Aims

1. To acquire knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of contract law.
2. To introduce and develop case reading, application and analysis.

The module covers the fundamentals of the law of contract, ranging from formation of contract to contents, termination, and remedies for breaches. It is offered to the first year law student and lasts for the whole year.

This module has an Introduction, in which the module is introduced in general terms, and five blocks:

1. Offer and acceptance, consideration
2. The privity rule and third party rights
3. The contents of a contract: terms and their classification, exemption clauses, and the impact of legislation on them
4. Breach of Contract
5. Legal remedies for breach of contract

Outline Of Syllabus

1. Formation of contracts
2. Consideration and duress
3. Terms and classification
4. Exemption clauses and legislation
5. Privity and 3rd party rights
6. Misrepresentation, mistake and frustration
7. Remedies

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Key cases, principles and ideas will be introduced in the lectures, for which advance reading will be recommended. The seminars will probe learning and understanding of particluar areas of the module whilst at the same time developing key skills. Directed self-study throughout the module will be the significant learning method. The required coursework will encourage the learning outcomes through the student's own efforts and feedback from the module teachers.

'Drop-in/surgery' contact time is provided in this module as part of the Law School assessment and feedback policy such that markers and/or module leaders will offer the opportunity for one-to-one oral feedback on students' written work, in addition to written feedback on coursework front sheets and generic class feedback. The time given above is merely indicative and more time may be scheduled if necessary to meet the demand for individual feedback.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Summative assessment is provided by means of an examination. The examination will be appropriate for testing the level of achievement of the intended learning outcomes.

Additionally students will submit a formative essay in Semester 1. As a part of LAW1120, students will also sit a formative examination covering one question for LAW1120 and one question for LAW1121 in January. This midsessional examination will provide students with the opportunity to experience university examination conditions. Both formative assessments will provide the opportunity to test their knowledge and understanding of discrete topics and to practice their written skills and the cognitive skills of analysis, synthesis, critical judgment and evaluation.