LW102-4-PS-:
Land Law
2023/24
Essex Law School
Spring & Summer
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 28 June 2024
30
03 April 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
LW202
LLB M10ECM Law,
LLB M10ECO Law,
LLB M10ELK Law,
LLB M10ELM Law
Land law is a topic that affects all of us, often in different ways, playing a fundamental role in regulating people's rights over one of the most valuable and useful legal assets.
This module is designed to provide students with a sound understanding of the key features of land law, including its underlying principles and its importance in regulating property relations in response to social policy needs. Students will learn about the distinction between personal property and land, the framework for establishing and enforcing various different interests in land. It also introduces students to the principles of equity and their role in resolving property disputes.
The module aims to provide students with an understanding of how legal interests in property land are categorised, how they relate to one another, and how the law can resolve the most typical types of disputes about land. Students will gain a critical understanding of how policy interests inform land law, such as by examining the laws of leases and mortgages. The module also provides an introduction of the principles of equity, and examines how equitable principles have shaped the law’s approach to disputes around ownership of family homes.
1. Understand how interests in land and personal property are categorised
2. Understand how and why the law protects different types of property interest, and how the law resolves disputes
3. Critically evaluate different areas of land law, in its social and historical context
4. Understand the difference between common law and equity, and the role of the trust in land law
5. Critically evaluate how law balances the tension between land being a financial asset, and land providing a utility for society
6. Critically evaluate how law balances the tension between the need for certainty in the conveyancing process, and the need for flexibility in achieving social justice
7. Interpret and apply statute and caselaw to solve disputes over land
Indicative syllabus
Autumn term:
Induction fortnight
Introduction to land law, and the idea and forms of property
The horizontal and vertical boundaries of land
Lost/found property and treasure
Fixtures and chattels
Introduction to 'equity' and the law of trusts
Land registration
Spring term:
Proprietary estoppel
Co-ownership and trusts of the family home
Leases and licences
Easements
Freehold covenants
Mortgages
Values in contract law
This module will be delivered by a weekly schedule of a one-hour lecture, and a one-hour tutorial. Additionally, the module requires students to complete a fortnightly MCQ via Moodle, to provide regular feedback, assist in tutorial preparation, and allow teaching staff to identify students with engagement needs. Your tutorials will enable you to discuss the material covered in lectures and the required readings, obtain feedback on your pre-class preparation and deepen your understanding of key concepts.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Exam |
Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 180 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
|
| Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 180 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Edward Mitchell, email: edward.mitchell@essex.ac.uk.
Law Education Office, lawschoolug@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
Essex Law School
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