LW1CON: Contract

Module code: LW1CON

Module provider: School of Law

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Rachel Horton, email: r.e.horton@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Ms Deeba Manain, email: d.manain@reading.edu.my

Pre-requisite module(s): This module is only available to LLB students. (Open)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to develop a critical understanding of the key principles of contract law.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Identify the basic structure of the common law of contract and its fundamental principles; 
2. Recognise and respond to the legal issues arising from a given set of facts; 
3. Analyse reported cases and evaluate arguments based upon them; 
4. Formulate arguments for and against particular conclusions. 

Module content

• Introduction (the significance of contract law and its underlying principles); 
• Criteria for creating and enforcing contractual obligations (agreement, consideration, vitiating factors and the doctrine of privity); 
• Determining the contents (term of contracts – express and implied, statutory and judicial controls on fairness); 
• Discharging contracts (bringing contracts to an end through performance, agreement, frustration and breach); 
• Enforcing contractual obligations (common law and equitable remedies). 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be divided into topics. Teaching for each topic will typically involve:

2 x 2 hour lectures to introduce the topic and outline the key legal principles

1 x 2 hour workshop

1 x 1 hour tutorial

There will, in addition, be introductory and revision lectures as well as on-line content that will include e.g. drop in Q&A online sessions and guest lectures.

Study hours

At least 50 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

IPAC outline to problem question to be produced then peer marked and discussed during workshop before the summative coursework is due. 

Reassessment

Additional costs