LAW3304 : General Principles of Tort (Graduate)
- Inactive for Year: 2026/27
- Module Leader(s): Professor Richard Mullender
- Lecturer: Dr Nikki Godden-Rasul, Dr Emilia Mickiewicz
- Owning School: Newcastle Law School
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
• To provide a general understanding of the structure of the law of tort and the place of tort law in the legal system as a whole.
• To examine in detail the law on negligence generally and then with specific focus on psychiatric harm and pure economic loss
• To consider the law on private nuisance and associated remedies
Outline Of Syllabus
Introduction to Tort Law
Negligence law: the basic Framework (embracing the doctrines of duty of care, breach of duty, causation, remoteness, and defences). Applications of negligence law particular areas: (i) psychiatric harm and (ii) medical liability.
Applications of negligence law particular areas: (i) psychiatric harm ad (ii) pure economic loss (with the emphasis on negligent misstatement).
Private nuisance and the rule in Rylands v Fletcher (including a detailed examination of remedies).
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | Recorded material on defences in the law of negligence |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | 1 hour on recent developments in Tort Law, 1 hour on coursework guidance |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | Seminars |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | aimed at preparing for practical skills assessment – letter of advice to client |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 162 | 1:00 | 162:00 | Includes assessment preparation and completion |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Scheduled on-line contact time | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The design of this course reflects a determination to establish a close relationship between the various teaching activities (lectures and seminars) and the assessment.
The teaching activities have the purpose of providing a knowledge base, developing understanding, and refining skills in ways that that will make it possible for students taking the course to deliver richly informed, insightfully researched, and powerfully argued coursework.
Seminars help students cement and further their knowledge and understanding and help prepare for the written coursework.
Workshops are focused on preparing students for the practical skills assessment -which focuses on developing students’ ability to identify and understand legal rules and principles applicable to a scenario and the ability to communicate that in a clear, professional and appropriate manner to a client.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 65 | 2000 word essay |
| Oral Examination | 1 | M | 10 | 5-10 minute interview where student will be asked questions based on their coursework |
| Prof skill assessmnt | 1 | M | 25 | Letter of advice – 1500 words |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Assessed coursework enables students to demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and skills (e.g., research-, interpretation-, and argument-related skills). This medium is particularly suited to developing in students a capacity for analysis and argument on topics that call for critical reflection in the light of research.
The oral examination seeks to test students’ ability to explain orally the argument they have presented in written form in the coursework. It also tests knowledge and understanding of both the law and the sources relied on.
The professional skills assessment provides a context in which students can demonstrate their ability to identify issues, apply knowledge insightfully to them, and communicate legal rules and principles to a non-legal audience – the client.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- LAW3304's Timetable