module specification

Employment and Equality Law will focus on the legal relationship between employers and workers as well as the law relating to the prohibition of discrimination both within and outside the employment context. The module examines the diverse nature of individual employment relationships, the content of the contract of employment and the remedies available to the parties on its termination. It outlines the domestic statutory and common law provisions which govern the employment relationship between employers and employees and employers and workers.

The aims of the module are as follows:

1. Students will be given opportunities for critical examination of domestic statute and case law related to the prohibition of discrimination.

2. Students will develop their practical knowledge of employment and equality law through independent research and application to hypothetical problem questions.

3. Students will develop a critical understanding of employment and equality law through analysis of the social and economic context in which the law has developed.

4. Students will develop their oral presentation skills in a supportive atmosphere in seminars.

5. Students will develop their professional skills through observation of tribunal proceedings.

1. Introduction to the Employment Relationship  LO1 and LO2
• The distinction between the contract of employment and the contract for services

2. Implied and Express Terms  LO1 and LO2
• The rules which govern terms in the contract of employment

3. Termination of Employment  LO1 and LO2
• Unfair and wrongful dismissal, and redundancy

4. Equality Law  LO1 and LO2
• English statute and case law relating to discrimination and the protections afforded by the Equality Act 2010

• Enforcement of Equality Law including exceptions and defences.

5. Employment Litigation  LO3 and LO4

• Completion and submission of claims to the employment tribunal

• Observation and written report of a tribunal hearing

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 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.

Blended Learning

All learning materials, previous examination questions and sample Q/A’s will be on WebLearn 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.

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.

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

1. Demonstrate a knowledge and critical understanding of employment and equality law.

2. Give lucid, reasoned advice in response to problem-based employment law case-studies.

3. Make astute observations in the social context of a real-life employment dispute setting.

4. Analyse the procedures and outcomes of an employment dispute in a cogent written format.

There will be two units of assessment.

1. In week 10, students will be required to observe a case at the employment tribunal and submit an interpretive written report of up to 1,000 words.

2. In week 15, students will be required to complete a piece of coursework of up to 1,000 words. This will require them to give lucid, reasoned advice in response to problem-based employment law case- studies, using skills of focused research, critical analysis and practical appraisal.

The link to the Talis reading list will be provided when the module is due to start running.