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Study information

Commercial Law

Module titleCommercial Law
Module codeLAW3161
Academic year2023/4
Credits15
Module staff

(Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

11

Number students taking module (anticipated)

48

Module description

This is a crucial module if you are considering working in the area of commercial law. It examines key aspects of commercial law of sales from an international viewpoint, appreciating the impact of domestic (England and Wales) impact in the field. The focus will be on sale of goods. Stress will be laid on the practical implications of the rules of commercial law, together with more theoretical issues. This will provide you with an understanding of different aspects of commercial law; (b) to encourage you to think practically in this field, and apply the legal rules and principles they have learned to specific commercial situations; and (c) to enable you to identify and evaluate issues within commercial law.

LAW1004 Law of Contract is a pre-requisite and no co-requisites are required.  The module is not suitable for non-specialist students and those on interdisciplinary pathways.


Please note, students must also be on one of the following programmes:

  • INBOUND Semester 1
  • INBOUND Semester 2
  • One Semester Flexible Combined Honours
  • OAS Law (Dresden)
  • One Semester Law

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of this module is to develop your understanding of key aspects of commercial law, including how sales contract are created, what rights the parties enjoy and what kind of liabilities such contracts may give rise to under international law. Consideration will be given to the aims of commercial law 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 written and oral communication skills in written assessed work and workshop discussion;
  • 9. Demonstrate sound paper-based and electronic research skills; and demonstrate effective team skills;

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content and order of syllabus coverage may vary, it is envisaged that it will include some of the following topics:-

  • Introduction to commercial law
  • Sources of international commercial sales: English law and SOGA 1979, Incoterms, CIF and FOB contracts, 1980 Vienna Convention on International sale of goods
  • Creation of the contract: incorporation of standard terms and transport obligations
  • Transfer of risk and property
  • Seller’s duty re the goods and documents
  • Bills of lading
  • Letters of credit
  • Rejection and remedies for breach of contract

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
26.5123.50

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled learning and teaching activities2211 x 2 hour Lectures
Scheduled learning and teaching activities4.53 x 1.5 hour workshops
Guided independent study34Workshop preparation
Guided independent study80Assessment preparation
Guided independent study10Formative assessment

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
1 written formative assessment1000 words1-9Written

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Essay1003,750 words 1-9Generic written feedback
0
0
0
0
0

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

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Essay Essay (3,750 words)1-9August/September reassessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Charles Debattista "Bills of Lading in Export Trade", Tottel Publishing; 3rd Revised edition (2009)  

Jack's "Documentary Credits", Tottel Publishing; 4th Revised edition edition (28 Feb 2009)

LS Sealy and RJA Hooley,   Commercial Law: Text, Cases, and Materials   (4th edition, OUP 2009)

Further reading might include:

Bridge,   Benjamin’s Sale of Goods   (8th edition 2010);

Bridge,   The Sale of Goods   (2nd edition OUP 2009)

Key words search

Commercial Law, sale of goods, international sales

Credit value15
Module ECTS

7.5

Module pre-requisites

Students must be on one of the following programmes:

  • INBOUND Semester 1
  • INBOUND Semester 2
  • One Semester Flexible Combined Honours
  • OAS Law (Dresden)
  • One Semester Law
Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

6

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

14/12/2016

Last revision date

22/03/2018