LW1CON-Contract

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

Module Convenor: Dr Rachel Horton
Email: r.e.horton@reading.ac.uk

Module Co-convenor: Mr Peter Tyldesley
Email: p.j.tyldesley@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
To introduce students to the underlying principles of the law of contract.

Aims:
The module aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the techniques of legal reasoning characteristic of a system based largely upon decided cases.

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the module it is expected that the student will be able to:
•identify the basic structure of the common law of contract and its fundamental principles;
•recognise the legal issues arising from a given set of facts;
•analyse reported cases and evaluate arguments based upon them;
•be able to formulate arguments for and against particular conclusions.

Additional outcomes:
The module also aims to develop the capacity to present an argument orally and in writing and to defend it against opposing points of view.

Outline content:
•Introduction (the significance of contract law and its underlying principles);
•Criteria for creating and enforcing contractual obligations (agreement, consideration, vitiating factors and the doctrine of privity);
•Determining the contents (term of contracts – express and implied, statutory and judicial controls on fairness);
•Discharging contracts (bringing contracts to an end through performance, agreement, frustration and breach);
•Enforcing contractual obligations (common law and equitable remedies).

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

There will be up to two hours of lectures per week and eight fortnightly tutorials for which students will be expected to prepare topics for group discussion. A written exercise will  be set during the autumn term which will be marked and returned by the tutors concerned. This exercise will not, however, form part of the summative assessment of a student’s overall performance on the module. In addition, a written test will be taken by all students in January to provide practice in working under exam conditions. The scripts will be returned, the marks will not form part of the module’s summative assessment. 

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	20	20	2
Tutorials	4	4
Guided independent study:	75	75
Total hours by term	99	99	2
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

One three-hour examination paper divided into two sections:

• Section A (two problem questions to be answered out of a choice of questions) and


• Section B (two essay questions to be answered out of a choice of questions).

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Formative assessment methods:

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%.

Reassessment arrangements:
As for the original examination, but taken in August/September.

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