| Unit name | Banking Conduct and Law |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAWDM0144 |
| Credit points | 30 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Miss. Powley |
| 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?
This unit will introduce you to key issues affecting the banking sector and the operation of banking institutions, a sector that is central to the operation of the modern economy and one that has experienced significant reform in the years after the financial crisis. It continues to do so. You will learn about the reforms introduced to improve the regulatory architecture post- financial crisis and the changes designed to increase customer protection. You will also engage with key debates reflecting the traditional challenges banking law has grappled with: what is the scope of the banker’s duty of care? How to respond to technological evolution and innovation within the sector? What is the role of the anti-money laundering regime? This unit will give you the opportunity to explore these issues and engage with fundamental debates about the banking sector and the impact of law and regulation.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
The unit will provide you with advanced knowledge of the law and regulation operating in relation to the banking sector, providing insights into the unique approach taken to regulating one of the core financial services markets.
As a unit on the Banking and Finance Law LLM programme, it will complement your studies in commercial markets, insurance, financial markets and/or corporate governance. If you select this unit as an option on one of the other Postgraduate Taught programmes it will provide you with a clear understanding of the framework governing banking institutions and key policy debates.
An overview of content
This unit is concerned with the development of law and regulation affecting retail banking institutions. It will provide an advanced, critical overview of key developments and debates affecting banking law and regulation, on topics including:
You will be encouraged to engage with themes that arise across banking law and the regulatory sphere and reflect on the interaction between these different areas of law and practice.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
This unit will allow you to develop an advanced understanding of key issues arising in the field of banking law and regulation and equip you with skills to critique these developments. You will learn about the distinctive challenges of regulating banks and navigate the detailed rules they are expected to comply with. Your study on this unit will allow you to explore the challenges banks can face alongside the tensions arising in the sector. These are developments that impact banking law and practice and are at the heart of legal and regulatory concerns.
Learning Outcomes
By completion of this unit, you will be able to:
It will involve a mix of learning activities, including interactive lectures and workshops, small group work activities and discussions, in-seminar presentations and individual tasks to be completed before timetabled sessions. Workshops and seminars are designed to be interactive with student-led discussions.
These activities will be supported by materials provided by the virtual learning platform, with short recordings, directed reading and questions to consider in advance of timetabled classes. The focus of these activities will vary depending on the topic and will cover problem-based scenarios and critical analysis of key legal and regulatory developments. The unit will require directed and self-directed learning.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
The structure and organisation of the unit provides students with many opportunities to develop their skills and prepare for the summative assessment. In-class discussions, interactive lectures and group work will allow you to receive informal feedback on your knowledge and understanding from academic staff and your peers. You will also be encouraged to reflect on your understanding of the content covered.
The formative assessment for this unit will build on the work you complete in relation to each topic and will give you the choice of either drafting a skeleton plan in response to a problem question or submitting a piece of written work on a specific legal issue. The word limit for the formative assessment will be 750 words and it will form the basis of a group exercise.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
This unit is assessed by coursework. There will be two mandatory elements:
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. LAWDM0144).
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.
