Module overview
Land Law investigates the private law rules affecting the ownership and use of land. It explains the principles governing the nature of property ownership and property rights, their formal and informal acquisition and priority incorporating the registration of land title and property rights, the co-ownership and management of land through trusts, the use of land as security and the relationship between neighbouring land owners.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- commercial interests including mortgages, easements and covenants.
- legal and equitable formalities for the creation and disposition of estates and interests in land;
- priority of interests in registered land;
- freehold and leasehold estates and legal and equitable interests in land;
- Trusts of Land with particular reference to co-ownership of the family home including the holding and management of co-owned land;
- the distinction between proprietary and personal interests and its relevance to land;
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- identify and locate primary and secondary (including electronic) legal sources relevant to land law;
- produce effectively reasoned and structured responses to a given statement or proposition, which are adequately supported by reference to legal authority;
- communicate in writing an understanding of land law, its application to the solution of legal problems and the formulation of effective argument with clear and accurate use of language and legal terminology.
- identify, from a given factual scenario the relevant legal issues raised and provide appropriate legal advice by applying the relevant law supported by relevant authority;
- analyse and assess legal materials by way of statutory interpretation, case analysis and review of secondary materials to identify, comprehend and evaluate fundamental legal principles and their impact upon contemporary issues;
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- communicate and present written arguments supported by appropriate evidence demonstrating an appreciation of academic integrity.
- effectively apply knowledge to solve practical problems;
- analyse, interpret and evaluate complex material;
- formulate an effectively reasoned and structured argument;
Syllabus
The following is an indicative list of topics that will be covered during the module:
- What is Land Law About?
- Ownership
- Co-ownership
- Formality - acquisition and disposal of interests in land
- Priority
- Commercial Interests
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include:
- Lectures to provide you with knowledge, information and critique of land law within a structured context;
- Pre-prepared tutorial work focused on developing your problem solving skills.
Learning activities include:
- Directed reading assisted by reading lists;
- Accessing electronic resources in the form of legislation, journals and case materials;
- Reviewing and critically evaluating complex material;
- Tackling and solving factual legal problems;
- Constructive participation in group discussions and exercises;
- Managing tasks within a given timeframe.
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Completion of assessment task | 20 |
Tutorial | 16 |
Wider reading or practice | 40 |
Follow-up work | 60 |
Lecture | 44 |
Preparation for scheduled sessions | 120 |
Total study time | 300 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
Blackboard. The textbooks supplemented by detailed reading lists for lectures and seminars, all available on Blackboard. Primary sources including cases and statutes, and some secondary sources, primarily journal articles, are available in paper and electronic form, the latter through electronic books and legal databases, provided by the Library or otherwise publicly accessible via the worldwide web.
Textbooks
Blackstone. Property Statutes. Oxford University Press.
McFarlane, Hopkins and Nield. Land Law: Text, Cases and Materials. Oxford University Press.
Assessment
Formative
Formative assessment description
EssaySummative
Summative assessment description
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Coursework | 75% |
Essay | 25% |
Referral
Referral assessment description
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Written assessment | 100% |
Repeat
Repeat assessment description
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Written assessment | 75% |
Essay | 25% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External