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LAW30170

Academic Year 2024/2025

Employment Law: the Contract of Employment (LAW30170)

Subject:
Law
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Law
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Kevin Costello
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The relationship between employer and employee is based on a contract. This module is concerned with that contract, tracing the contract from its inception to its termination. The course begins by identifying a contract of employment. It examines the formation, enforceability and fundamental terms (the right to wages, and the employer's duty to maintain the employee's trust and confidence) of a contract of employment. It reviews the law relating to the termination of a contract by dismissal. Finally, it treats the perpetuation of a contract of employment, following the replacement of the original employer, under the law on the protection of employees' rights following the transfer of an undertakings.

The mode of delivery is blended, combining live lectures, seminars and pre-recordings.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On succesful completion of this course students should be able to: Distinguish the contract of employment from other forms of legal status (the status of self employment and partnership.Apply the rules regulating the interaction between illegality and the contract of employment.Identify the sources of a contract of employment, and demonstrate the techniques by which collective agreements and unexpressed terms may be incorporated in the contract. Be acquainted with the principal terms implied by law in the contract of employment Distinguish the comparative advantages of unfair dismisal or wrongful dismissal as remedies for the termination of employment.Demonstrate a close knowledge of the principles regulating access to the remedy under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977; of the grounds of review under the statutory remedy; of the remedies under the statutory procedure.Demonstrate a close knowledge of the ground of review and of the remedies (damages and injnunctive relief) where wrongful dismisal is established.Be able to describe the circumstances in which there arises a 'transfer of an economic entity which retains its identity' for the purpose of the application of the Transfer of Undertakings Directive 2001/131. Be able to apply a knowlwedge of the contract of employment to a complex hypothetical problem.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24

Tutorial

1

Autonomous Student Learning

105

Total

130


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The mode of delivery is blended, combining live lectures, seminars and pre-recordings.
The resources made available for this module include presentations and full lecture text notes.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Employment Law: contracts (LAW37170)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): Examination: Closed Book Written Examination 2 hours End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
70
No
Assignment(Including Essay): Assignment: 1,100 word assignment. Chose one from a choice of four titles dealing with a contemporary issue in employment law. Week 6 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
30
No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
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?

Individual feedback, on request by email, is offered for the assignment. Feedback for the examination is in the form of general class feedback. This feedback will be published on Brightspace.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 14:00 - 15:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 6 Mon 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 6 Thurs 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 3 Week(s) - 6 Thurs 18:00 - 18:50