LW3FAM-Family Law

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Annika Newnham
Email: a.newnham@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module aims to provide students with a working knowledge of the private law relating to the family and to family breakdown, including the law of family financial provision. It gives students the opportunity to develop their research skills and the habit of independent, critical thought, in particular by encouraging them to consider critically the continuing agenda of family law reform.

Aims:

This module provides students with a working knowledge of the private law relating to the family and to family breakdown, including the law of family financial provision. It gives students the opportunity to develop their research skills and the habit of independent, critical thought, in particular by encouraging them to consider critically the continuing agenda of family law reform.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that the student will be able to:

• explain how the law responds to situations involving marriage and other family partnerships, divorce, domestic violence, the care of children after family breakdown, and financial provision following family breakdown;


• apply the law by analysing and discussing concrete problem situations;


• appraise critically the law and policy in this field, and to explainand assess the various possibilities for reform;


• organise their material and communicate their arguments effectively in the context of this emotionally charged subject, in the written examination.

Additional outcomes:

Students will also be expected to demonstrate, in tutorials, the following skills:

• effective oral communication of legal argument;


• the ability to work as part of a team in the discussion and communication of legal argument.

Outline content:

• Trends in Family Law and Policy


• Formal partnerships: Marriage and Civil Partners; Informal partnerships: Cohabitation


• Divorce and separation


• Domestic abuse


• Financial provision on the breakdown of relationships


• The basic principles of the Children Act 1989, and arrangements for children on the break-up of the family

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will be taught through a combination or asynchronous recorded lectures, live on-line all group sessions and smaller on-campus (subject to COVID regulations) seminars over the two terms. There will be one piece of formative assessment to assist preparation for the final summative assignment.