BA (Hons) in
Commercial Law

The module focuses on the law governing the legal system and political institutions. Public law module covers pertinent and topical issues and examines the main aspects of constitutional law, administrative law and human rights which includes forms of government, constitutional doctrines and constitutionalism, key organs of government, power sharing between central and local government, notions of parliamentary sovereignty, introduction to administrative law (including judicial review) and human rights, reforms to the system.

Assessment: This module is assessed by the Viva assessment task which carries 100% of the final mark. Students must prepare responses to a list of potential public law questions provided beforehand. This method allows students to anticipate types of questions they might face and prepare thoroughly. This viva is used to test not just the depth of students’ knowledge but also their ability to think critically and respond spontaneously, relying on their knowledge of public law.

This module will identify the principles and concepts that underpin the theoretical framework of Contract Law. Students will explore the legal and theoretical issues that form the core of English Contract Law and become aware of the contextual dimension of the subject. The module is strategically important for its academic content as Contract Law forms the foundation of further teaching for a range of modules in the second and third year of the programme. It is designed to develop number of key study skills, which reinforce and enhance work undertaken during the foundation year. It will also develop other skills essential for effective learning and understanding of the Contract and other law modules.

Assessment: The module assessment is Mooting (100% weighting). Students are given case scenarios in the field of contract law and are required to conduct research based on the provided case, evaluate the positions of the parties involved, develop and present a strategy in a moot court, and work effectively within a group. During the assessment task, students are expected to exhibit advocacy, persuasion, and questioning skills, along with other competencies typical of lawyers. This assessment involves the submission of oral arguments supported by a skeleton outline.

The module is designed to develop the intellectual, practical, and transferable skills needed to study law generally and to allow students to see how these skills can be employed in legal practice. This is a comprehensive yearlong module designed to equip law students with practical skills essential for legal research, writing, oral advocacy, and beyond. Throughout the module, students will focus on refining fundamental learning techniques. Students will learn to navigate various legal resources, including libraries and online platforms, leveraging tools like AI. Students will also develop skills in analysing primary legislation and case law, along with tasks like case noting and drafting legal documents.

Assessment: Assessment for this module consists of two tasks: Legal Analysis and Mooting. In Legal Analysis (50% of the final mark) students are tasked to prepare a legal memo or brief addressing a provided case scenario in certain subject area of law. Students are expected to communicate legal analysis and arguments persuasively while adhering to legal writing conventions and citing relevant legal authority. This assignment will evaluate students’ written communication and legal reasoning skills. In Mooting (50% of the final mark) students will participate in a simulated oral advocacy exercise, namely, a mock trial addressing a Criminal law case scenario. Students present oral arguments, examine witnesses, and respond to opposing counsel's arguments.

Tort law examines and analyses the law of civil liability for wrongfully inflicted damage or injury. Students will learn about why and how the law has evolved to create obligations in Tort Law, the shape and extent of those responsibilities and the remedies available for failure to meet those obligations. Tort Law will also allow opportunities for students to develop their academic skills of legal research, critical analysis and problem solving through the use of both real case examples and tailored case studies.

Assessment: Problem-based learning assessment (100% of the final mark) is designed to engage students in active learning and critical thinking by providing them with a realistic scenario from the field of tort law. This assessment aims to evaluate students’ understanding of tort law concepts and their ability to apply these concepts in a practical legal context.

The module offers essential insights into Civil law as a legal system, starting from Roman law till today, and peculiar features of commercial law in the civil law legal system. The attention focuses on the process hierarchical structure and codifications of law with the role of branches, sub-branches and institutions, and its interrelation. It will be exemplary to see the effect of the principles as “Bona Fide” with its direct effect on practical issues. The commercial law part will be focused on the key tenets as ‘freedom of contract,’ ‘autonomy of will’ and doctrinal aspects as a division of personal and property rights and theory of non-material rights. A further focus is made on contractual relations with attention to the specific types of contracts and non-contractual liability of commercial actors and legal forms of corporate and commercial activity.

Assessment: The essay (100%) is designed to test students’ understanding of the relevant principles and doctrines of civil law from comparative perspectives. It will also test students’ ability to understand the specificities of the legal language of civil law systems. Students will have the opportunity for formative feedback on a draft of the essay prior to final submission during the semester.

The module provides students with understanding of the main concepts of the legal field and presents relevant discussions about the importance of Criminal Law in a society and the possible limitations faced by the field with regards to accomplishment of justice. The module concentrates on the ‘general principles’ of criminal law such as purposes of Criminal Law, its sources, definition of crimes and classifications, available defences, and others. The module brings various examples of case law and presents students to the main statutes that regulate the field, familiarising students with key debates and terminology and capacitating them to have a broader understanding of English Criminal Law and its peculiarities compared to other criminal law systems.

Assessment: Final exam is designed for students to identify the legal issues of the given case scenario while applying relevant legal principles to factual situations and determining the liability of the parties. The exam also includes multiple choice questions and requires substantive research based on the materials. Students must evaluate the position of the parties and develop relevant legal arguments.

The module will focus on the concepts that underpin the theoretical framework of company law, including but not limited to the doctrines of limited liability and separate personality. The module will also identify incorporation of companies, as well as distinguish between various corporate as well as non-corporate forms such as limited liability companies, public limited companies, partnerships, LLPs, and others. Other important company law topics such as company's constitution, director's duties, shareholder rights, shares and corporate finance, remedies for maladministration, company insolvency and liquidation will also be covered.

Assessment: Assessment for this module consists of Legal Memorandum and Exam. Legal memorandum (40% of the final mark) is a document used in legal practice to identify and advise on the legal issues in a client’s case. A legal memorandum is written in the form of a structured letter with headings that clearly identify the legal issues. Within the closed book exam (60% of the final mark) students will have a case scenario and will be required to apply their knowledge of company and corporate governance law to analyse legal issues, consider different approaches and propose solutions.

This module is designed to familiarise students with English law (Sale of Goods Act 1979 and case law) as well as aims at introducing students to international instruments (INCOTERMS 2020, CISG 1980, UCP 600, ICC documents) regulating the international sale. The module enables students to assess the rights and obligations of the seller and buyer in international trade transactions. The module aims at equipping students with skills to identify legal issues in cross-border sales transactions and apply relevant legislation to solve the issues identified. It will assist students to appreciate and analyse various types of contracts used in international commerce and the contextual dimension of the subject.

Assessment: The Take-home test (100% of the final mark) will assess students’ ability to demonstrate an understanding of the principles of English sales of goods, and international cross-border transactions, present and argue cases in relation to legal issues and apply legal principles to the case scenarios provided (LO1-5). The take-home test simulates the types of tasks that lawyers encounter in practice, such as legal research, analysis, and writing.

Conventional banking practices (deposit-taking, loans, and payments) together with advanced and sophisticated investment banking activities are in the focus of this module. We will particularly look at how both official and unofficial (over-the-counter) financial markets operate today, and what risks they pose for businesses, for governments and for society in general. Central counterparties and their important role in financial markets are on the agenda as well. In addition to that, students will be able to closely analyse financial documentation such as loan contracts (e.g. important clauses as Material Adverse Change, negative pledge clause, paru passu), derivatives, bond issuance documentation (prospectus, among others). Lastly, we will come across existing financial laws, regulations, and cases in banking and finance.

Assessment: Assessment for this module consists of Presentation (50%) and Report (50%). Each student will choose a topic that they find interesting. The topic will have to be approved by the module leader. As the first step, the student prepares a draft report on the chosen topic and uploads it to the intranet before their presentation day. The report is not assessed at this stage; however, the student may not be admitted to a presentation without their draft report. The presentation (50%) will require the students to present their draft report and thereby demonstrate their knowledge of Banking and Finance law with references to Acts of Parliament, case law and/or financial regulations along with references to secondary literature. The second assessment will include the submission of the final written report (50%) where the students have refined their research following the comments which they received during the presentation. New information which the student finds after the presentation may be included in the final report.

Students will be introduced to the market of legal services and will get an insight into how they operate in both the UK and Uzbekistan. The module builds on the first-year Legal Skills core module, introducing more specific career development and a wider understanding of the profession, with specific focus on legal ethics, client interviewing and counselling, negotiation, modern commercial litigation, risk analysis, principles of contract drafting, dispute resolution techniques and skills.

Assessment: The assessment of the module is comprised of two practical exercises (50% each) on various legal topics. Practical exercises are set in order to check students’ ability to apply legal skills in practical situations.

The module considers the analysis of major intellectual property areas such as copyrights, patent law, trademarks, and design rights. With regard to the development of online media, greater attention will be given to the law of breach of confidence as well as business goodwill and reputation. Moreover, stress has been put on the use/assignment of intellectual property rights with licensing schemes. Along with national protection of intellectual property rights in the UK, International and intellectual property laws of Uzbekistan are considered. Finally, the module takes a wider approach to intellectual property rights and discusses the interrelation of this area with areas like competition law.

Assessment: The Mooting (100%) will simulate a real trial where students in groups of two or three will be allocated some problem cases and the party that they must represent (either plaintiff or respondent). This will require substantive research, critical thinking, analytical approach, and legal argumentation in relation to the legal institutions of intellectual property law.

The module examines employer/employee relations and employment rights that exist in the workplace with the framework of English Law and in context of international standards as required under International Labour Organisation and international agreements. It considers both individual and collective elements that constitute modern Employment Law. There are comparative references to the Employment legislation of Uzbekistan throughout the module. The module will also focus on policy implications stemming from positions of various governments and legal systems.

Assessment: The in-class test (100%) is an exercise that is designed to test a student’s ability to give a proper legal qualification of the issue and apply relevant law to the solution of problem within the time constrained setting. The module assessment task involves examining employment law through legislative, case-law, and academic perspectives, while also incorporating practical solutions to address current issues.

This module is one of the seven foundational subjects that introduce students to principles that underpin land ownership in England and Wales and provide a sound understanding of the law which governs the creation, protection, and transfer of interests in land and private property. Through examination and analysis of the statutory and case-law framework, students will develop a detailed knowledge of the substantive law, enabling them to critically evaluate the property's current law and identify, explain, and apply key legal principles to the complex factual scenarios and situations. By studying the law in its social and economic context, the module also seeks to highlight the ethical issues and contemporary developments that frequently arise in this area.

Assessment: The group presentation (100%) assessment is intended to assess the ability of students to provide legal advice whilst working as a team, combining knowledge, critical thinking, and argumentation, whilst presenting in an appropriate format (LO1-5). Students will work in a group and be required to answer alternative problem questions while coming to specific outcomes under the application of statutory and case law under the support of general tenets of the subject. This enables students to participate productively in learning in a practical setting, sharing ideas while collaborating with peers. Students will be assessed based on their own presentation opposed to class participation with their peers’ presentations.

This module delves into the complex landscape of corporate and financial crime, exploring a diverse range of topics critical to understanding the intersection of law, business, and ethics. Along with understanding legal theories that exist to hold companies liable for crimes, students will also examine the various forms of illicit behavior within corporate environments and financial systems, gaining insight into the mechanisms, motivations, and implications of such activities.

Assessment: In the Project (100%), students will be tasked to provide a compliance assessment for hypothetical corporations to identify potential vulnerabilities to corporate and financial crime. Students should develop recommendations for enhancing compliance programmes and risk management strategies of the given corporation.

In Public International Law students will explore the intricate framework governing relations between sovereign states and international organisations. They will delve into the principles, treaties, and customary practices shaping diplomacy, human rights, environmental protection, and global governance. The Module will help the students to navigate among complex legal issues, from territorial disputes to transnational crimes, and analyse the evolving dynamics of state sovereignty in an interconnected world. Also, the students will gain insight into the role of international courts and tribunals in upholding justice and resolving conflicts on the global stage.

Assessment: Mooting (100%) is the assessment task for this module. Students will engage in a critical analysis of a contentious topic in international law presented through a fictional case. The rationale for assessing student’s individually in the simulation of an international tribunal is to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of their understanding, analytical skills, and ability to articulate arguments effectively within the context of public international law.

This module covers various aspects of international trade law (the law of World Trade Organisation) and legal order providing an overview of the legal foundations of the global economy and the regulatory frameworks governing international economic relations. It will examine the substantive provisions of multilateral trade system within a broader understanding of its interactions with other international and national, legal and non-legal processes, including, among others, its impact on developing countries.

Assessment: This module is assessed by In-class test and Mooting. In the in-class test (50%) students will be asked to critically analyse controversial issues of international trade law. In the Mooting (50%), the students will focus on case scenario problems where they will apply both practical and theoretical knowledge.

The module covers theoretical grounds underpinning international investment law, substantive obligations and standards governing the investor-state relationship, investor-state arbitration, investment treaty law, and investor-state dispute resolution. Foreign investment law is one of the fastest-developing areas of law followed by a rising number of disputes between private investors and sovereign states under specialised legal regimes. In this module, students will develop critical employability skills through advanced legal research, analytical thinking, and the application of international investment law principles to practical scenarios. Collaborative projects and scenario-based learning will empower students to address complex challenges in facilitating foreign direct investment in developing regions. This module prepares students for impactful careers in international law while fostering ethical responsibility and global citizenship.

Assessment: In this module students are assessed by one 100% assessment - a legal memorandum. Students are provided with a hypothetical or real case scenario where a foreign investor is considering investment in a certain host state. Students must conduct legal due diligence to assess the legal and regulatory environment, potential risks and compliance requirements related to the investment. Particularly, students are assigned to analyse the investment policies and regulations of a specific state or region, as well as international and national aspects of investment legal framework, such as BITs, FTAs, dispute resolution mechanisms, domestic incentives, and regulatory barriers to investment. The end product of the assessment task will be a legal memo advising the corporation on the feasibility and legal implications of the investment. This authentic assessment will enable students to apply their knowledge and understanding of international investment law in practical and meaningful ways, preparing them for real-life challenges and issues in the context of investment framework.

Dissertations may focus either exclusively on analysing laws, or it may include a wider context (for example, application of a certain law in judicial practice). Under the direction of their supervisors, students will elaborate a research question and hypothesis, undertake a literature review as well as define methodology and methods for carrying out research. At a later stage, students will engage in data collection and argument-building. Oral defense of dissertations is the closing stage of the Module where students are expected to demonstrate public speaking skills along with the knowledge of their research and subject area.

Assessment: The module is assessed through two components: an 8,000-word dissertation, accounting for 80% of the final mark, and an oral defense of the dissertation, which makes up the remaining 20%.

The module provides essential insights into the European Union Law in institutional context with regard to the powers delegated to the EU bodies in institutional balance, and the legal framework of the EU. The module involves procedural law of decision making, and the legislative role of the Commission, Council, and the European Parliament, as well as analysis of the substantial law concerned with four freedoms, its application, and limitations. Importantly the module focuses on the legal relationships of the European Union (EU) with non-member states with special attention to the UK, and the relationship of the EU with selected international institutions.

Assessment: Legal analysis (100%) assessment will assess students' ability to undertake deep research and apply legal principles to factual situations. Through the legal analysis assessment, students will learn to interpret and apply treaties, directives, regulations, and court decisions to solve complex legal problems and provide reasoned arguments.

The module aims to give critical insights into the challenges of a complex interplay of technology and law. The module offers an exploration of the areas of technological intervention affected by legal regulation, encompassing autonomous cars, the Internet of Things, Big Data, AI and robotics, privacy, and e-identification, blockchain and cryptocurrency, and 3D printing and IP protection. All of this will be supported by an emerging array of case law that provides solutions to the most persisting issues concerning new technology, including information technology.

Assessment: The Online Legal Counselling assessment (100%) entails the simulation of an online legal consultation. A client requests advice concerning a legal issue related to an emerging technology. In groups two students are required to deliver a written piece of coursework which provides appropriate legal counsel and written advice for the client. The task's design and problem-based approach ensures that the assessment is authentic.

The module provides a thorough picture on how international commercial disputes are resolved through international commercial arbitration. Applicable laws, establishment of arbitral tribunals, powers given to arbitrators, proceedings, award of the arbitral tribunals in addition to other relevant topics are the main areas of concern of the module. Moreover, the module looks at the challenge of arbitral awards and to the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards while giving due regard to all issues that may arise during that process.

Assessment: Assessment consists of Memorandum (60%) and Hearing (40%). The memorandum assessment will be based on a case scenario that has a close resemblance to cases in real life. Students must prepare their written submissions on the procedural issues that will be indicated in the assessment as Procedural Order No.1 of the arbitral tribunal. In this case, the students will act either as the counsels to the claimant or respondent. The hearing will assess the ability of the students to present orally their submissions made in the memorandum in their capacity as the counsel to claimant or respondent before the arbitral tribunal.

The Entertainment and Media Law module encompasses various fields, including Intellectual Property Law, Information Technology, Corporate Law, Broadcasting, and Entertainment and Media Law. Students venturing into Entertainment and Media Law will learn how to navigate the legal landscapes of film, music, television, and other creative industries. Moreover, the student will analyse, evaluate, and apply laws that can restrict media and journalists, including defamation law, privacy protection, balance of freedom of expression, and contempt of court. Overall, the module offers the ability to protect artists' rights, negotiate contracts, and manage disputes.

Assessment: The legal memorandum assessment (100%) allows students to engage directly with practical legal scenarios commonly encountered in the field, preparing them for real-world legal practice or careers within the entertainment and media industry.

In this module students who already have placements with employer support* will be able to experience real-world legal practice firsthand. Students are placed in diverse settings, including law firms and corporate legal departments, gaining invaluable hands-on learning opportunities. They will explore the intricacies of legal work and apply classroom knowledge to practical scenarios, preparing for future careers in law with confidence.

*Demonstrating the placement does not necessarily require the students to be already employed; rather, it is enough to show that the employer is prepared to host them during the semester

Assessment: Portfolio (Work Placement Diary) is the assessment task for the module. Students are expected to log the activities that they complete during each visit to the organization where they are placed into a diary provided by the module leader. The diary then must be reviewed by the supervisor and approved with a signature and a stamp validating the authenticity of the log entries. This validation will be decisive in assessing the student’s performance.