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Study information

Contract Law

Module titleContract Law
Module codeLAW2004B
Academic year2024/5
Credits30
Module staff

Dr Amy Man (Lecturer)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

12

11

Number students taking module (anticipated)

30

Module description

In this module, you will examine the English law of contract. Attention will be paid to the characteristics of contract, the nature, purposes and approaches of contract law, the nature and requirements of contractual agreement, consideration and other requirements for enforceability of contracts, terms and interpretation of contracts, vitiating factors and remedies. Traditionally, contract law alongside tort law is the ‘law of obligations’ and therefore an important part of everyday life for individuals, businesses and even public agencies. Knowledge and understanding of contract law is imperative in a variety of theoretical and practical dispute resolution and problem solving contexts. The emphasis of the module is therefore on applying the rules, principles and concepts of contract law to problems, while considering the practical consequences to contextualise the law.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module examines the English law of contract and its theoretical doctrines and practical applications. Attention will be paid to the formation of contractual relations, the requirements for enforceability of contracts, terms and interpretation of contracts, performance and breach of contracts, vitiating factors and remedies. The module examines the law of contract in its social, moral and commercial setting. The module aims to:

(a) give you an understanding of the different aspects of the law of contract;
(b) encourage you to think practically in this field, and apply the legal rules and principles you have learned to specific situations, and;
(c) enable you to identify and evaluate issues within the law of contract.

 

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 English law of contract and be able to describe and discuss the theoretical and practical contexts in which they operate;
  • 2. demonstrate awareness of some wider social and contextual implications of the areas of contract law;

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

  • 3. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a range of legal concepts, values, principles, institutions and procedures, and the ability to explain the relationships among them;
  • 4. demonstrate ability to apply legal knowledge to a problem and to discuss it.

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

  • 5. demonstrate effective and accurate communication skills in a manner appropriate to the discipline / different contexts;
  • 6. identify, retrieve and use efficiently a range of resources with some guidance;

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
Introduction
• Formation of Contract (Formal Requirements; Offer and Acceptance)
• Consideration and Qualifications to Consideration
• Intention to Create Legal Relations
• Terms of Contract
• Exception Clauses
• Performance and Breach
• Misrepresentation
• Unequal Bargaining
• Frustration
• Remedies

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
552450

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities5522 x 2.5 hour seminars
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities151Individual reading and seminar preparation
Guided Independent Study94Assessment preparation

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Examination-style question1,000 words1-6Individual written feedback (with oral feedback upon request)

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
01000

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Examination 1 (take-home, open book)301 hour intended duration (within a 24-hour submission window)1-6Individual written feedback (with oral feedback upon request)
Examination 2 (take-home, open book)702 hours intended duration (within a 24-hour submission window)1-6Individual written feedback (with oral feedback upon request)
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
Examination 1 (take-home, open book)Examination 1 (take-home, open book; same as above)1-6August/September reassessment period
Examination 2 (take-home, open book)Examination 2 (take-home, open book; same as above)1-6August/September reassessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading (please ensure in each case that you use the current edition):

1. Taylor and Taylor, Contract Law Directions, 8th edition (OUP)
2. Santier and Merkin, Poole’s Textbook on Contract Law 15th Edition (OUP, 2001)
3. Saintier & Merkin, Poole’s Casebook on Contract Law 15th Edition (OUP, 2021)

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – vle.exeter.ac.uk

Key words search

Law, contract, exception, clauses, performance, breach, misrepresentation

Credit value30
Module ECTS

15

Module pre-requisites

None

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

5

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

01/10/2006

Last revision date

21/07/2022