LAW5012 - Land Law

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate depth of knowledge and understanding of the operation and fundamental principles of the law of real property, including relevant legislation, registered and unregistered land, estates and interests in land and their transfer; rights over land; and tax considerations relevant to property transactions.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the legal concepts, values, principles and rules of the law of real property, and their inter-relationship, within relevant contexts.
Analyse, evaluate and form critical judgements on the application and interpretation of the law of real property, applying acquired knowledge and understanding of this area of law and its issues and contexts.
Undertake independent research with appropriate guidance, using and analysing the law from relevant primary and secondary sources to produce current and accurate legal information.
Present coherent informed and critical arguments, in writing, about key issues based on advanced research skills.

Content:

This module enables students to acquire knowledge and understanding of the main legal principles and issues of the English law of real property, and covers:

- Key concepts of real property
- The property legislation of 1925; registered and unregistered land; Land Registration Act 2002
- Estates and interests in land and their transfer: freeholds, leases, mortgages, easements; and rights over land: licences, tenancies at will
- The trust of land and co-ownership
- Adverse possession
- The landlord/tenant relationship; leasehold covenants; enfranchisement
- Real property and human rights
- Tax considerations relevant to property transactions,

or such other content as may be specified by the SRA and BSB for QLDs.

The module also enables students to develop awareness of the issues surrounding the law of real property, practical and ethical implications, and to evaluate its operation within society, and to appreciate the social, economic and political contexts and underlying policy issues relating to its operation, and their impact. In covering the module content, the seminars will also provide training and support for key transferable skills: to carry out independent tasks and research to a reasonable level as a basis for further development in subsequent study; to consider how legal principles can be applied to both actual and hypothetical facts, and to enhance relevant Employability skills in the context of the subject area.

The module covers the Property Law Foundation of Legal Knowledge under the Joint Statement as required by the SRA and BSB for a QLD, and the SRA Statement of Legal Knowledge for "5. Property".

Learning and Teaching Information:

The module will be delivered through seminars that combine aspects of lectures, workshops, group tutorials, directed learning and formative feedback. The first half of the module will be assessed through an essay that outlines the key principles and legislation governing property law. To prepare students for this, the sessions will enable the acquisition of knowledge and understanding, but the focus will be on deep learning: making links between the various definitions, Acts, agents and transactions or relationships involved, doing so across a range of sample cases and scenarios designed to test grasp of accuracy and detail.

In the second half of the module the students will be prepared for an exam that is designed to test their ability to think on their feet and to enable them to demonstrate their secure understanding of the key principles of Land Law and, in particular, the ability to apply this understanding securely in specific instances. Again, the teaching will be problem-based and practice-led, honing the specific intellectual skills and developing student confidence.

Seminars
Hours: 36
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Guided independent study
Hours: 164

Further details relating to assessment
The two-hour exam at 60% and 2,500-word essay at 40% are standard requirements in the sector and, although exceed the Leeds Trinity University guidelines, are justified on the basis that the module is a Foundation Subject, which is required for the award of a Qualifying Law Degree. As this is a Foundation Subject, the expectation is that, at Level 5, the assessment should be a step-up in the course work from Level 4, not just in terms of word count but in the rigour and demonstration of intellectual and cognitive skills expected.

Assessment:

001 Essay; 2,500 words; end of semester 1 40%
002 Exam; 2 hours; end of semester 2 60%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Julia Aveyard
Level - 5
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 5YL

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