LA251-15 Contemporary Perspectives on Property
Introductory description
This module explores select aspects of the current discussions and issues relating to Property Law. Students will study beyond the courtroom and consider how various elements of property law play out in today's society, such as owners' rights and protests around property.
Module aims
The aim of the module is to explore topical developments around property law. It provides an opportunity to understand how the legal system, as well as society at large, deals with developments such as the privatisation of land, the rising use of technology to deal with property and the tension between individual rights and a cost-saving government agenda.
The module is designed to explore three themes: environment, home and critical theories. Topics studied under each theme will change each year in response to current events. Students will then have the opportunity to consider the different themes in detail through summative assignments that combine both academic commentary and theoretical perspectives.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
The module is designed to respond to recent developments in relation to property. Thus, the syllabus given is indicative and provides a sample of the topics/issues that may be discussed.
Students will study three broad themes: environment, home and critical theories of property. They will make connections across the themes, and revisit various ideas throughout the module.
It is expected that the first week of the module would be introductory, considering the landscape of property and overlapping issues across the themes. The final week of the module would consolidate the course and be largely dedicated to the upcoming essay summative.
Each theme will be studied for at least 2 weeks.
Theme 1: Environment
Topics may include:
- The urban social environment
- Historic environment
- Environmental regulation and property rights
- Protests around property
- Technology and property
Theme 2: Home
Topics may include:
- Housing
- Applied aspects
- Trusts in the family home
- Mortgages in practice
- Leases
Theme 3: Critical theories of property
Topics may include:
- Colonisation and terra nullius
- Commodification and wealth
- Issues with ownership
- Property for personhood versus fungible property
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Continue to develop their understanding of the basic concepts and structure of land law in England Wales
- Effectively use primary legal material and academic sources
- Understand how property law operates in practice
- Critique the operation of property law in practice, considering various topics in light of recent developments
- Analyse, evaluate and develop critical views on both case law and real-life scenarios
- Articulate their views on a developing area of property law through verbal communication
- Present their views on a developing area of property law through written communication
Indicative reading list
Reading lists can be found in Talis
Research element
Students will conduct research into legal cases, academic literature and other source material required for analysis of the topics covered within the module.
Students may also be asked to investigate the ownership of a selected property.
Subject specific skills
- Understanding property law
- Understanding the historical and social context of property law
- Understanding the common problems and similarities across various elements of property law
- Legal and policy research
- Legal writing
- Case analysis
- "Reading" property law
- Critiquing and proposing policy/law reform
Transferable skills
- Critical analysis
- Developing arguments in a sophisticated manner
- Written and oral presentation
- Collaborative working and group work
- Understand and summarise material, including academic commentary and research
- Time management.
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 18 sessions of 1 hour (12%) |
| Seminars | 7 sessions of 1 hour (5%) |
| Private study | 90 hours (60%) |
| Assessment | 35 hours (23%) |
| Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
Reading and research on topics studied within the module, particularly in preparation for the summative assessment.
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A2
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
|||
| 15 Minute Presentation | 40% | 14 hours | Yes (extension) |
|
Students are to present a 15 minute presentation on a set question. The question will explore one of the themes from the module. Presentations will be recorded and submitted by students. The presentation can take a range of formats, such as spoken presentation, video or animation. |
|||
Reassessment component is the same |
|||
Assessment component |
|||
| 2,000 word essay + appendix with research statement | 60% | 21 hours | Yes (extension) |
|
Students will write a 2,000 word essay on one of several given titles. These questions would reflect the three themes covered in the course. In addition to the essay, students will be required to submit a research methods statement (which does not contribute to the word count). Guidance will be given by the module team of the form that this will take, but can include some or all of the following information: how students approached their research, how they located materials, articles cases etc, what search engines/databases they used, reasons for the examples/materials they have selected and photographs or other evidence of engagement with the research task. The methods statement will not be graded and will not receive a mark, but is mandatory and may be considered by both the module team and in any academic misconduct investigation. |
|||
Reassessment component is the same |
|||
Feedback on assessment
A formative element of assessment will be provided. This question will not be the same as the summative assessment, but still be based on one of the three themes. Students will receive written feedback on their essay. General feedback will also be released, and students will have the opportunity to clarify any questions or concerns.
Students will also conduct a group presentation for one seminar, or have an opportunity to make a short individual presentation. Feedback will be given to students during the seminar, and some brief written feedback published afterwards.
For summative assessment, students will receive individualised written feedback. Generic feedback will be published, with the opportunity for students to request a meeting to raise any questions.
Pre-requisites
To take this module, you must have passed:
Anti-requisite modules
If you take this module, you cannot also take:
- LA103-30 Introduction to the Law of Property Relations
Courses
This module is Optional for:
-
ULAA-M130 Undergraduate Law
- Year 2 of M130 Law
- Year 2 of M130 Law
- Year 2 of ULAA-M131 Undergraduate Law (4 Year)
- Year 2 of ULAA-M132 Undergraduate Law (Year Abroad)
- Year 3 of ULAA-M135 Undergraduate Law and Sociology
- Year 2 of ULAA-M133 Undergraduate Law with French Law
- Year 2 of ULAA-M134 Undergraduate Law with German Law
- Year 2 of ULAA-M136 Undergraduate Law with Humanities (3 Year)