| Unit name | Law of Contract |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAWD10008 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Richards |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | University of Bristol Law School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
Contract law is ubiquitous and fundamental to our everyday lives. It regulates simple everyday transactions, like buying a cup of coffee or a train ticket, as well as multi-million-pound deals between large commercial parties. In this unit, we will study the lifecycle of a contract: how it comes into existence, what issues might arise in its performance, and the circumstances in which contracting parties may be released from their obligations. Throughout, we will explore the core values and principles that English contract law seeks to uphold.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit is a core area of legal knowledge and an essential part of undergraduate study. Contract law is a branch of private law, which regulates relationships between private entities, and you will see links between contract law and other areas of private law, such as tort law. Contract law also underpins specialist bodies of contracting rules, such as commercial law and employment law, which are available as optional units during your programme. Key legal skills are also introduced in this unit and will be used throughout your degree.
An overview of content
The unit introduces you to English contract law and covers the elements of a binding contract; defects that may arise during its formation and performance; and the ways in which contracts can be brought to an end. The topics are dealt with chronologically, following the lifecycle of a contract. This unit also introduces you to the key legal skills of case reading and analysis, doctrinal analysis, and answering problem and essay questions.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
You will gain a thorough understanding of English contract law and its core values. You will be able to read, understand and analyse contract law cases, and to explain the rules and principles established in them. You will be able to use this knowledge to respond confidently to novel propositions and factual scenarios, developing persuasive, well-reasoned arguments about contract law in both oral and written form.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the unit, you will be able to:
The unit will be taught across the academic year and will include lectures, large group sessions and tutorials. These activities will typically take place on campus. The unit will also require directed and self-directed learning, which will include activities such as reading materials included in the unit’s reading list, watching videos, accessing web-based supplementary materials, and completing tasks for tutorial discussions. Teaching is student-centred, and you will be expected to contribute to tutorial discussions and to engage in peer-to-peer learning.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Tutorials in this unit are centred around assessment-style problem and essay questions, which give you the opportunity to test your knowledge and practice important legal skills. These tasks provide immediate feedback through peer discussion and oral feedback from academic staff.
A formative assessment will take place midway through the unit in which you will answer an essay question (500 words) and a problem question (500 words). Individual written feedback and lecture-based cohort feedback will be provided. This formative assessment gives you direct experience of the types of task you will be required to undertake as your summative assessment.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
The summative assessment will take the form of a Timed Assessment in which you will be required to answer two questions, one problem question and one essay question, from a choice of questions. Each question has a word limit of 1500 words. This assessment examines all Intended Learning Outcomes for this unit.
When assessment does not go to plan
When a student fails the unit and is eligible to resubmit, the unit will be reassessed on a like-for-like basis.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessment required for credit in the usual way.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. LAWD10008).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
