General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW6158 |
| Course name: | Contract Law |
| Programme offered under: | LLM Programme |
| Semester: | Second |
| Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | No |
| Credit point value: | 9 credits |
1.2 Course description
This course is designed to provide students enrolled in the LLM in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution or other programme who do not have a first degree in law to acquire sufficient knowledge and understanding of contract law in a common law system. Students who thoroughly prepare for and participate in the course will be able to:
- understand the theoretical and practical aspects of contract law under a common law system, such as the legal elements and principles of this subject; focus is placed on corporate contracts.
- analyze contract law problems by spotting the legal issues in which contractual obligations arise, identifying the relevant principles of contract law and applying the law to the legal problems in order to reach a legal conclusion or render advice.
- engage in legal discussion and role play exercises to simulate real world situations so as to better prepare for a corporate legal career.
- learn a practical, robust framework in corporate transactions based on sound legal reasoning, commercial goals, market practice, risk management and balancing various factors.
The following topics will be covered:
Introduction to common law system and contract law, approaches to contracts in common law jurisdictions, formalities, formation of a contract under common law systems, contents of contract, privity and third party rights, offer, revocation of offer, invitation to treat and acceptance, intention to create legal relationship, commercial agreements, consideration and promissory estoppel under common law, consent and certainty, terms, representations, exclusion and limitation clauses, unfair contract terms, interpretation, effects and liabilities (common law), misrepresentation, vitiating factors, performance and discharge, non-performance (breach), rules of remoteness and mitigation, remedies such as contractual damages, undue influence, duress, good faith, fraud, frustration, practical contract drafting , structures or features of commercial transactions.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | Siu Fang Ng | sfng852@gmail.com | n/a | By email |
1.4 Course outline (for elective course)
| Please click the link here for the course outline (HKU portal login required). |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 understand the theoretical and practical aspects of contract law under a common law system, such as the legal elements and principles of this subject; focus is placed on corporate contracts.
CLO 2 analyze contract law problems by spotting the legal issues in which contractual obligations arise, identifying the relevant principles of contract law and applying the law to the legal problems in order to reach a legal conclusion or render advice.
CLO 3 engage in legal discussion and role play exercises to simulate real world situations so as to better prepare for a corporate legal career.
CLO 4 learn a practical, robust framework in corporate transactions based on sound legal reasoning, commercial goals, market practice, risk management and balancing various factors.
2.2 LLM Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Please refer to the following link: https://course.law.hku.hk/llm-plo/
2.3 Programme Learning Outcomes to be achieved in this course
| PLO A | PLO B | PLO C | PLO D | PLO E | PLO F | |
| CLO 1 | ✓ | n/a | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | n/a |
| CLO 2 | ✓ | n/a | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | n/a |
| CLO 3 | ✓ | n/a | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | n/a |
| CLO 4 | ✓ | n/a | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | n/a |
| CLO 5 | ✓ | n/a | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | n/a |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Class participation | 40% | 5 | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| End of term take home assignment | 60% | 1 | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| *Feedback method (to be determined by course teacher) | |
| 1 | A general course report to be disseminated through Moodle |
| 2 | Individual feedback to be disseminated by email / through Moodle |
| 3 | Individual review meeting upon appointment |
| 4 | Group review meeting |
| 5 | In-class verbal feedback |
3.2 Assessment Detail
To be advised by course convenor(s). See also Course Outline above.
3.3 Grading Criteria
Please refer to the following link: https://www.law.hku.hk/_files/law_programme_grade_descriptors.pdf
Learning Activities
4.1 Learning Activity Plan
| Seminar: | 3 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
| Private study time: | 9.5 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
Remarks: the normative student study load per credit unit is 25 ± 5 hours (ie. 150 ± 30 hours for a 6-credit course), which includes all learning activities and experiences within and outside of classroom, and any assessment task and examinations and associated preparations.
4.2 Details of Learning Activities
To be advised by course convenor(s).
Learning Resources
5.1 Resources
| Reading materials: | Reading materials are posted on Moodle |
| Core reading list: | Michael J. Fisher and Desmond G. Greenwood, “Contract Law in Hong Kong”, 4th Ed. (Hong Kong University Press, 2024) |
| Recommended reading list: | TBA |
5.2 Links
Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/