Module overview
Land Law investigates the private law rules affecting the ownership and use of land. It explains the principles governing the nature of property ownership and property rights, their formal and informal acquisition and priority incorporating the registration of land title and property rights, the co-ownership and management of land through trusts, the use of land as security and the relationship between neighbouring land owners.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- analyse and assess legal materials by way of statutory interpretation, case analysis and review of secondary materials to identify, comprehend and evaluate fundamental legal principles and their impact upon contemporary issues;
- identify and locate primary and secondary (including electronic) legal sources relevant to land law;
- communicate in writing an understanding of land law, its application to the solution of legal problems and the formulation of effective argument with clear and accurate use of language and legal terminology.
- identify, from a given factual scenario the relevant legal issues raised and provide appropriate legal advice by applying the relevant law supported by relevant authority;
- produce effectively reasoned and structured responses to a given statement or proposition, which are adequately supported by reference to legal authority;
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- freehold and leasehold estates and legal and equitable interests in land;
- priority of interests in registered land;
- the distinction between proprietary and personal interests and its relevance to land;
- commercial interests including mortgages, easements and covenants.
- Trusts of Land with particular reference to co-ownership of the family home including the holding and management of co-owned land;
- legal and equitable formalities for the creation and disposition of estates and interests in land;
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- communicate and present written arguments supported by appropriate evidence demonstrating an appreciation of academic integrity.
- effectively apply knowledge to solve practical problems;
- formulate an effectively reasoned and structured argument;
- analyse, interpret and evaluate complex material;
Syllabus
The following is an indicative list of topics that will be covered during the module:
- What is Land Law About?
- Ownership
- Co-ownership
- Formality - acquisition and disposal of interests in land
- Priority
- Commercial Interests
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include:
- Lectures to provide you with knowledge, information and critique of land law within a structured context;
- Pre-prepared tutorial work focused on developing your problem solving skills.
Learning activities include:
- Directed reading assisted by reading lists;
- Accessing electronic resources in the form of legislation, journals and case materials;
- Reviewing and critically evaluating complex material;
- Tackling and solving factual legal problems;
- Constructive participation in group discussions and exercises;
- Managing tasks within a given timeframe.
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Preparation for scheduled sessions | 120 |
Tutorial | 20 |
Lecture | 40 |
Wider reading or practice | 40 |
Completion of assessment task | 20 |
Follow-up work | 60 |
Total study time | 300 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
Blackboard. The textbooks supplemented by detailed reading lists for lectures and seminars, all available on Blackboard. Primary sources including cases and statutes, and some secondary sources, primarily journal articles, are available in paper and electronic form, the latter through electronic books and legal databases, provided by the Library or otherwise publicly accessible via the worldwide web.
Textbooks
McFarlane, Hopkins and Nield. Land Law: Text, Cases and Materials. Oxford University Press.
Blackstone. Property Statutes. Oxford University Press.
Assessment
Formative
This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.
Essay
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback: Feedback is provided by the mark awarded supported by written tutor feedback following the school’s formative assessment feedback form. Individual oral tutor feedback is provided upon your request.
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: No
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Exam | 75% |
Coursework | 25% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Exam | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Coursework | 25% |
Exam | 75% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External