Accessibility statement

Labour Law - LAW00052I

« Back to module search

  • Department: The York Law School
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module summary

Labour (or employment) law regulates working life. Taking a law-in-context approach, this module deals with the scope of labour law (e.g. are ‘gig economy’ drivers workers?), the protection it grants (e.g. against unfair dismissal) and its enforcement.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

This module provides an introduction to labour law. Rather than attempting to cover the whole field, it focuses on some key issues and puts them in their social, political and economic context. For instance, we might look at the ways in which the law responds to the rise of the 'gig economy'. Throughout the module, we will be thinking about the purposes of labour law and how it achieves them.
In broad terms, this module aims, as part of the overall LLB programme, to enable students to develop new and further critical perspectives on law, whilst progressively developing core academic and legal skills.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Explain, apply, discuss and critically evaluate well-established legal concepts, principles, theories and perspectives as they arise in the context of labour law;
  • Discuss and critique the development and purpose of labour law and its interrelationship with society and other disciplines;
  • Develop individual opinions and arguments on legal issues and propositions arising in labour law, supported by appropriately critiqued academic evidence;
  • Apply and evaluate critically problem-solving strategies to develop and propose solutions to academic and practical legal problems;
  • Plan, implement and evaluate research methodologies and strategies, and locate relevant and reliable sources and authorities;
  • Communicate the outputs of the above in a variety of written and oral formats and contexts to specialist and non-specialist audiences;
  • Demonstrate understanding of norms of scholarly and professional legal practice;
  • Reflect on learning and feedback, and use this in identifying future learning interests and needs.

Module content

The topics covered in this module may vary from one year to the next depending on developments. Potential topics include:

  • Employment status
  • ‘Non-standard’ work (e.g. part-time work or temporary agency work)
  • Dismissals
  • Wages
  • Working time
  • Transfers of undertakings
  • Industrial action
  • Enforcement

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

During seminars, students will receive feedback from tutors and peers on developing their understanding and skills. There will be an opportunity for feedback on a 500-word formative essay plan. Students will receive individual feedback on their summative submission.

Indicative reading

Adams Z and others, Deakin and Morris' Labour Law (7th edn, Hart 2021)
Collins H, Ewing K and McColgan A, Labour Law (2nd edn, OUP 2019)
Davidov G, A Purposive Approach to Labour Law (OUP 2016)
Honeyball S, Great Debates in Employment Law (2nd edn, Hart 2015)
Prassl J, Humans as a Service: The Promise and Perils of Work in the Gig Economy (OUP 2018)


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.