LAW30360 Consumer Law

Academic Year 2020/2021

The objective of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the principles and concepts governing consumer law and policy, and to enable students to study the institutional framework of consumer protection and the ever-increasing body of consumer protection measures in Ireland and the EU. On a practical level, the course aims to increase students’ awareness of their own rights and responsibilities as consumers, and to be aware of the means available to them to enforce those rights.
Topics covered include: rationales for consumer protection; techniques and institutions of consumer protection; the intervention of the European Union in consumer protection; forms of consumer redress; defective and dangerous products and services; unfair contract terms; ; unfair commercial practices; rights when travelling; reform of consumer law.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Find and refer to a range of legal sources on consumer law, including cases, legislation and academic commentary.
Apply legal principles to everyday situations and real world problems affecting consumers.
Evaluate the objectives of consumer protection law and policy and the effectiveness of consumer protection measures.
Assess the impact of the European Union on domestic consumer law.
Identify areas of consumer law in need of reform and make suggestions for reform.
Demonstrate good communication skills and design a poster.

Indicative Module Content:

- The rationale for consumer protection
- The framework of consumer protection
- The EU and consumer protection
- The institutional framework of consumer protection, including the role of the Consumer Protection Commission, cross-border enforcement, collective actions.
- Defective goods and services, consumer rights and digital content
- Unfair Contract terms
- Unfair commercial practices
- Consumer Rights when Travelling

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

22
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

40
Total

112
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module makes use of a flipped classroom approach, where after initial introductory lectures, students take the lead in teaching assigned topics to the class. This involves group work and peer review. In addition, students undertake a personalised research project, based on a real life problem they have encountered. There is also an emphasis on communication skills, and students will be asked to design a poster or make a video to communicate an issue of importance on consumer law to the general public. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Students are advised to only take this module if they have a good understanding of Contract law and a basic understanding of European Union Law.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Presentation: Students must either design a poster or make a short (1 min) video on an aspect of consumer law, targeted at the general public. Week 12 n/a Graded No

30
Assignment: Personalised Case Study - Writing up, researching and answering / reflecting on a real life consumer problem encountered by the student or friend. (1,500 words, including the problem itself) Week 10 n/a Graded No

35
Multiple Choice Questionnaire: Multiple choice questionnaire via Brightspace. Week 12 n/a Graded No

35

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

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be given on the draft poster / video in class, in class sessions. Students will also receive feedback on their individualised case studies, again both before and after submission. This class is very interactive and student participation and engagement with feedback is expected.