition 13 July 2023
Family Law by Jonathan Herring , (Longman Law Series) 11th edition, 2023
Straightforward Guide to Family Law, A: Revised Edition, by David Bryan - 2025 
ADDITIONAL
Blackstone's Statutes on Family Law (Blackstone's Statute Series), by R George, 31st edition,  2023
Family Law Paperback, edited by Ruth Lamont, 2nd edition, 2022
DATABASES
Westlaw Edge UK