LLB Law

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Property Law II

Course unit fact file
Unit code LAWS20220
Credit rating 20
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Full year
Offered by Law
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

The course is designed to introduce students to the fundamental principles of the law of real property (i.e. land). It builds upon the study of the closely related subjects of equity and trusts covered in the Property Law I module and contract law covered in the Law of Obligations I module.


The first part of the course covers the general principles governing the ownership and occupation of land, including concepts of estates and interests, legal and equitable ownership, and modes of transfer in the context of registered, and briefly, unregistered land. The second part of the course is concerned with third party interests in or over land e.g. easements and covenants, mortgages, leases and licences.

 

 

Aims

• to impart a sound understanding of the principles of English Land Law and of the centrality of Land Law to society in an economic system based on the concept of private ownership.

• to give students an understanding of how Land Law operates to regulate relationships between owners of property rights and to develop a critical awareness of law reform issues in Land Law.

• to develop theoretical analysis and legal reasoning skills in the context of property law with a view to providing a foundation for more advanced study.

 

 

Teaching and learning methods

This course unit will use a blended learning approach to teaching and learning incorporating a range of synchronous and asynchronous methods.

Seminars will include a variety of problem and essay-based questions which students will be asked to prepare in advance. Some seminars may require collaborative group work, whether before or during the seminar, or may require students to undertake tasks beforehand designed to advance their practical skills and enhance their understanding of the subject matter.

Feedback will be provided during seminars and following submission of one compulsory non-assessed essay during the year.

Students will be encouraged to contribute to the moderated discussion boards on Blackboard. These provide the opportunity to clarify understanding of difficult topics, consider linkages between the different topics and reflect upon the strengths and weaknesses of the system of Land Law in England and Wales.

The revision lectures at the end of the teaching periods will consider exam technique and provide further opportunity to clarify any misunderstanding of areas of confusion. A brief outline of issues will be provided after the exam.

 

Knowledge and understanding

• should understand the primary sources of the principles of land law;

• should be able to explain the key concepts of land law and demonstrate how they operate throughout the different parts of the subject area;

• should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the origins of the present rules and principles of land law, of current internal tensions within that law and its operation in society and to speculate in an informed manner on possible future developments.

Intellectual skills

• identify and analyse the primary sources of the principles of land law

• recognise and solve Land Law problems using substantive knowledge and appropriate analytical skills of critical legal reasoning.

show creative thinking by demonstrating a critical awareness of the tension points in the law and the ability to make informed proposals for law reform.

Practical skills

• demonstrate a competence in the use of a range of library, electronic and online legal sources including cases, statutes, Law Commission reports, textbooks and databases.

Transferable skills and personal qualities

•present a reasoned argument both orally and in writing in a clear and concise format and style that conveys analysis, arguments and advice in a rigorous and intelligible way.

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Other 33%
Written exam 67%

MCQ: 33%

 

 

Feedback methods

Feedback will be provided during seminars.

Students will also be encouraged to contribute to the moderated discussion boards on Blackboard.

Online MCQ’s will be available for students to test their understanding .

The revision lectures at the end of the teaching periods will consider exam technique and provide further opportunity to clarify any misunderstanding of areas of confusion.

Formative Assessment

Online feedback provided after online completion of a previous year’s MCQ exam in semester 1

Individual feedback provided by seminar tutor on a written essay submitted in semester 2

Summative Assessment

Cohort feedback provided after each summative assessment

Individual feedback on exam scripts and outline of issues published when results are available in semester 2

 

 

Recommended reading

Students should choose one of the following three key textbooks to use during the course of their study:

M. Dixon, Modern Land Law, (12 ed, Routledge, 2021)

J. Mackenzie & A. Nair, Textbook on Land Law, (18 ed, OUP 2020)

M. George & A. Layard, Thompson’s Modern Land Law (8 ed, OUP 2022)

 

1. Introductory Texts

R. Smith, Introduction to Land Law (3 ed Longman, 2013)

E. Cooke, Land Law (2 ed Clarendon: OUP, 2012)
S. Gardner, An Introduction to Land Law (4 ed Hart Publishing, 2015)

2. Shorter Text Books
S. Clarke & S. Greer, Land Law: Directions (8 ed OUP, 2022)

 

3. Major Texts

M. Dixon, Modern Land Law, (12 ed, Routledge, 2021)

J. Mackenzie & A. Nair, Textbook on Land Law, (17 ed, OUP 2018)

M. George & A. Layard, Thompson’s Modern Land Law (8 ed, OUP 2022)

S. Bridge, E. Cooke, M.Dixon, Megarry & Wade The Law of Real Property (9 ed, Sweet & Maxwell 2019)

 

4. Statute Books

Blackstone’s Statutes on Property Law (OUP)

Core Statutes on Property Law (Palgrave Macmillan)

 

 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 30
Seminars 6

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Harriet Lipkin Unit coordinator

Additional notes

Restricted to: 2 year LLB, Law with Pol & Law with Crim for whom this course is compulsory.

Pre-requisites: Compulsory year 1 Law School courses.

 

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