Commercial Law
| Module title | Commercial Law |
|---|---|
| Module code | LAW3019 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Monica Vessio (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | 248 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 40 | 20 x 2 hour lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 12 | 8 x 1.5 hour workshops |
| Guided independent study | 100 | Individual reading and lecture preparation |
| Guided independent study | 48 | Workshop preparation |
| Guided independent study | 100 | Formative and summative assessments preparation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written assessment | 1,000 words | 1-10 | Individual written feedback; oral feedback upon request |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 70 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | 70 | 2 hours intended duration (within a 24-hour submission window) | 1-8,10 | Individual written feedback; oral feedback upon request |
| Essay | 30 | 1,500 words | 1-10 | Individual written feedback; oral feedback upon request |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination (take-home) | Examination (take-home; 2 hours intended duration (within a 24-hour submission window)) | 1-8, 10 | August/September re-assessment period |
| Essay | Essay (1,500 words) | 1-10 | August/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/
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
