Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2006-2007 (archived)

Module LAW2111: EMPLOYMENT LAW

Department: LAW

LAW2111: EMPLOYMENT LAW

Type Open Level 2 Credits 20 Availability Not available in 2006/07 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • The Law of Obligations (LAW1023) AND Public Law (LAW1013) (or Corequisite).

Corequisites

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To provide students with a sound understanding of the legal provisions governing the employment relationship.
  • To enable students to develop an insight into current issues and possible future developments in employment law
  • To provide students with the opportunity to develop proficiency with online legal research tools.

Content

  • Introduction to employment law.
  • The role and nature of the institutions of employment law
  • The nature of the employment relationship - employment status.
  • The contract of employment
  • Termination of employment at common law - wrongful dismissal.
  • Unfair dismissal
  • Redundancy and reorganisation
  • Family-friendly policies
  • Discrimination at work.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Students should be able to:
  • Demonstrate a sound understanding of the existing law on the employment relationship.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Students should be able to:
  • Apply the existing law to given factual scenarios and advise accordingly
  • Analyse and evaluate the existing law in light of the legal, social, economic and political questions raised
  • Engage in informed debate concerning future changes in the law
Key Skills:
  • Students should be able to:
  • Demonstrate developed analytical and writing skills, including the ability to work independently and to take responsibility for their own learning.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Lectures are used primarily to impart knowledge - and also to suggest approaches to evaluation and critical analysis;
  • Tutorials will be used to develop and enhance students capacity for legal-problem solving in a particular factual situation, evaluative critical analysis and their appreciation of laws' linkage with broader fields of enquiry;
  • Assignments (formative) are used both to develop problem-solving skills, the ability to engage in sustained evaluation of proposed schemes of reforms, and the ability to evaluate the law in a critical and contextual way.
  • Summative assessment comprises one unseen examination of two hours fifteen minutes (including fifteen minutes reading time). Students are given a choice of questions to answer, but the paper is structured in such a way as to assess students on all the specific outcomes. In particular, students are required to answer both problem and essay type questions: the former primarily assessing knowledge and analysis of specific factual situations raising key legal issues; the latter primarily assess knowledge, evaluative capacity and an awareness of placing the analysis of law in wider contexts of enquiry.
  • Students will be supported and encouraged in the development of their research and writing skills.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 25 1 or 2 per week 1 hour 25
Tutorials 5 2 or 3 per term 1 hour 5
Preparation and Reading 170
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
two-and-one-quarter hour written examination - including 15 minutes reading but not writing-in-the-answer-book time 100%

Formative Assessment:

2 essays of 1,500 words each.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University