Accessibility navigation

LW2LAN-Land Law

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 30 [15ECTS credits]
Level: 5
Terms in which taught: Autumn and Spring
Module Convenor: Professor R Auchmuty
Pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Module version for: 2009/0

Email: R.Auchmuty@reading.ac.uk

Aims:

  • To examine the nature, scope, creation and enforceability of rights, both legal and equitable, in land;
  • To encourage students to see property law in its historical, social and philosophical contexts;
  • To facilitate students’ understanding of Land Law through the practice of independent research and through having to explain and present a given topic in lay terms in an accessible format;
  • To develop communication skills which will be useful in future in dealing with the public and lay clients.

    Assessable learning outcomes:
    Students who pass this module will be able to

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the significance of legal and equitable property rights in the context of land;
  • Demonstrate a knowledge of the nature, scope, creation and enforceability of such rights;
  • Evaluate some key land law concepts;
  • Identify the relevant law applicable to straightforward factual situations in land law;
  • Apply the relevant law in those situations so as to reach clear and supportable conclusions;
  • Undertake independent research;
  • Explain difficult legal concepts in both legal and lay language;
  • Present legal information in an attractive, accessible and useful way.

    Additional outcomes:
    This module will also encourage the development more generally of

  • analytical skills
  • communication skills
  • empathy for clients
  • personal responsibility
  • the creative use of presentation and IT skills in the dissemination of information
  • the ability to use the knowledge and skills gained on this module in co-curricular activities and the workplace

    Outline content:

  • What is land?
  • Tenure and estates
  • Leases and leasehold covenants
  • Freehold covenants
  • Mortgages
  • Registered land
  • Creation and transfer of interests in land
  • Shared ownership of land
  • Easements

    Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
    Two lectures a week throughout the autumn and spring terms and 9 fortnightly tutorials. Independent research on the topic set for the assessed coursework.

    Contact hours:

      Autumn Spring Summer
    Lectures 20 20
    Tutorials/seminars 4  5   
    Practicals None  None   
    Other contact (eg study visits) None  None   
    Total hours 24  25   
    Number of essays or assignments 1 (non-assessed)  1   
    Other (eg major seminar paper)      

    Assessment:
    Written examination and coursework.

    Coursework: One piece of assessed coursework of no more than 8 pages due on a date to be notified in the spring term. Students will research a given topic in Land Law independently and produce (a) a legal analysis to a particular fact situation and (b) written advice in lay language in the form of a letter to the clients.

    Relative percentage of coursework: 30%

    Examinations: One two and a half hour examination paper with one compulsory pre-seen essay question and two questions from a choice of one essay and 3 problems.

    Both the assessed coursework and the exam paper test students’ knowledge and understanding of the module content, their ability to apply problem-solving techniques to fact situations and/or to critically analyse aspects of land law. The assessed coursework facilitates students’ understanding of Land Law through the practice of independent research and through having to explain and present a given topic in both legal and lay terms in an accessible format. It also helps to develop communication skills which will be useful in future in dealing with the public and lay clients. The examination tests the ability to prepare for the pre-seen question and to write clearly argued answers to both pre-seen and unseen questions under pressure and within time constraints, without resources to hand.

    Requirements for a pass: 40%.

    Reassessment arrangements: Re-examination and/or submission of a new piece of
    coursework in September. Only a failed element need be re-taken; a mark for the passed element can be carried forward.

    Last updated: 7 December 2009

    • Things to do now

    Page navigation

     

    Search Form