LAW OF TORT I - 2023/4

Module Overview

Law of Tort I, which forms one part of the Tort Law syllabus (the second part comprising Law of Tort II, provides students with the foundations of the Law of Tort across the relevant part of the syllabus covered by the Module. It therefore satisfies part of the law of obligations, as required by the qualifying law degree requirements.

Module provider

Surrey Law School

Module Leader

PETERS Katy (Schl of Law)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Module content

Indicative content includes:

What is tort?

Outline of the historical development of the tort of negligence and interests it protected

Aims of tort law

Role of tort in modern society

Impact of Human Rights Act 1998

Example torts

Negligence (including duty of care, standard of care, breach of duty and causation)

Trespass to the person and related torts

Trespass to Land

Law and policy in action (eg. public body defendants, psychiatric harm, pure economic loss)

Vicarious Liability

Defences (for each topic covered)

Remedies

Assessment of damages in injury cases (in outline)

 

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of:

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  Their knowledge of the topics covered;
  


• 
  Their ability to think critically and apply their knowledge to problem questions and essay questions;
  


• 
  Their powers of in depth analysis of the relevant areas of law and the broader implications of the law
  

by undertaking a piece of guided, independent research and applying their findings to the resolution of the legal issues arising in the coursework and/or engaging in the critical discussion required in the coursework.

The assessment address all the learning outcomes listed above.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

One piece of coursework of no more than 3,000 words which is designed to secure the objectives identified above, as well as the learning outcomes noted above;

The assessment deadlines will be those set from time to time by the School of Law, the Faculty or the University, whichever may be the case

Formative assessment and feedback

1500 word coursework.

Students will receive feedback on their performance, as follows:

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  Oral feedback in lectures and, in particluar, tutorials;
  


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  General class discussions on guided themes/topics, with immediate (oral) feedback on their performance;
  


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  Formal, written feedback on the formative assessment exercise
  


• 
  Individual, informal feedback, from time to time, as required
  

Module aims

• To evaluate and examine the rules of law (comprising both the common law principles and relevant legislative provisions) which provide the legal framework of tort law both generally and in the areas covered by the Tort Law I syllabus (as indicated below) to a level appropriate to Level 6 students
• To consider, examine and demonstrate a knowledge of the considerations of policy which underlie tort law generally and in the areas covered by the Tort Law I syllabus
• To consider and evaluate the objectives of tort law in relation to the areas of tort law covered by the Tort Law I syllabus
• To appreciate how law operates as a compensation and loss distribution mechanism
• Along with Tort Law II (Semester II) to satisfy the Qualifying Law Degree requirements as to the law of Obligations

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy:

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  Lectures introduce and generally broach topics, with particular emphasis on key areas of the syllabus, with guidance on which of the most relevant primary and secondary materials should be studied;
  


• 
  Tutorials provide the opportunity for students to apply their knowledge to problem questions and essay questions and to subject the law to critical scrutiny
  


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  Directed student research and reading in relation to the study of recommended and selected legislation, case-law and other texts encouraging students to engage with these to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the subject.
  

The learning and teaching methods include:

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  Lectures (2 hours per week x 11 weeks);
  


• 
  Tutorials, including detailed, guided, tutorial discussions (1 hour per week x 6 weeks)
  

The objective of both categories of contact is to allow students to develop and enhance their knowledge of the subject and its practical application, thereby secure the learning outcomes identified above.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: LAW3119

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.