LW5119 - Advanced Law of Obligations

You will learn through 24 x large group sessions, 12 x small group sessions, and tutor guided and student independent learning.



Large group sessions introduce you to key principles and themes in each topic, giving you a structured overview of how those principles operate in a topic by looking at case law, statutes and other sources. These enable you to understand different topics and develop problem-solving skills specific to each topic, which, in turn, will help you to engage effectively with independent learning and tackle exercises in small group sessions.



Small group sessions focus on developing your skills in building analytical skills and problem-solving skills in the different topics. Sessions include exercises where you will use and apply your knowledge and understanding from large group sessions and independent learning to tackle a problem question in each topic in a structured way, focussed to a given set of facts. Other guided exercises may build your awareness and recognition of other areas beyond the problem question, to give you a broader overview.



Independent learning enables you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of topics, and includes tutor-guided independent learning to support your engagement in large and small group sessions. Resources available from the dedicated module e-Learning Portal (eLP) include recorded lectures, guided reading using digital online reading lists, and other self-evaluation tasks and tools. You have an opportunity for valuable feedback on your independent learning

The University supports you in learning and research with an excellent library and teaching facilities, access to on-line legal databases and resources and appropriate software.



This module is designed and will be managed by a designated Module Tutor who will be responsible for guiding you in your engagement and learning on the module. Material will be delivered to you by lecture and through the eLP. The eLP site will contain the following resources: lecture notes; PowerPoint slides; the module handbook, which will contain seminar exercises; advice on assessment, supported by sample questions and answers; and Panopto recordings of lectures. As well as contact with the lecturer you will also be taught by seminar tutors. Should you have queries you may approach the lecturer or your seminar tutor or e-mail your query to either member of staff. It is also possible to make an appointment to speak to a tutor face to face. You may communicate with your Module Tutor by e-mail or telephone and are encouraged to make contact if you encounter any difficulties relating to any aspect of the module.



Academic support is also available to you through formative and summative feedback on assessments. You will have the opportunity to submit written work and to work through sample questions prior to the end of module assessment.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:

You will be expected to:

• Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the development, underlying concepts, principles and context of substantive areas of the law in this module and be able to initiate and undertake critical analysis within those areas.

• Apply and interpret substantive law in this module in the wider context of a hypothetical problem.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

You will be expected to:

• Understand how to apply a range of source material which may include primary, secondary, doctrinal and policy materials, to address legal problems and be able to propose reasoned alternative solutions supported by critical judgement of the merits of particular arguments.

• Recognise ambiguity and uncertainty in the law and identify potential alternative conclusions and provide supporting reasons for them.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

You will be expected to:

• Develop intellectual independence by being able to ask and answer cogent questions about the legal areas in this module, identify gaps in knowledge and acquire new knowledge.

Formative assessment

On an ongoing basis you will have a mix of formative assessment opportunities including:

Periodic online multiple-choice questions (MCQs) accompanying each topic, synchronised with the sequence of topics in your large group sessions, throughout the delivery of the module. Questions will have feedback on answers.

Answer plans to problem questions in small group sessions – providing a structure of an answer to a problem question – release synchronised with the end of the delivery of a particular small group session cycle.

Past assessment questions available, together with points of answer available and (where possible), markers’ comments on good/less good performance.

Past assessment questions and answers available, with anonymised feedback on previous answers.



In-session formative feedback on your independent learning in your small group sessions



In-session formative feedback on your independent learning and large group sessions using learning technology (classroom response technology in large group sessions

Summative assessment

A single piece of coursework comprising 100% of the module assessment

Your tutors will be looking for your ability to investigate and analyse problem questions or essay questions in the areas covered in this module.

The relevant Law School grading and assessment criteria will apply, and be made available from the start of the module. They will be considered in a large group session.

You will be provided with appropriate written or oral feedback (as appropriate), and, as part of your reflective development, such feedback can be used in the preparation of subsequent module assessments on the programme

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The private law of obligations includes the law of Torts, Contract Law and Restitution. Obligations in Tort and Restitution principally derive from decisions of courts; and in Contract, voluntarily from the parties to a transaction. In each subject the courts interpret, develop, and apply the obligations to disputes. You encounter these obligations on a daily basis in all walks of life. Each creates rights and responsibilities, for which the law can provide a remedy when obligations are not met. They can shape how we understand behaviour expected in society.



This module will look at some themes in the private law of obligations, and then look beyond aspects of Tort Law and Contract Law previously studied, to consider further application of the principles in those subjects in more areas of everyday life. You will also be introduced to the law of restitution and how it can also provide a remedy.