LW303-5-AU-CO:
Land Law
2023/24
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 15 December 2023
15
16 October 2023
Requisites for this module
LW109
(none)
(none)
(none)
LW202
LLB M122 English and French Law (Maitrise),
LLB M100DE Law,
LLB M107DE Law (Including Placement Year)
This 15 credit module builds on the ground laid by LW109 Foundations of Property Law and satisfies the Land Law requirement of the academic stage of professional training for those intending to practise law in England and Wales.
More generally, it provides an introduction to an area of law which is unique in its nature and importance, and which is of vital concern to everyone. It is also of considerable academic interest and will engage the intellect. In particular, land law has its own terminology which will be explained and with which students will become familiar.
Knowledge and Understanding of:
• Trusts of land with reference to co-ownership of the family home.
• Interests including easements, leases and mortgages.
• Priority of interests in registered land.
Transferrable Skills
• Understand and evaluate complex materials.
• Develop logical and structured arguments.
• Apply knowledge to practical problems.
• Present written arguments supported by appropriate academic evidence.
Research Skills
• Identify and locate primary and secondary sources.
• Analyse and assess legal materials such as cases, statutes and journal articles.
• Identify from fact scenarios relevant legal advice supported by authority.
• Communicate through writing an understanding of the key principles of Land Law
Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able:
1. To understand the framework within which the property lawyer operates, and the wide range of matters this covers
2. To understand how the law has come to recognise certain types of interest in land, while refusing to protect other types
and, most importantly,
3. To appreciate the tension evident in the modern law between the opposing principles of certainty in the conveyancing process on the one hand, and social justice (especially the protection of the rights of those who are not legal owners of property) on the other. This is often described as the tension between facilitating the transfer of ownership of land and the acknowledgement and protection of others rights in that same land. The history of land law has been the history of making the transfer of land ownership and the creation and protection of different interests in the same piece of land ever easier, thus reflecting lands unique economic and social utility.
Indicative Syllabus
1 Introduction to Land Law
2 Co-ownership
3 Trusts of land
4 Proprietary estoppel
5 Leases and Licences
6 Easements
7 Mortgages
8 Registered land
This module will be taught via weekly lectures and weekly and fortnightly tutorials. The module teaching team will upload all relevant teaching materials on Moodle. You will find reading lists, the textbook, weekly handouts and PPS notes on Moodle. The materials in question are designed both to help you navigate the material to be covered in the lectures and tutorials and to equip you to analyse the required readings. You will be expected to have completed the required readings in advance of your tutorials. 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. To help you prepare in the best possible way for your tutorials, you will be completing regular Multiple-Choice Quizzes on Moodle. The quizzes will be based on the reading set for that week so that the quiz forms part of your preparation for each tutorial. The quizzes will enable you to track your progress, understand what you are doing well, and give you clear feedback to help you manage your studies and your progress.
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 |
| Coursework |
Multiple Choice Quizzes - Continuous Assessment (LW303 Land Law) |
|
20% |
| Coursework |
Essay (LW303 Land Law) |
|
80% |
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
Yes
Dr Richard Bowyer
University of Exeter
Senior Lecturer
Available via Moodle
Of 29 hours, 20 (69%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
9 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
Essex Law School
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