- Void and voidable marriages – who can marry
- When is divorce available
- Financial relief
- Domestic abuse
- Law and unmarried couples
- Who is a parent under the law, including adoption and surrogacy and parental responsibility
- Private law orders and disputes between parents
- Child protection and the law
- International child law: wardship and international abduction.

Assessment 1

Working in a group, you will demonstrate knowledge and evaluation of an area of family law by submitting a written coursework. You will have to evaluate and show knowledge of current law as well as being able to discuss possible reforms. The document will be jointly prepared, with each group member being able to submit your comments and amendments. Marks will be based on the group submission and adjusted to reflect your individual contributions.

Assessment 2

Working individually you will deliver a podcast where you will give advice aimed at the public on a family law issue, for example, advising about relationship breakdown and home ownership. The assessment will test your application of the legal knowledge to real life scenario, as well as your ability to us digital platforms and your understanding of professional practice.

This module will be taught by lectures and workshops. Lectures will introduce family law concepts and rules which will be explored in more detail in workshops. In workshops students will work both individually and collaboratively to develop their understanding and knowledge of family law and their professional skills. Workshops will focus on both substantive law and the acquisition and development of relevant professional skills. Lectures and workshops will stress the real-life applicability of family law, using a mixture of case law, case studies and where relevant current events to demonstrate the effect of family law rules.

1. Demonstrate detailed contemporary knowledge of family law.

Knowledge and understanding

2. Working individually or collaboratively, apply knowledge and critical understanding of family law and legal practice, drawing on appropriate research, to develop evidence‑based solutions to complex family law issues.

Application and problem solving
Research skills

3. Communicate knowledge and application of family effectively to different audiences including professional, client, and academic by making appropriate use of state of the art digital tools.

Critical reasoning and collaboration
Digital literacy

4. Use the context of family law to acquire and develop professional skills and enhance employability.

Communication

As well as relevant reference texts, students will have access to a number of resources via the Library, including:

Databases
Journals - Family Law and Child and Family Law Quarterly are both essential family law academic journals
LawTrove

N. Lowe and others Bromleys Family Law (12th edn, OUP, 2021)

R. Lamont (eds) Family Law (2nd edn, OUP, 2023)

P. Morgan Family Law (2nd edn, OUP, 2024)

This module looks at how the law responds to the family and the individual within it.  You will explore the law surrounding adult relationships and how the law supports children. Family law is a fascinating and changing area of law and this module promotes a critical understanding where you are encouraged to use your knowledge of the law and your legal professional skills to evaluate the effectiveness and scope of the law. Family law often includes areas such as divorce, adoption and abuse where you may have real life experience, and these are dealt with sensitively, recognising the diversity of experience.