| Unit name | International Sale of Goods |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAWDM0143 |
| Credit points | 30 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Kryla-Cudna |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | University of Bristol Law School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
Sales contracts are the most common commercial transactions. In the globalised world, sales contracts concluded between business parties often have a cross-border dimension. Therefore, international sales law is commonly seen as the most significant and dynamic area of transnational commercial law. What distinguishes international sales law from any other area of private law, is the level of its harmonisation across the world. The UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) has been ratified by countries representing two-thirds of world trade. This unit will provide you with a comprehensive and critical understanding of international sales law. It will equip you with the knowledge and skills required to examine complex factual scenarios and form your own views about the controversies arising in this area of transnational commercial law.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
The unit fits comfortably with several of the LLM programmes. It will be of particular relevance to those with an interest in private law and commercial arbitration. It will complement other substantive commercial law subjects (e.g. insurance law, intellectual property law, international corporate finance) and procedural law subjects (for instance, international commercial arbitration) that you may be studying as part of your LLM programme.
An overview of content
The unit will explore the legal framework in which international sales contracts operate and will provide insight into the harmonization of transnational commercial law. The topics for consideration during the unit will include the following:
The key primary legal source for the unit will be the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, along with associated case law.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
By the end of the unit, you will develop a sound understanding of the legal framework for international sale of goods, one of the most important areas of commercial law practice. You will also develop your legal skills (such as making a doctrinal legal argument and analysing complex practical scenarios). Finally, you will develop the ability to engage in a critical manner with the debates on key controversies that have arisen in relation to this area of commercial law.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the unit, a successful student will be able to:
The unit will be delivered by a blend of different learning activities including lectures, seminars and independent learning exercises (which will include activities such as structured reading exercises, watching recorded presentations and completing seminar questions). The small group seminars will be student-centred and highly interactive. Students will be expected to prepare beforehand by completing the assigned readings and preparing answers to seminar questions. Materials provided on the virtual learning platform will enable students to gain a base knowledge of the relevant topic and prepare for the seminars. The whole cohort lectures will help develop a better understanding of the subject matter and consolidate your knowledge.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
There will be many forms of formative assessment in this unit which will provide an opportunity for you to assess your learning without contributing to the final mark. In particular, you will have an opportunity to assess your understanding of the subject matter through seminar discussions and group exercises, as well as through directed independent learning activities provided on the virtual learning platform. Furthermore, there will be one formal formative opportunity which will consist of 500-600 words of writing on a specific legal issue. The formative exercise will not count towards the overall unit mark. There will be an individual feedback provided on the written exercise, as well as a more general feedback in class to help you better prepare for the final assessment.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
The unit will be assessed by a single coursework submission (100%, 4,000 words). You will be required to answer two questions (i.e., 2 x 2,000 words), including one problem question and one essay question. The coursework submission will assess all Intended Learning Outcomes for the unit.
When assessment does not go to plan:
When a student fails the unit and is eligible to resubmit, the unit will be reassessed on a like-for-like basis with new assessment questions.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. LAWDM0143).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
