Rationale

This course aims to examine in depth a number of key aspects of individual and collective employment law. It will provide students with an opportunity for the advanced study of the law governing the employment relationship and the regulation of working life. Students will be encouraged to develop an understanding of the political, economic and social issues that have shaped the development of this area of law.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course students will be expected to:

(i)    Discuss the nature, principles and functions of Employment Law and the main features of its sources and institutions.
(ii)   Distinguish between categories of workers and the significance that this has on the rights and obligations of workers/employers in a wider political, economic and social context.
(iii)  Identify the different types of terms and conditions of a contract of employment and differentiate between the different types of termination of a contract of employment and their respective consequences.
(iv)  Engage with primary sources of Employment Law and use them to develop your own critical perspective on key and controversial aspects of this area of law.
(v)   Solve factual problems and develop reasoned and well-founded answers to essay questions applying your knowledge of this substantive area of law.
(vi)  Identify gaps and weaknesses in this area of law and contribute to the doctrinal and policy debate on how to address them, taking into account the wider legal, political, economic and social context.
(vii) Conduct independent study and self-directed research to produce a clear, orderly and well-structured presentation or essay in this area of law, demonstrating an awareness of academic integrity.