LAW20370 Property Law I

Academic Year 2021/2022

This five credit module introduces candidates to the foundations of the Irish law of property. The module considers how legal systems approach the regulation of property ownership and benefits; the history of the development of real property law in Ireland, including the role played by equity; the concept of the estate as the basic building block of property law; priorities and land registration; adverse possession and the law of succession.

The course is delivered in a blended format which includes live lectures, pre-recorded videos and online tutorials. Candidates must complete specific reading prior to lectures and tutorials in order to engage fully with this module.

The module is assessed by continuous assessment.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Apply law (common law, equity and legislation) to a complex problem scenario;
2. Analyse the changing nature of what legal systems consider to be property;
3. Understand the feudal origins of modern property law;
4. Describe and explain the implications of the division of ownership into 'legal ownership' and 'equitable ownership'.
5. Explain and demonstrate the operation of the 'estate' in Irish property law including being able to trace the development and subsequent reform and/or abolition of certain estates in Irish law.
6. Demonstrate precise and in-depth knowledge of a number of discrete topics covered in the course by means of being able to communicate the basic doctrine and/or structures, analyse them from a forensic and a theoretical perspective, apply these doctrines and structures to hypothetical fact scenarios, and critique any proposed reforms.
7. Develop the skills necessary to work both independently and collaboratively

Indicative Module Content:

Key topics include:

Fundamental Concepts of Property and Ownership
The Common Law Scheme of Property
The Legal History of Irish Land Law
The Contribution of Equity to Property Law
Feudal Tenure and Estates
Freehold Estates
Succession
Priorities; Trusts of Land and the Registration of Property Interests
Adverse Possession








Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24

Tutorial

4

Specified Learning Activities

40

Autonomous Student Learning

40

Total

108

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module is delivered via live lectures, pre-recorded videos and online tutorials.

Lectures only ever serve as an introduction to a particular topic. Students are required to conduct extensive reading both prior to and after a lecture on the prescribed topics. Students are provided with reading lists and other learning materials.

Tutorials are an extremely important way of working out problems and discussing the concepts considered in class more critically.
Students are expected to attend all tutorials, to be fully prepared and to actively participate.



 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
LAW41890 - Advanced Property Law 1

Equivalents:
Land Law I (LAW20190)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Group Project: Group Project (written submission) 5,000 words Week 6 n/a Graded No

50

Project: This will be an individual assignment 1,500 words Week 12 n/a Graded No

50


Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

N Howlin and N McGrath, Lyall on Land Law (4th edition, Thomson Roundhall 2018)