| Unit name | European Contract Law |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAWDM0097 |
| Credit points | 30 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Giliker |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | University of Bristol Law School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
The course is designed for those who have an interest in the development of contract law in the European Union both at a theoretical and a practical level. The unit will examine not only the evolving national contract laws of the constituent Member States, but also the possible development of a supra-national contract law for the European Union as a whole. The aim of the course is to equip the student with the ability to assess individual substantive issues of contract law within the member states of the European Union and in comparison to each other, to gauge the impact of the existing European Union legislation upon the national law of these member states, and to consider the possibilities and efficacy of a common contract code for Europe.
By the end of the unit, a successful student will be able to explain and critically analyse:
a) the existing rules of European Contract law
b) proposals to introduce new legislation in the field of European Contract law
c)proposals to harmonise European contract law; and
d) the role played by comparative law in improving one’s understanding of European contract law.
The student will be able to understand the arguments relating to legal transplants and be able to identify the key academic, professional and political influences in the future development of European contract law. The unit is thus theoretical and practical. The student will be able to understand the nature of the existing rules of European Contract law, but gain a critical appreciation of proposals to extend European contract law beyond specific contract law instruments and assess the merits and disadvantages of harmonising European contract law.
11 seminars. The unit will be assessed as follows: 67% examination (3 hour unseen written examination) and 33% coursework (3,000 words).
The unit will be assessed as follows: 67% examination (3 hour unseen written examination) and 33% coursework (3,000 words).
The reading list will refer students to articles and official documents and legislation in this field, but reference is frequently made to: Reimann and Zimmermann (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Law (OUP, 2006) and Beale et al, Cases, Materials and Text on Contract Law: Ius commune textbook (Hart, 2010) 2nd ed
