General Course Information

1.1 Course details

Course code:	LLAW6258
Course name:	Private law in common law jurisdictions
Programme offered under:	LLM Programme
Semester:	Second
Prerequisites / Co-requisites:	No
Credit point value:	9 credits

1.2 Course description

This course will provide an introduction to basic concepts and principles of private law under the common law. The first part of the course looks at the meaning of private law, the different areas of private law and how they relate to each other, the sources of private law, as well as the theoretical and jurisprudential foundations of private law. There is also a focus on common law reasoning and the common law method in the context of private law. The bulk of the course provides an introduction to main areas of private law, namely contract, restitution, tort and property law. In analyzing these various topics, there will be emphasis on both oral and written presentation to develop student capacity to situate case analysis within multiple sources of legal authority and facilitate their ability to communicate arguments using precedential reasoning.

1.3 Course teachers

	Name	E-mail address	Office	Consultation
Course convenor	Stefan Lo	stefanlo@hku.hk	CCT 301A	By email

Learning Outcomes

2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course

CLO 1 Describe and explain basic concepts, rules and terminology in certain areas of private law, namely contracts, restitution, torts, and property.

CLO 2 Develop the skill of resolving disputes by the application of private law concepts and rules in novel situations and problems.

CLO 3 Develop an appreciation of the nature of the common law method and to be able to apply legal reasoning and marshall arguments clearly, logically, coherently and effectively in the context of private law.

CLO 4 Develop and apply skills in researching on and critically analyzing rules and doctrines of private law in their social context.

CLO 5 Critically examine the theories and jurisprudential foundations of private law in the broader social, historical, economic political and cultural contexts in which they situate.

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
Classwork	TBC	20%	1, 2, 3, 5	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Research assignment	TBC	30%	2, 3	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
In-hall exam	TBC	50%	1, 3	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

Lecture:	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:	The reading guide and selected reading materials will be 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/