LW6010 - Commercial Contracts

You will be supported by a teaching and learning plan (TLP) which outlines the study plan and activities (independent study, recommended reading, directed learning, self evaluative tasks, informal assessments) throughout the module.

You will learn through a combination of lectures, practical workshop based small group sessions, tutor guided directed independent learning, self study independent learning, problem solving and feedback. You will have access to webcasts which are specific to the module. The lectures will cover the key concepts and principles of each topic. The small group sessions are practical workshop based sessions which will enable you to examine the principles introduced in the lectures against relevant, realistic and practical scenarios when you will have carried out additional independent learning including locating and reading relevant legal source material and answering preparatory questions. Your learning will centre on you identifying commercial and practical solutions to problem solving, advising and managing risk in commercial contracts using commercial awareness.

Learning materials which will be made available via the module dedicated e-Learning (eLP) site and will include powerpoint slides, lecture handouts, small group session instructions, guided reading using electronic reading lists, webcasts and self-evaluative tasks as well as opportunities to engage with your fellow students.

You will be provided with detailed feedback on your formative and summative assignment for this module and, as part of your reflective development, such feedback can be utilised in the preparation of subsequent module assessments on the programme.

Support will include feedback from tutors during small group sessions, through formative and summative assessment and a module teaching and learning plan (TLP). You will be provided with guidance on answering problem scenarios, flow chart answers to scenarios, answers to the preparatory small group session questions, the opportunity to engage in a realistic contract negotiation exercise, multiple choice questions and quizzes. You will be given guidance on the assessment criteria and the learning outcomes for the module.

This module is designed and will be managed by a designated Module Tutor. All relevant materials and instructions will be accessible on-line through the module eLP site, maintained by your Module Tutor. You will be able to use the module eLP site to facilitate discussions with your peers, to locate materials, and be advised by your tutor about recent developments in the law. You may communicate with your Module Tutor and your Small Group Session Tutor by e-mail, telephone or face to face by appointment outside of your sessions as well as during your sessions if you encounter any difficulties relating to any aspect of the module.

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

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
At the end of the module you will have:

Developed knowledge and understanding of key issues arising in commercial contracts and recognise ambiguity and how to deal with uncertainty of the law in practical contexts.

Developed a critical awareness of key and current issues, ethical considerations and developments in the commercial world.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

You will have developed an awareness of legal and practical drafting issues in commercial contracts and the ability to communicate and explain and identify problems and practical and legal solutions to a range of audiences.


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

PVA1.You will have gained an awareness of principles and values of law and justice and ethical issues arising in the context of commercial contracts and the allocation and management of risk.

Formative assessment will be achieved by submitting to your small group session tutor a practice assessment of no more than 500 words for individual comments and an answer plan will be provided on the module eLP.

Summative Assessment will be undertaken on an individual basis by way of assignment which constitutes 100% of the marks for this module. This assignment aims to encourage a deep and critical approach to learning, developing an ability to think widely about the issues presented within the module and to explore these in-line with directed and independent learning and will be no more than 2,500 words.
The specific nature of the assignment may vary and may include essay, case study or a problem scenario question. Assessment criteria are provided to enable you to understand what is expected of you and how you will be judged on your performance.

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

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Commercial contracts examines the key legal issues that commonly arise in commercial contracts relevant to conducting business successfully in the modern commercial world. You will focus entirely on business to business contracts (not consumer contracts) and develop an appreciation of the law which is relevant to commercial practice. You will develop commercial awareness and an understanding of common drafting issues, interpretation of terms in contracts and the legal rules in relation to the passing of property and risk in a contract. You will understand how to apply legal rules to use contracts as a tool to allocate and manage risk by considering realistic practical scenarios with a focus on commercial awareness. You will also learn about how business use different marketing arrangements such as agency or distribution in order to increase sales and consider the legal implications and also the impact of EU competition law on these arrangements. You will develop an awareness of current issues and developments in the commercial environment.