Core Principles of Contract (LAWS90172)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Online
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About this subject
Contact information
May
Lecturer
Professor Andrew Robertson (Coordinator)
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | May - Online |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject introduces students to the fundamentals of the law of contract in common law jurisdictions, with a particular focus on English and Australian law. It offers a grounding in the foundational principles of contract law as well as insights into current issues and influences on the development of the law. The subject also offers the opportunity to develop deeper insights into the law of contract and common law method. It lays the foundations of knowledge and skills necessary for the study of more specialised subjects and for the exploration of particular contract issues and problems that arise in practice.
The lecturer has taught contract law for many years and has published extensively in the area.
Topics to be covered, principally through a series of case studies, include:
- Principles of contract formation: agreement; intention to be bound; consideration; certainty
- The doctrine of privity of contract
- Terms of the contract: express and implied terms; written contracts and their interpretation
- Vitiating elements: misrepresentation; mistake; duress; undue influence; unconscionable bargain
- Discharge of contracts: breach; frustration
- Remedies for breach of contract: damages; specific performance
Intended learning outcomes
A candidate who has successfully completed the subject should:
- Have a sound understanding of the fundamental concepts and principles of the common law of contract
- Be able to evaluate critically those concepts and principles in the light of the function of the law of contract and the policy issues which underlie it
- Have developed problem solving skills, skills of case analysis (including skills of fact analysis, identification of legal issues, identification of rules and principles articulated in judgments and critical appraisal of reasoning and outcomes) and other lawyering skills
- Have developed a facility in talking in public about law and legal problems and in responding to the questions and ideas of other people.
Generic skills
On completion of the subject students should have developed the following skills:
- Mastery of the fundamental concepts and principles of the common law of contract;
- The ability to evaluate critically those concepts and principles in the light of the function of the law of contract and the policy issues which underlie it;
- Problem solving skills, skills of case analysis (including skills of fact analysis, identification of legal issues, identification of rules and principles articulated in judgments and critical appraisal of reasoning and outcomes) and other lawyering skills;
- The ability to talk in public about law and legal problems and to respond to the questions and ideas of other people.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into a relevant Melbourne Law Masters program AND Not hold a previously completed JD or LLB degree or passed an equivalent introductory contract law subject.
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
JD students:
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50029 | Contracts | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MLM students: Students who have previously completed a JD or Masters level foundational contract law subject from a common law jurisdiction are not permitted to enrol in this subject.
Recommended background knowledge
This subject is designed for students who have either not undertaken an undergraduate degree in law or who have undertaken a law degree in a non-common law jurisdiction.
Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Prescribed assignment
| 27 July 2022 | 100% |
Attendance Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance. Note: the attendance hurdle does not apply when the subject is delivered online, however attendance at all live online sessions is expected. | N/A |
Additional details
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- May - Online
Coordinator Andrew Robertson Mode of delivery Online Contact hours Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 6 April 2022 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to the Reading Guide on the LMS subject page for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 4 May 2022 to 10 May 2022 Last self-enrol date 11 April 2022 Census date 5 May 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 24 June 2022 Assessment period ends 27 July 2022 May contact information
Lecturer
Professor Andrew Robertson (Coordinator)
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students.
Enrolment is on a 'first in' basis. Waitlists are maintained for subjects that are fully subscribed.
Students should note priority of waitlisted places in subjects will be given as follows:
- To currently enrolled Graduate Diploma and Masters students with a satisfactory record in their degree
- To other students enrolling on a single subject basis, eg Community Access Program (CAP) students, cross-institutional study and cross-faculty study.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Melbourne Law School may reserve places in a subject for incoming international cohorts or where a subject is core to a specialisation with limited alternate options.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If required, please contact law-masters@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 31 January 2024