LC1S146 - Contract and Problem Solving 01 Sep 2020 - 31 Aug 2025 | Version 4

Associated Module Information

Module Code: LC1S146
Module Title: Contract and Problem Solving
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Law
Faculty Sub Group: Law
Module Leader: Matthew Beecham
Module Team: Andrew Baker, Sara Hale, Gemma Sweetman, Holly Evans
First Intended Intake: SEP 2015 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100485 - law
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 4
Valid From 01 Sep 2020
Valid To 31 Aug 2025

Module Aims

1. To develop knowledge and understanding of the basic concepts such as freedom to contract, agreement and consent;

2. To develop the ability to recognise the criteria for an agreement to be legally enforceable;

3. To develop knowledge and understanding of the issues that arise in determining the terms of the agreement and the intention of the parties;

4. To Identify the factors that affect the enforceability of the contract and recognise the circumstances that can lead to a contract being set aside by the courts;

5. To Identify, locate and apply relevant legislation and case law to advise parties to a contract about their rights and their obligations under the contract;

6. To develop a knowledge and understanding of the common law and equitable doctrines which underpin the law of contract;

7. To develop analytical and problem solving skills;

Content Summary

Contract law is the cornerstone of civil liability. It is the foundation for many of the other subjects studied throughout the course. Students will apply the content to a series of problem based scenarios arising from a fictional case which will be introduced in the first lecture. After each topic the students will be given a problem scenario concerning the content of the topic and will be expected to apply their knowledge in order to solve the problem posed.

The module will:

introduce the student to the common law and statutory rules of contract.

identify the criteria for a valid contract.

examine the rules relating to the formation of the agreement by offer and acceptance

explore the problems of communication and revocation.

discuss the relative importance of contractual terms and their interpretation.

identify those factors that may vitiate consent to the agreement and their effect on its enforceability, to include misrepresentation, mistake, duress and undue influence.

examine discharge of the contract by breach, performance, agreement and frustration and the consequences of these events.

consider the effect of a breach of contract and the common law and equitable remedies that may be available to the injured party.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 24
Seminar 24
Independent Study 80
Directed Study 72
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the basic rules that govern contractual relationships.
LO2 Apply the law of contract through a series of problem based scenarios.
LO3 Demonstrate an ability to effectively analyse and evaluate the legal issues within the law of contract.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Written Assignment (CW) Case Study (CW) 2 Coursework 0 2000 50 No 40
Oral Assessment (CW) Presentation (CW) 1 Presentation 15 N/A 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2 LO3
Case Study (CW) 2
Presentation (CW) 1

Reading List

Burrows A - A Casebook on Contract, Hart Publishing

Koffman and Macdonald - The Law of Contract, Tolley Press

McEndrick Ewan - Contract Law, Text Cases and Materials, OUP

Poole J - Casebook on Contract, Oxford University Press

Richards P - Textbook on Contract, Oxford University Press