General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW3191 |
| Course name: | Comparative Family Law |
| Programme offered under: | LLB Programme |
| Semester: | Second |
| Designated research course: | Yes |
| Specialization: | Not applicable |
| Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | No |
| Course offered to non-law students: | No |
| Credit point value: | 6 credits |
1.2 Course description
The course focuses on family law issues in a comparative and international context and prior knowledge of family law or comparative law is not required. In addition to comparatively studying family law in different jurisdictions, this course will also explore family law from a cultural perspective, covering Christianity, Confucianism, Shintoism, Hinduism, Islam, and so forth. This course will focus more on the theoretical dimensions of family law. Students who are interested in legal doctrines and technical issues are suggested to take Principles of Family Law.
Topics in the course will include: different understandings of family; “family law exceptionalism” in comparative law; the construction of marriage and cohabitation; the grounds for divorce; legal effects of divorce; parenthood and parental responsibility; children’s rights; gender issues in family law.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | Weilin Xiao | wlxiao@hku.hk | CCT 308 | 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 Demonstrate basic knowledge of key difference of family principles in different jurisdictions and societies.
CLO 2 Apply theories and methodologies of comparative law to study and explain different family laws.
CLO 3 Comprehend the relationship between family and culture.
CLO 4 Examine the development of how different societies deal with new family law issues.
2.2 LLB Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Please refer to the following link: https://course.law.hku.hk/llb-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 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 3 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 4 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Mid-term essay (Prospectus of research paper) | 50% | 3, 5 | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Research paper | 50% | 1, 3 | 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: | TBA |
| Recommended reading list: | TBA |
5.2 Links
Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/