LL4002 - Contract Law (2019/20)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2019/20 | |||||||||||||||
| Module title | Contract Law | |||||||||||||||
| Module level | Certificate (04) | |||||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 30 | |||||||||||||||
| School | Guildhall School of Business and Law | |||||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 300 | |||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
| Assessment components |
|
|||||||||||||||
| Running in 2019/20(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
|
Module summary
The Law of Contract is a core module for the LL.B. courses and the BA in Law, which introduces students to the key principles of the Law of Contract, 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.
As well as studying the traditional principles of offer, acceptance, consideration and third party rights, students will also consider other such practical topics as terms, misrepresentation, frustration, exemption clauses and remedies for breach of contract.
Students will develop their skills in reading and understanding primary and secondary sources of law; and practise the practical and professional skills of legal research, legal analysis and legal writing.
The module is relevant and very important for a range of careers in law, commerce and industry.
Prior learning requirements
None
Syllabus
1. The Creation and Nature of Contractual Obligations LO 2
The Phenomenon of Agreement
Offer
Acceptance
Intention to create legal relations
Consideration
Privity of contract
Capacity
Formalities
2. The Contents of a Contract LO 1 and 2
Terms
Representations
Exemption clauses
3. Vitiating Factors in Contracts LO 2
Misrepresentation
Mistake
Illegality
4. Discharge of Contract LO 1 and 2
Frustration
Breach
Performance
5. Remedies for Breach of Contract LO 1 and 2
Damages
Equitable Remedies
6. Legal Drafting in Contract Law LO 1
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
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 blackboard and IT resources;
Whole group questions and discussion.
The seminar will be used for:
Development of skills necessary to attain the module learning outcomes through:
Written and oral questions/answers designed to reinforce fundamental rules/principles/cases;
A range of step by step writing exercises;
IT tasks such as research of cases and statutes
Problem-solving
Legal writing
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.
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
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, the students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate the ability to report on the elements of a claim for breach of contract.
2. Demonstrate the ability cogently to discuss legal case studies and/or contemporary legal issues within the context of the law of contract.
Assessment strategy
1. Legal drafting exercise (1,500 – 2,000 words)
Drafting a legal document in the context of a claim for breach of contract. This will assess the ability to make a written report on the elements of a claim for breach of contract.
2. Legal Essay (1,500 – 2,000 words)
Written coursework. This will assess the ability cogently to discuss legal case studies and/or contemporary legal issues within the context of the law of contract.
Bibliography
Core Texts:
Goldstone, B, The Barrie-Guide to the Law of Contract (London Met)
Furmston, MP, Cheshire, Fifoot and Furmston’s Law of Contract (OUP)
Other Texts:
Treitel, GH, The Law of Contract (Sweet and Maxwell)
Smith, JC, Smith & Thomas: A Casebook on Contract, (Sweet and Maxwell)
Stone, R. and Devenney. J., Principles of Contract Law (Routledge)
Journals:
Law Quarterly Review
Electronic Databases:
Westlaw and Lexis Library