LW3FAM-Family Law

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Annika Newnham
Email: a.newnham@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module aims to provide students with a working knowledge of the private law relating to the family and to family breakdown, including the law of family financial provision. It gives students the opportunity to develop their research skills and the habit of independent, critical thought, in particular by encouraging them to consider critically the continuing agenda of family law reform.

Aims:

This module provides students with a working knowledge of the private law relating to the family and to family breakdown, including the law of family financial provision. It gives students the opportunity to develop their research skills and the habit of independent, critical thought, in particular by encouraging them to consider critically the continuing agenda of family law reform.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that the student will be able to:

• explain how the law responds to situations involving marriage and other family partnerships, divorce, domestic violence, the care of children after family breakdown, and financial provision following family breakdown;


• apply the law by analysing and discussing concrete problem situations;


• appraise critically the law and policy in this field, and to explainand assess the various possibilities for reform;


• organise their material and communicate their arguments effectively in the context of this emotionally charged subject, in the written examination.

Additional outcomes:

Students will also be expected to demonstrate, in tutorials, the following skills:

• effective oral communication of legal argument;


• the ability to work as part of a team in the discussion and communication of legal argument.

Outline content:

• Trends in Family Law and Policy


• Formal partnerships: Marriage and Civil Partners; Informal partnerships: Cohabitation


• Divorce and separation


• Domestic abuse


• Financial provision on the breakdown of relationships


• The basic principles of the Children Act 1989, and arrangements for children on the break-up of the family

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will be taught through a combination or asynchronous recorded lectures, live on-line all group sessions and smaller on-campus (subject to COVID regulations) seminars over the two terms. There will be one piece of formative assessment to assist preparation for the final summative assignment.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	13	7	2
Seminars	6	4
Guided independent study:	67	73	28
Total hours by term	86	84	30
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

On-line examination paper.  Three questions to be answered from a selection of questions. The exam questions will be divided into two sections (essays and problem questions) and at least one question from each section must be answered, with a total of three questions to be chosen. Students will have access to their notes and other resources as the assignment will be completed at home.

Detailed information on the release and submission will be provided by the School of Law.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Formative assessment methods:

Practice assessments will provide a problem and essay question to be attempted to prepare students for the summative assessment. Formative feedback on essay writing will be provided in the seminar setting in the Autumn term with the opportunity to submit a written piece of formative work later in the Spring term. On-going informal generic formative feedback will also be a feature of all seminars.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
40% overall

Reassessment arrangements:
See School Guide (Programme Assessment).

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 25 September 2023