General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW3265 |
| Course name: | Advanced Seminars in Trust and Equity |
| Programme offered under: | LLB Programme |
| Semester: | Second |
| Designated research course: | No |
| Specialization: | Commercial, corporate and financial law |
| Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | Contract Law |
| Course offered to non-law students: | No |
| Credit point value: | 6 credits |
1.2 Course description
This course examines cutting edge and fundamental issues in trust law and equity, and aims to deepen your knowledge in these areas. We will take a supportive and engaging approach to enhance your grasp of these subjects and improve your performance in related courses.
The course is designed to provide a strong foundation for both postgraduate studies and legal practice. You will develop skills that will be valuable for applying to postgraduate programmes.
Whilst the course deals with issues students are learning or might have learned in undergraduates courses on equity and trusts, it is also free-standing. The course begins with a discussion of select topics in which there have been landmark decisions and new research perspectives, such as: certainty of subject matter, the Quistclose Trust principle, tracing, knowing receipt, and ESG investing by trustees. This will be followed by paper presentations by the course teachers and possible one to two outside speakers (scholars and/or practitioners who are experts in the relevant issues). Students will be well prepared for each presentation by a guided study of the topic concerned in advance, to ensure that they benefit from the presentations.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | Lusina Ho | lusinaho@hku.hk | CCT 614 | By email |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 Describe and explain the core features of the modern family trust as a device for succession and asset protection.
CLO 2 Describe and explain the legal principles pertaining to the reception, application, and challenges of the trust in China.
CLO 3 Critically examine the limitations of the principles of trust and equity in tackling modern phenomena such as new forms of wealth (such as data, digital assets and cryptocurrencies) and abuses of the trust.
CLO 4 Apply the knowledge and understanding to tackle problems in the modern application of trust and equitable principles.
CLO 5 Demonstrate an awareness of the impact of the trust and equitable doctrines within their broader economic and socio-cultural contexts.
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 | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| CLO 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Due date | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Class participation | N/A | 20% | 4 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Response essay | TBC | 40% | 4 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Oral presentation | TBC | 40% | 5 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| *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
- Class participation
- Response essay: students may respond to any of the papers presented by teachers/visitors. ) One written response of not more than 1,200 words to one of the papers presented
- Oral presentation: students may present on any topic that is discussed in the course and does not fall within the core area of their response essay
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 11 teaching weeks |
| Private study time: | 9.5 hours / week for 11 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/