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LAW30360

Academic Year 2026/2027

Consumer Law (LAW30360)

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

Curricular information is subject to change.

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; consumer rights online; consumer rights and AI; reform of consumer law.

About this Module

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 the ability to explain complex legal terminology to a lay audience.

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 online - digital content and AI
- Unfair Contract terms
- Unfair commercial practices
- Consumer Rights when Travelling

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages 1

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 1

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 1
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

40
Lectures

22
Total

112

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
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 Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Legal analysis of a real life consumer law problem which has been encountered by the student or their family member / friend. Week 10 Graded No
50
 No
Individual Project: A short presentation on an aspect of consumer law, designed for a lay audience. This can be a short video, a poster or a multi-media project. Week 11 Graded No
30
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: An open book MCQ Week 12 Graded No
20
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will receive feedback on their individualised case studies and projects in class workshops. This class is very interactive and student participation and engagement with feedback is expected. Feedback will also be provided after submission. Online automated feedback will be provided for the MCQ quiz

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) - Autumn: All Weeks Mon 11:00 - 12:50
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