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Study information

Commercial Law

Module titleCommercial Law
Module codeLAW3019
Academic year2024/5
Credits30
Module staff

Dr I-Ju Chen ()

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

12

11

Number students taking module (anticipated)

200

Module description

This is a crucial module if you are considering working in the area of commercial law. On the module, you will look at the body of law that pertains tocommercial transactions. Its wide-ranging scope includes many different areas that affect businesses and individuals who enter into commercial transactions. You will examine key aspects of commercial law both from a domestic  and an international viewpoint. The practical implications of the rules of commercial law, together with more theoretical issues, will be canvassed, looking at agency, sale of goods and international commercial law, as well as examining key contemporary issues in commercial law, for example, circularity and payment systems. There are many exciting changes and advances that are happening in this field right now and the module will encourage you to consider the rules of trade in the context of these contemporary issues.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The overarching aim of the module is to develop your understanding of key aspects of commercial law. The module aims to give you an understanding of different aspects of commercial (and consumer) law; to encourage you to think practically in this field and apply the legal rules and principles you have learned to specific commercial situations; and to enable you to identify and evaluate issues within commercial law. Critical consideration will also be given to the aims of commercial law in the light of the changing manner that trade is conducted, both domestically and internationally, and its efficacy in achieving its aims.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the main areas of commercial law in England and Wales and internationally, and be able to discuss the practical and business context in which they operate;
  • 2. Demonstrate a critical awareness of relevant issues, and identify and analyse critically legal problems in the commercial law context; and
  • 3. Demonstrate an awareness of pragmatic, commercial, moral, policy and/or other issues in this field.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 4. Read legislation and case law, and apply it critically to specific commercial situations;
  • 5. Identify and evaluate critically legal data from more than one source or jurisdiction;
  • 6. Analyse and apply legal data to specific facts and deduce likely outcomes where law is indeterminate;
  • 7. Analyse and apply theoretical knowledge to specific situations.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 8. Demonstrate effective and persuasive communication skills in assessments and discussion;
  • 9. Demonstrate sound research skills; and demonstrate effective team skills;
  • 10. Work independently, within a limited time frame, to complete a specified task.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:

  • Defining the scope of commercial law
  • Key concepts in commercial law
  • Sale of goods
  • Agency
  • International commercial law
  • Contemporary issues in commercial law, for example, circularity, banking and payment systems, digital assets

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
522480

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled learning and teaching activities4020 x 2 hour lectures
Scheduled learning and teaching activities128 x 1.5 hour workshops
Guided independent study100Individual reading and lecture preparation
Guided independent study48Workshop preparation
Guided independent study100Formative and summative assessments preparation

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Written assessment1,000 words1-10Individual written feedback; oral feedback upon request

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
30700

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Examination702 hours intended duration (within a 24-hour submission window)1-8,10Individual written feedback; oral feedback upon request
Essay301,500 words1-10Individual written feedback; oral feedback upon request

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Examination (take-home)Examination (take-home; 2 hours intended duration (within a 24-hour submission window))1-8, 10August/September re-assessment period
EssayEssay (1,500 words)1-10August/September re-assessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Stokes Commercial Law 2022

Atiyah Sale of Goods 2020

Munday Agency: Law and Principles 2022

Kokkinis and Miglionico Banking Regulation 2022

Lista International Trade 2019

Cranston et al Principles of Banking Law  2018

Sealy and Hooley   Commercial Law: Text, Cases, and Materials   2020

Goode and McKendrick  Commercial Law 2020

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Law Commission documents, Bank of England articles, speeches, Bank for International Settlement papers

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

ELE –  http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Key words search

Commercial law, agency, sale of goods and services, banking in commercial context and the payment system, domestic and international sales

Credit value30
Module ECTS

15

Module pre-requisites

None

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

6

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

01/10/2002

Last revision date

17/02/2023