Module manager: Professor Duncan Sheehan
Email: D.K.Sheehan@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan), Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
| LAW2270 | Land Law |
| LAW3270 | Land Law |
| LAW3610 | Torts |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
The module examines the English Law of Trusts and to provide students with an understanding of what a trust is, how it is created, what the trustee’s duties are and what remedies the beneficiary has for their breach. It also explores personal and proprietary claims against third parties.
The purpose of the module is to explore the institution of the trust, its uses and the intricacies of its operation such that students will be able to understand the law, its justification and confidently use the law of trusts in practice. The learning activities are designed to get students thinking critically about the law, why the rules are how they are, what the policy rationale for the rules are and whether this is justified. Students will be challenged directly to think about this and the application of the law to specific fact scenarios through questions for discussion in seminars.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
Critically analyse and synthesise the legal concepts, values, principles, and rules of the Law of Trusts to assess their effectiveness
Apply legal concepts, authorities, and scholarship to solve complex actual or hypothetical problems relating to the Law of Trusts, with well-supported arguments
Synthesise information and legal reasoning to provide a coherent account of complex issues with regard to the Law of Trust
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
Demonstrate critical and creative thinking skills in analysing complex legal and policy-related issues, proposing solutions
Communicate persuasively, effectively conveying complex ideas and legal concepts in a formal written context
Introduction to the Law of Trusts.
Transfers of Property.
Transfer Formalities: Equity and Trusts.
The Three Certainties: Certainty of Intention, Certainty of Subject Matter and Introduction to Certainty of Objects.
The Three Certainties: Certainty of Objects.
The Beneficiary Principle and Unincorporated Associations.
Fiduciary Duties and Breach of Trust.
Trustees' Investment Powers and Duties of Car.
Dishonest Assistance and Unconscionable Receipt.
Tracing.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Seminar | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 179 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 21 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
179
A formal formative assessment opportunity will be provided for the summative assessment task, which is specifically pedagogically aligned to that task. As part of this, each student will receive feedback designed to support the development of knowledge and skills that will be later assessed in the summative task.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Coursework | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team