| Unit name | Law of Tort I |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAWDM0103 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Stanton |
| 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 |
This unit provides an introduction to the tort of negligence which forms a large part of the English law of tort. Though broadly doctrinal in focus, it will address the social impact of this area of law and the policies that have driven its development. The unit will develop an understanding of legal doctrine in its field along with associated historical and socio-political perspectives. The unit will cover the rules governing the tort of negligence, principles of causation, defences and vicarious liability. It will consider the operation of the tort in the context of personal injury and professional negligence litigation. Students will receive practice in handling case-law and statutory materials in accordance with the common law method of the English Legal System. They will be equipped to research topics in the field of the unit from a standard range of legal materials, using both paper and electronic resources.
After completing the unit, students will be able to display a thorough knowledge of the principles of the tort of negligence and of defences which are available generally in the law of tort. They will be able to demonstrate a competent level of skills in common law method and to research further material in the field with which they are hitherto unfamiliar.
Six two-hour seminars and attendance at relevant weekly one-hour lectures throughout the academic year.
Students will have the opportunity to sit a mid-sessional examination to give them early feedback on examination technique and their understanding of core aspects of the law relating to the tort of negligence alongside their ability to answer questions relating to factual problems. They will also have the opportunity to submit a 1,500-2000 word research essay (33%), which will test their research skills, using paper and electronic sources. At the end of the year their skills in handling case law and statutory materials will be tested two hour examination (67%).
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