Unit information: Law of Contract in 2016/17

Unit name	Law of Contract
Unit code	LAWDM0061
Credit points	30
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Professor. Adebisi
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	University of Bristol Law School
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit covers the formation of contracts, their contents, vitiating factors, discharge, and remedies. Topics covered include: Agreement (offer and acceptance); Consideration and promissory estoppel; Intention to create legal relations; Terms; Qualifications on liability; Illegitimate pressure; Misrepresentation; Mistake; Frustration; Performance and breach; Remedies.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the unit, a successful student will be able:

• to research and explain the origin, development and content of the principles and rules of the law of Contract;
• to identify issues of the law of Contract arising in different factual situations;
• to analyse the leading cases and statutory provisions; to understand how to deal with case law; and to recognise difficulties in identifying, reconciling and applying relevant source material;
• to present complex legal arguments in a coherent and persuasive fashion and to identify and reconcile inconsistencies in competing arguments;
• to apply knowledge of the law in resolution of issues identified;
• to criticise the relevant legal rules and to consider possible solutions for the successful reform and application of the law. Students should be able to state the law accurately, to apply legal principles to problem case scenarios, and to think critically about ways in which the law could be reformed.

Teaching Information

This unit is taught by way of 20-30 lectures, 10 two-hour seminars and 2 assessment preparation and feedback sessions. Lectures are delivered jointly to students on the related undergraduate unit.

Assessment Information

Summative: a 2000 word essay (33%) will assess the candidate's ability to research a topic within the scope of this unit. The remaining Intended Learning Outcomes will be assessed in a 3 hour written examination (67%). Both assessments will assess all of the Intended Learning Outcomes for this unit in the context of topics selected by the examiners.

Formative - Students will have the opportunity to sit a mid-sessional examination in January, to give them early feedback on examination technique and their understanding of core aspects of Contract Law.

Reading and References

• E McKendrick, Contract Law (11th edn., Palgrave MacMillan, 2015)
• Blackstone's Statutes on Contract, Tort and Restitution, 2014-15
• A Burrows, A Casebook on Contract Law (4th edn., Hart, 2013)
• Treitel, The Law of Contract, 14th ed (2014)