LLB Law

The unit examines key aspects of property law and trusts from a comparative, doctrinal, historical and philosophical perspective. The unit will consider fundamental conceptual questions as to the nature property rights and their justifications, with a particular focus on the trust. The unit adopts a comparative approach by examining the responses of different legal systems to property law questions and considering how this informs our understanding of English law. 

The unit aims to develop students understanding of fundamental concepts relating to property law and trusts. It builds on earlier study in LAWS20250 and LAWS31301 to examine property law and trusts in a wider context. The unit combines doctrinal legal study with comparative, historical and philosophical ideas. It aims to broaden the scope of the LLB programmes by providing more in-depth analysis on core subject areas. Students will gain important perspectives on the nature and justifications of property rights and trusts in an English and global context. 

The course is delivered in the form of 25 hours of lectures and 5 fortnightly seminars of 1 hour. Some lectures will be traditionally led to establish the foundations of knowledge; some will incorporate more interactive activities to enhance knowledge and skills. There will be guest lectures led by colleagues at international Universities, to aid with the comparative element of the course. The seminars will be based on pre-set reading and questions that will form the basis for general and subgroup discussions. Students will be expected to engage actively with case law, legislation and secondary sources. 

Show knowledge of the doctrines and principles of Property Law, Equity, and Trusts. Demonstrate an understanding of philosophical explanations and justifications for property. 

Demonstrate an understanding of comparative approaches to Property Law. 

Evaluate Property Law, Equity and Trusts in a global and historical context. 

Identify and analyse change in areas of substantive law and legal processes in different geographical contexts. 

Carry out independent research, using a range of sources and research tools and referencing sources correctly. 

Undertake independent research using library and electronic resources. 

Work independently and collaboratively. 

Reflect and act upon oral and written feedback. 

Formative Essay 1000 words 

Summative Essay 4000 words (100%)

Individual and cohort written feedback within standard timeframe. 

1. Foundations of Property

Institutes of Justinian2.1-2.8 (ed Birks, 1987) 55-67.

Institutes of Gaius, 2.1-2.79 (ed De Zulueta, 1946, Part 1) 67-87

Armory v Delamirie (1722) 5 Stra 505; 93 Eng Rep 664

Parker v British Airways Board [1982] QB 1004.

Dutton v Manchester Airport [2000] QB 133.

S. Douglas and B. McFarlane, ‘Defining Property Rights’, in Penner & Smith (eds), Philosophical Foundations of Property Law (Oxford, 2013) 219-243.

P. du Plessis, Borkowski’s Textbook on Roman Law (6th edn., Oxford, 2020) ch. 6 & 7.

2. Explanations for Trusts

D. A. Foster, ‘Historical Conceptions of the Express Trust, c 1600-1900’, in S. S. Degeling, J. Hudson, and I. Samet (eds) Philosophical Foundations of the Law of Express Trusts (Oxford, 2023), ch. 5.

B. McFarlane and R Stevens, “The Nature of Equitable Property” (2010) 4 Journal of Equity 1.

J. E. Penner, ‘The (True) Nature of a Beneficiary’s Equitable Proprietary Interest under a Trust’ (2014) 27 Canadian Journal of Law & Jurisprudence 473–500.

W. Swadling, ‘Explaining Resulting Trusts’ (2008) 124 LQR 72

W. Swadling, ‘The fiction of the constructive trust’ (2011) 64 Current Legal Problems 399

Y. K. Liew, ‘Rochefoucauld v Boustead (1897)’, in C. Mitchell and P. Mitchell (eds) Landmark Cases in Equity (Oxford, 2012), 423

Y. K. Liew, ‘Reanalysing Institutional and Remedial Constructive Trusts’ (2016) 75 The Cambridge Law Journal 528.

3. Origins of the Trust

J. H. Baker, Introduction to English Legal History (5th edn, London, 2019), ch. 14.

J. Biancalana, ‘Medieval Uses’, in R. Helmholz and R. Zimmerman eds., Itinera Fiduciae: Trust and Treuhand in Historical Perspective (Berlin, 1998), 111.

A. J. Hannay, ‘The Statute of Richard III and the Emergence of Beneficial Ownership in Freehold Land’, in C. Mitchell and D. Foster (eds), Essays in The History of English Equity (Hart Publishing, 2025).

N. G. Jones, ‘Trusts in England after the Statute of Uses: a view from the 16th century’, in Itinera Fiduciae, 173.

D. Johntson, ‘Trusts and Trust-like Devices in Roman Law’, in R. Helmholz and R. Zimmerman eds., Itinera Fiduciae, 45.

4. Global Trusts

M. J. Ashdown, ‘Attacks on Trusts in Civil Law Jurisdictions’ (2023) 29 Trusts and Trustees 429.

G. L. Gretton, ‘Constructive Trusts I’ (1996)1 Edinburgh Law Review 281

G. L. Gretton, ‘Constructive Trusts II’ (1997) 1 Edinburgh Law Review 408

G. L. Gretton, ‘Trusts without Equity’ 2008 (49) International Comparative Law Quarterly 599.

L. D. Smith, ‘Trust and Patrimony’ (2008) 38 Revue Générale de Droit 379.

R. Ibarra Garza, ‘A prospective analysis of the proposed Belgian trust’ (2018) 24 Trusts and Trustees 849.

I. Sandor, ‘Different Types of Trust from an Ownership Aspect’ (2016) 24 European Review of Private Law 1189.