Unit Information Form (UIF)

SECTION 1
Unit name

CONTRACT LAW

Unit code

LAW007-1

Level

Credit value

30

Location of delivery

Luton and Bedford Campus.

The unit seeks to examine in some depth, the legal principles
and concepts involved in the formation of a contract. The unit
seeks to establish how in our every day lives we are constantly
surrounded by and involved in simple and complex contractual
situations. The law of contract is the basis of many other legal
subjects and although those subjects have developed specific
rules, the law of contract nevertheless provides a background
for those rules. The unit seeks to show how contracts are
formed and the complex rules associated with such formation.

Summary/Overview

Once a contract has been formed, its content will be examined

and the obligations which flow from formation will be
considered.

The unit will also consider what obligations are imposed by an

agreement, and how some contracts can be described as void
or avoidable and what this means for the parties involved.
Ultimate discharge of contract will be considered along with the
remedies available to a claimant for breach of contract.
To enable students to be able to identify various legal
concepts and principles found throughout the subject designed
to protect those within a business and those external to it.
To apply legal concepts to practical situations.
Aims

Students should be able to research from Law Reports and

academic texts and be able to identify the reasoning behind
legal principles relating to contract law provisions. Critical
awareness should be applied in an ever changing
environment.
To enable students to confidently handle, analyse, synthesise
and apply the operation of the above principles.

Core Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit you should be able
to:

Assessment Criteria
To achieve the learning outcome you must
demonstrate the ability to:

Apply the knowledge base of contract law to

problem situations by planning investigative
strategies using a limited and defined range of
methods.

Apply substantive knowledge to a given

problem and produce arguable conclusions.

Apply the substantive knowledge of contract

remedies available to the claimant and
communicate advice in an appropriate form.
Identify the conceptual theories that are the
basis of contract law.
Collect information from primary and
secondary sources, e.g. Law Reports,
Journals and computer sources and use it
appropriately in solving simple problems.
Demonstrate communication skills and
general
legal
skills
by
undertaking
performance tasks competently.
Reflect on the legal principles of contract law
under supervision within defined guidelines
and take responsibility for the nature and
quality of outputs.

Produce arguable conclusions treating the

situation as an exemplification of the
established rules.
Bring together relevant materials from cases
and statute law.
Produce evidence that you have read and that
you are able to discuss the contents of
standard legal textbooks, cases and statute
showing a basic understanding of their content.
Present expository material such that the
majority of points are focused relevantly on the
question being asked.
Produce evidence of existing knowledge to
the given situation and produce arguable
conclusions treating the situation as an
exemplification of established rules.

SECTION 2
Period of delivery

Year Long.
Essential
Cheshire and Fifoot on the Law of Contract 15th edition,
edited by MP FURMSTON. ISBN 9780199287567.
Background
Ewan McKendrick: Contract Law, Text Cases and Materials,
2nd edition, Oxford University Press (2005), ISBN
0199274800.
Jill Poole: Textbook on Contract Law, 9th edition, ISBN
9780199233519.
Jill Poole: Casebook on Contract Law, 9th edition ISBN
9780199233526.
Richard Taylor; Damian Taylor: Contract Law directions, 2nd
edition, Oxford University Press 2009, ISBN 9780199554393.

Pre-requisites/Restrictions

Ewan McKendrick: Contract Law , Text, Cases and Materials,

3rd edition, Oxford University Press 2008, ISBN
9780199208012.
Mindy Chen-Wishart: Contract Law, 2nd Edition, Oxford
University Press 2007, ISBN 9780199207169.
Laurence Koffman: The Law of Contract, 6th Edition, Oxford
University Press 2007, ISBN 9780199207152.
Ansons Law of Contract, 28th Edition, Oxford University
Press, ISBN 9780199296514.
Catherine Elliott and Frances Quinn: Contract Law, 7th
Edition, Pearson Education Ltd 2009, ISBN 9781405899352.

Journals
New Law Journal.

Approach to Learning

Journal of Contract Law.

Students enrolled on the unit will have an opportunity to
discuss and develop an understanding of legal and social
issues. Students will face meaningful and challenging new
materials which reflect the ever changing environment in
which law operates. Work in seminars will develop
collaborative and interpersonal skills with students and staff.
The material will be delivered in a collaborative and reflective
way in order for students to reflect on the work studied
across boundaries with other units studied and the outside
world. Learning should be considered as an on going
process throughout life.

Communication
To help with the development of this you will be encouraged
to participate in weekly seminar sessions, and develop your
written and oral communications which are essential to your
overall skill development on this unit.
Information Literacy
To help with the development of this you will be encouraged
to produce coherent work in the form of well written answers
to pre-set tutorial questions.
Skills Development

Research and Evaluation

To help with the development of this you will be expected to
follow legal developments as they occur during the academic
year and to evaluate their implications in the areas of study
which underpin the unit.
Creativity and Critical Thinking
To help with the development of this you will study Case Law
and Statutory provisions as part of the unit. Creativity and
Critical thinking is central to the assessment criteria/
assessment strategy.

Assessment Strategy

You will be assessed on one piece of coursework of 2,500

word length, worth a total 25% of the marks available for the
unit. This will be tutor assessed.
You will have to sit an examination lasting 3 hours which
will contribute 75% of the marks available for the unit. This
will be tutor assessed and externally moderated.

No

Assessment
Method *

Description of Assessment
Method

Weight
%
50
50

*The following codes for assessment methods apply:

AR
artefact
CB
computer-based
CS
case study
DI
dissertation or project
EX
exam
GR
group report
IT
in-unit test
LR
literature review

Learning Outcomes
Assessed
1 2 3 4 5 6
X X
X
X X X X X X

PC
PF
PL
PO
PR
RE
OR
OT

Submission week
(assignments) or
length (exam)
Week 7
Week 12

practical
performance
placement
portfolio
presentation
individual report
oral
other

SECTION 3
Outline teaching schedule
Week 1
Topic The nature of contractual obligations and the role of contract law.
Week 2
Topic Freedom of contract and the increasing role of legislation.
Week 3
Topic Offer and Acceptance, invitation to treat, termination of offer and acceptance, certainty and
communication.
Week 4
Topic Consideration definitions and the role and significance of consideration.
Week 5
Topic Relationship between consideration and Promissory Estoppel.
Week 6
Topic Why the doctrine of Promissory Estoppel developed.
Week 7
Topic - The interpretation of Contracts.
Week 8
Topic Contents of Contract, representations and terms, express and implied.
Week 9
Topic Conditions and Warranties and innominate terms.
Week 10 -11
Topic Vitiating elements-misrepresentation, Mistake, doctrine of non est factum, doctrine of economic
duress and undue influence.
Week 12
Topic- who can enforce a contract, Privity of contract issues.
Week 13
Topic-Illegality and Public Policy.
Week 14
Topic Termination of Contract by agreement and by breach.
Week 14-15
Topic The doctrine of frustration of Contract.
Week 16
Topic The concept of Remedies in the law of contract.
Week 17-18
Topic - Common Law remedies and the rationale behind the common law approach.
Week 19
Topic - Equitable remedies of specific performance, Injunction and rescission.
Week 20
Topic Consumer Protection , introduction to Consumer Contracts.

 Week 21
Topic- Contracts for the sale of goods.
Week 22
Topic Contracts for the supply of services.
Week 23
Topic- Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
Week 24-25
Topic-Unsolicited goods.
Recommended resources
Essential
Cheshire and Fifoot on the Law of Contract 15th edition, edited by MP FURMSTON. ISBN 9780199287567.

Background
Ewan McKendrick: Contract Law, Text Cases and Materials, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press (2005), ISBN
0199274800.
Jill Poole: Textbook on Contract Law, 9th edition, ISBN 9780199233519.
Jill Poole: Casebook on Contract Law, 9th edition ISBN 9780199233526.
Richard Taylor; Damian Taylor: Contract Law directions, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press 2009, ISBN
9780199554393.
Ewan McKendrick: Contract Law , Text, Cases and Materials, 3rd edition, Oxford University Press 2008, ISBN
9780199208012.
Mindy Chen-Wishart: Contract Law, 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press 2007, ISBN 9780199207169.
Laurence Koffman: The Law of Contract, 6th Edition, Oxford University Press 2007, ISBN 9780199207152.
Ansons Law of Contract, 28th Edition, Oxford University Press, ISBN 9780199296514.
Catherine Elliott and Frances Quinn: Contract Law, 7th Edition, Pearson Education Ltd 2009, ISBN
9781405899352.
Journals
New Law Journal.
Journal of Contract Law.

SECTION 4
Faculty

Business School

Field

Law UG Field - BUS

Department/School/Division

School of Law

Unit Co-ordinator

MRS SYLVIA ELWES

Version Number

2014/15

Body approving this version

Date of University approval of this
version (dd/mm/yyyy)

Shared Units
LLB Law
LLB Law (Bedford Campus)