LLAW6160

General Course Information

1.1 Course details

Course code: LLAW6160
Course name: Legal System and Methods
Programme offered under: LLM Programme
Semester: First
Prerequisites / Co-requisites: No
Credit point value: 9 credits

1.2 Course description

The aim of the Legal System and Methods module is to provide students who do not have a first degree in law to acquire sufficient knowledge and understanding of the Hong Kong legal system. tort law and legal research, legal analysis and legal reasoning. The module will provide an introduction to the Hong Kong legal system and introduce students to sources of law, categories of law, the courts, the civil process in Hong Kong, the personnel of the legal system and other relevant aspects. Students will be trained in the use of legal materials and introduced to the case law process, the precedent system, the legislative process and approaches to statutory interpretation. Students will acquire and develop basic legal skills such as legal research, legal analysis and legal reasoning.

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 salient features of the HK legal system which act as a sound foundation for the study of other courses in this degree.

CLO 2 Engage in discussion of a variety of legal issues surrounding the HK legal system and critically evaluate some current issues.

CLO 3 Understand the development of common law and civil law systems of law, in particular the nature of case law and the rules of judicial precedent, as well as the significance of statute and its interpretation. The place and use of conventions (CISG) and common used principles such as PICC, PECL and UNIDRIOT principles of international commercial contracts will be explored.

CLO 4 Understand the principles of the tort of negligence, the duty of care, pure economic loss, negligent misstatement, nervous shock, breach of duty, causation and remoteness of damage, contributory negligence and consent, vicarious liability, occupier’s liability, trespass, nuisance, disputes and their application and operation.

CLO 5 Understand and appreciate the potential overlap between tort and contract claims and their remedies.

CLO 6 Acquire sufficient legal research skills to locate relevant materials.

CLO 7 Identify crucial issues in hypothetical factual scenarios covering topics of substantive law such as tort, contract and criminal law, apply the law in analyzing the problems and reach a solution.

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
CLO 6
CLO 7

Assessment(s)

3.1 Assessment Summary

Assessment task Due date Weighting Feedback method* Course learning outcomes
Class participation N/A 10% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
End of term test on Torts (1.5-hour limited open book) 28 Nov 2024 30% 5 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Research essay 19 Dec 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 announced further by course convenor in the first seminar of the course.

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/