This module is not currently running in 2026 to 2027.
How are work relationships regulated? You will gain a solid understanding of the principles of individual labour law as well as the importance of the employment relationship and the employment contract in the current social, political and economic context. As well as developing a detailed knowledge of fundamental aspects of labour law, you will be introduced to broader conceptual, critical and evaluative perspectives on the labour market and workplace regulation. You will integrate legal analysis and practical legal skills with a contextual and interdisciplinary understanding of debates around labour regulation. Key aspects of the modern employment relationship covered in the module will include the contract of employment (for example, its formation and its content, and the importance of employment status) and statutory employment protections (for example, unfair dismissal and redundancy protection regulations).
Lectures -16 hours
Seminars-16 hours
Extended writing. Assessment Details: Essay (750 words) worth 30% of the total marks for the module..
Extended writing. Assessment Details: Essay (1500 words) worth 70% of the total marks for the module.. This Assessment is Pass Compulsory.
Reassessment Method: 100% written coursework (2,000 words).
For reading lists see detailed module information on moodle
On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:
1.Evaluate the concepts, rules and principles of labour law, and apply them to complex, practical cases.
2.Critically evaluate the evolving role and contested use of employment status as a gateway to employment rights, considering its implications and limitations in the 21st century.
3.Use acquired knowledge of labour law, including its theoretical, contextual and socio-economic underpinnings, to critically evaluate the suitability of the employment contract and other theoretical alternatives as a means of conceiving and regulating employment relationships in a fragmented labour market.
4.Critically analyse and assess e the role, effectiveness, and potential reforms of labour law in regulating employment in the UK, drawing on diverse perspectives and contemporary challenges.
5.Critically assess the economic, social, and political context of labour law.
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