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 |
| Cap on student numbers: | 40 |
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. Students who thoroughly prepare for and participate in the course will be able to:
- understand the theoretical and practical aspects of contract law such as the legal principles of this subject. Both common and civil law approaches will be dealt with.
- 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 solution.
- understand the underlying philosophies and public policy considerations behind certain principles of contract law
- engage in discussion of a variety of legal issues surrounding contract law
- evaluate the functions that contract law plays in our society and the extent to which principles promote these functions.
The following topics will be covered:
Contractual and quasi-contract obligations: Introduction to contract law, approaches to contracts in civil and common law jurisdictions, contract types, formalities, formation of a contract under civil and 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, social and commercial agreements, consideration and promissory estoppel under civil and common law, consent and certainty, terms, representations, exclusion and limitation clauses, unfair contract terms, interpretation, effects and liabilities (civil and common law), misrepresentation in different jurisdictions, its remedies and rescission, mistake, illegal or prohibited contracts, performance and discharge, non-performance (breach), rules of remoteness and mitigation, remedies such as contractual damages, illegal contracts, undue influence, duress, good faith and unconscionability, fraud, frustration, agency (principal/agent and effects on third party), unjust enrichment.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | Alex Mak | makalex@hku.hk | CCT 704 | By email |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 understand the theoretical and practical aspects of contract law such as the legal principles of this subject. Both common and civil law approaches will be dealt with.
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 solution.
CLO 3 understand the underlying philosophies and public policy considerations behind certain principles of contract law.
CLO 4 engage in discussion of a variety of legal issues surrounding contract law.
CLO 5 evaluate the functions that contract law plays in our society and the extent to which principles promote these functions.
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 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 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% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | |
| Take home mid-term problem | 24 Mar 2024 | 20% | 5 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| End of term final in-hall exam | 11 May 2024 | 60% | 1 | 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
To be advised by course convenor(s).
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/