LW3FAM: Family Law

Module code: LW3FAM

Module provider: School of Law

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Annika Newnham, email: a.newnham@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

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 provide students with a working knowledge of the private law relating to the family and the consequences of family breakdown. It gives students the opportunity to develop their research skills and the habit of independent, critical thought, in particular by encouraging them to consider critically the continuing agenda of family law reform and policy. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Explain how the law responds to situations involving adult partnerships and the consequences of their dissolution; parenthood and arrangements for children
2. Apply the law by analysing and discussing concrete problem situations
3. Appraise critically the law and policy in this field, and to explain and assess the various possibilities for reform
4. Organise their material and communicate their arguments effectively in the context of this emotionally charged subject

Module content

The module will cover trends in family law and policy in England & Wales and consider topics such as family structure and adult relationship creation and dissolution; financial remedies and arrangements for children upon relationship breakdown; domestic abuse; and parenthood. The choice and scope of topics covered in the module will reflect contemporary debates and issues. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will comprise two hourly lectures on a weekly basis (weeks 1-11) combined with 5 fortnightly two hours seminar. 

Seminars will provide an opportunity for students to actively engage with the material through pre-seminar preparation and enable feedback and support to be provided within the seminar itself. 

There will be additional activities including on-line revision and support sessions; invited speakers; and directed recorded material (such as external lectures/podcasts). 

Written formative work will support preparation of the first piece of summative work (essay); seminars will provide additional formative feedback to prepare for the second piece of summative work (case study/problem style advice). 

Study hours

At least 40 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.

In second half of Semester 1 – detailed essay plan plus bibliography in preparation for first summative piece of work due before the end of semester 1. 

800 words max for essay plan, excluding bibliography. 

Reassessment

Additional costs