LAW3101 Land Law Module Handbook Semester 2, 2024-25 | MUL

Table of Contents  

• Welcome 
• The module teaching team 
• Communication with the teaching team 
• Module overview 
• Learning resources
• Expectations of studying this module
• Professional behaviour and online conduct 
• Academic Integrity and Misconduct 
• Extenuating circumstances: 
• Assessment 
• Formative assessment
• Summative assessment
• Feedback on your assignments 
• How is your assignment mark agreed? 
• Anonymous Marking Assessment Policy 
• Assessment 1 
• Assessment 2 
• Learning Planner
• University 20-point Scale 

The schedule of workshops and seminar questions follows thereafter.    

LAW3101 Communication with the Teaching follows

The module team will communicate with you mainly via email and through the Land Law module site in MyLearning. It is vital that you check your University email regularly and log onto the module site at least once a week. 

It is not necessary to book an appointment during office hours; you just need to drop in. In the first instance, problems should be dealt with by talking to us after the teaching sessions. 

Please be reminded that any overall module and course feedback can also be given to the student voice leader for your programme, which will be included in programme feedback sessions. 

LAW3101 Module Overview

LAW3101 Aims:  

The module aims to provide a critical understanding of the law in the context of dealings in land. The course builds upon students' knowledge of legal principles by bringing these together with the rules of land law. Students' ability to evaluate issues and to solve land law problems virtually at a high level of understanding is enhanced. The module aims to develop` legal reasoning and logic, analysis and problem-solving skills' to enhance research skills and the use of primary source material. 

LAW3101 Learning outcomes:  

Knowledge 

On successful completion of this module, the student will be able to: 

1.  Demonstrate systematic understanding and curiosity of the primary legal materials of Land Law - legislation, case law and other relevant material;  

2.  Evaluate critically the principal legal concepts and principles of English Land Law;  

3.  Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of a broad range of material which can be used in recognising complex issues arising from transactions in land.   

Skills 

On successful completion of this module, the student will be able to: 

4.  Exhibit resourcefulness, resilience, adaptability and empathy in analysing critically legal issues arising in Land Law by applying knowledge of legal principles and concepts and draw reasoned and argued conclusions supported by legal authority; 

5.  Demonstrate technological agility and a sustainable mindset in exercising significant, appropriate judgement in using legal databases, the internet and electronic retrieval systems in an academically sound way; 

6.  Communicate clearly, succinctly, accurately, analytically and grammatically in writing.

Syallbus

• Legal and equitable estates and interests in land
• Registered land 
• Unregistered land 
• Acquisition of land by adverse possession 
• Co-ownership and trusts of land
• Leases and licences
• Easements
• Mortgages
• Land law and human rights

Learning and teaching strategy:

This module utilises a learner-centred and practical approach with the syllabus being addressed by concept videos and with workshops and seminars used to analyse the principal concepts of Land Law, evaluate the primary materials and promote critical analysis.   

Workshops  

A weekly two-hour interactive workshop will be used to set the material in the context of land dealings, outline the framework of the applicable legal principles, explain conceptually complex areas of law, direct students' preparation for seminars and build their understanding of the application of land law. Workshops will combine a variety of learning and teaching methodologies virtually and will complement online module material, such as key concept videos and activities, such as revision quizzes. Students will be expected to undertake research both in preparation for and after the weekly workshops.    

Seminars  

There will be two 90-minute seminars for each student each week for which students will have prepared answers, intended to facilitate student discussion of detailed points of law and application of the law to practical legal problems. Seminars enable students to develop communication skills by way of debates, delivering presentations,  negotiating enhancing employability, and these communication skills are formatively assessed in seminars. Skills in the analysis of primary material, problem solving, debating of issues, use of research tools and time management are all informally assessed for formative purposes in seminar work.   

Guest Speakers     

Sessions of one hour in length will be held bi-weekly (starting in week 1) and will involve guest speakers to reinforce employability skills, personal and professional development and building career paths and networks.

Assessment scheme: 

(a) Formative assessment scheme  

Skills in the analysis of primary material, problem-solving solving and debating of issues are informally assessed in seminar work.   
In week 4, there will be a mock multiple-choice test to help prepare for the summative multiple-choice questions. Students will receive feedback electronically, and there will also be the opportunity for individual feedback, which will be helpful for the summative assessment.   

In week 9, students can submit a bullet point list/plan of no more than 2 sides in length of their proposed coursework. This will assist preparations for the summative coursework. Individual formative written feedback will be given by the end of week 11.

(b) Summative Assessment Scheme

Part 1 is an in-class multiple-choice test comprising 12 questions to be taken within 45 minutes in week 6, which will account for 25% of the total mark. This will address learning outcomes 1,2,4, and 5.

Part 2 consists of a coursework of a maximum of 3,750 words to be submitted in week 13. This coursework accounts for 75% of the total mark. This will address learning outcomes 1,2,3,4,5, and 6.

Learning resources 

 TEXTBOOK: 

Dixon, M (2023). Modern Land Law, 13th Edition. Routledge (also the Kortext eBook for the module) 

STATUTE BOOK: 

Thomas, M (2024), Blackstone’s Statutes on Property Law, 32nd Edition, Oxford University Press  

FURTHER READING: 

Mention is made here of a selection of Land Law textbooks which are available – you should make sure you source the latest edition. (The list below is in alphabetical order by author’s name.)  

Bevan, C (2024). Land Law, 4th Edition. Oxford University Press   

Bray, J (2022), Unlocking Land Law, 7th Edition, Routledge  

Clarke, S, and Greer, S (2022). Land Law Directions, 8th Edition, Oxford University Press  

Dixon, M, Bignell, J, Hopkins, N (2024), Megarry and Wade: The Law of Real Property, 10th Edition, Sweet and Maxwell  

Davys, M (2019), Land Law, 11th Edition, Red Globe Press  

George, M, and Layard, A (2022). Thompson’s Modern Land Law, 8th Edition, Oxford University Press  

Glover, L., and Campbell-Pilling, (2021), Land Law, 2nd Edition, Hall and Stott Publishing  

Kelly, R, and Hatfield, E (2017). Land Law: A Problem-Based Approach, Routledge  

Nair, A. (2023). Textbook on Land Law, 19th Edition, Oxford University Press  

McFarlane, B, Hopkins, N, and Nield, S (2020). Land Law, 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press  

Sayles, V. (2022). Land Law Concentrate, 8th Edition. Oxford University Press  

Schatzberger, E (2014), Blueprints: Land Law, Pearson  

Smith, R. (2020). Property Law, 10th Edition, Pearson  

Stroud, A. (2018). Making Sense of Land Law, 5th Edition, Red Globe Press 

Cases and Materials Books: 

Cases should be looked up on Westlaw and the other electronic legal research facilities provided to all enrolled students.   

There are some cases and materials books available, and a couple of them are listed here:   

Bogusz, B, and Sexton, R (2022). Complete Land Law Text, Cases and Materials, 7th Edition, Oxford University Press  

McFarlane, B, Hopkins, N, and Nield, S (2024). Land Law: Text, Cases and Materials, 6th Edition, Oxford University Press 

Assessment 

Formative assessment: Formative assessments help show that you are learning and understanding the material covered in this module and allow us to monitor your progress towards achieving the learning outcomes. Although formative assessments do not directly contribute to the overall module mark, they do provide an important opportunity to receive feedback on your learning. 

Summative assessment:  Summative assessment is used to check the level of learning for the module. It is summative because it is based on accumulated learning during the course. It is the summative assessment that determines the grade that you are awarded for the module. 

Feedback on your assignments 

You will be provided with feedback on all assessments that is helpful and informative, consistent  with aiding the learning and development process.  The nature of the feedback shall be determined at programme level but may take a variety of forms, including: written comments; individual and group feedback; or other forms of effective and efficient feedback. If you have submitted a formative or draft assessment, you will receive feedback but no grade. The comments should inform you about how well you have done or tell you about the areas for improvement. All assignments should be submitted online. 

Feedback on summative assessments will normally be provided within 15 WORKING DAYS of the published submission date. 

How is your Assignment Mark Agreed?  

External Examiners (external academic experts) review what we deliver at a programme level. The University reviews a sample of your work to quality assure the grades and feedback you received from the person who marked your work. Our External Examiners will sample a selection of modules from a programme, with more focus on outcomes between modules within a programme.  

The following diagram provides an overview of the marking process for your module assessment. 

Results Confirmation 

First Semester: Provisional Grades: At the end of your first semester, you can see your module grades in the Grades and Progress tile within MyMDX. These grades are provisional and not yet confirmed. 

Second Semester: Final Grades and Progression: After your second semester, the Programme  Assessment  Board will confirm your grades.  Then,  your final module results, progression status, or finalist classification will be posted in the Grades and Progress tile within MyMDX. 

Need Help or More Info?

• University Guide: Find detailed information in the University Guide in the Grades and Progress tile within MyMDX.
• Support Team: Ask your Progression and Support Team Officer for advice.
• Regulations: Check the University regulations for more details.

Anonymous Marking Assessment Policy 

We have worked with the Middlesex University Students' Union (MDXSU) to create an anonymous marking policy in response to student feedback.  Anonymous marking ensures that your identity (your name, student number and other personal/identifiable information) is not made available to academics when they are marking your work.  This means that you can have confidence that your assessments will be marked fairly and consistently.  However, there are some forms of assessment for which anonymity cannot be guaranteed, and these are recognised in the policy.

Assessment 1 – In-class multiple choice test 

Assessment 2 - Coursework

Workshop 1 

Legal and Equitable Estates and Interests in Land

Learning outcomes  

Knowledge: At the end of this workshop, you should know:  

• legal and equitable estates and interests in land; 
• distinction between legal and equitable rights; 
• unregistered land; 
• outline of steps in a conveyance;
• meaning of land, fixtures, chattels. 

Skills: At the end of the workshop, you should be able to: 

• find legal material and conduct basic legal research; synthesise information and develop autonomy

Workshop 2 

Registered Land – Part 1  

Learning outcomes 

Knowledge: At the end of this workshop, you should know:  

• principles of register, registration of title and registered land; interests which are subject to an entry on the register. 

Skills: At the end of this workshop, you should be able to: 

• analyse and apply principles to cases where registration of title arises;
• effectively read, analyse and assess statutory materials and caselaw.

Workshop 3 

Registered Land – Part 2  

Learning outcomes 

Knowledge: At the end of this workshop, you should know:  

• interests which override; 
• overreaching; 
• alteration of the register and indemnity. 

Skills: At the end of this workshop, you should be able to:

• analyse and apply principles to cases where registration of title arises;
• effectively read, analyse and assess statutory materials and caselaw.

Workshop 4 

Adverse possession  

Learning outcomes 

Knowledge: At the end of this workshop, you should know: 

• the principles of adverse possession. 

Skills: At the end of the workshop, you should be able to: 

• Evaluate the issues relating to adverse possession.
• Apply your knowledge to the solution of problems. 

Workshop 5 

Co-ownership 

Learning outcomes  

Knowledge: At the end of this workshop, you should know: 

• how land is held by co-owners; 
• the rights and obligations of co-owners; 
• severance  
• how the co-ownership is put to an end;  
• the effect of the trust of land and the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996.    

Skills: At the end of this workshop, you should be able to:  

• discuss and solve problems arising from co-ownership situations; 
• analyse and apply case law and statute law 

Workshop 6 

Leases and Licences 

Learning outcomes  

Knowledge: At the end of this workshop, you should know:  

• the essential elements of a lease; 
• different types of licences; 
• landlord’s covenants in a lease; 
• remedies for breach of landlord’s covenants; the enforceability of covenants at common law- the benefit and the burden; Skills: At the end of this workshop, you should be able to: 
• analyse primary materials and apply them to issues arising from transactions in land and relationships with property rights; 
• apply your knowledge to the solution of legal problems.

Workshop 7 

Leases (continued)  

Learning outcomes  

Knowledge: At the end of this workshop, you should know: 

• tenant’s covenants in a lease; 
• covenants by tenants in leases; 
• remedies for breach of tenant’s covenants.  

Skills: At the end of this workshop, you should be able to: 

• analyse the issues relating to breaches of covenants together with relevant statute and case law; 
• apply appropriate remedies

Workshop 8 

Easements 

Learning outcomes: 

Knowledge: At the end of this workshop, you should know of: 

• the elements of an easement and types of easements; 
• the different methods of acquiring easements; 
• How easements are protected.  

Skills: At the end of this workshop, you should be able to:

• analyse and apply legal principles to situations where easements arise;
• effectively read, analyse and assess statutory materials and case law.

Workshop 9 

Mortgages 

Learning outcomes  

Knowledge: At the end of this workshop, you should know: 

• the rights of the mortgagor, including rights against undue influence;
• the effect of harsh and unconscionable terms in mortgage transactions and how they can be set aside or altered;
• the rights and obligations of the mortgagee, including its duties in respect of the sale of the repossessed property. 

Skills: At the end of this workshop, you should be able to: 

• communicate the principles of the law of mortgages and analysis of legal issues arising;
• develop the ability to learn legal principles and apply them. 

Workshop 10 

Land Law and Human Rights  

Learning outcomes 

Knowledge: At the end of this workshop, you should have knowledge of: 

• the impact of human rights on public authority landowners; the impact of human rights on private landowners. 

Skills: At the end of this workshop, you should be able to: 

• discuss  principles  applicable  to  determining  human  rights issues;
• analyse and apply case law and the European Convention on Human Rights.