Sample Course Work Dwp V Dole

LL.B FT/SW/LL.B Law with Criminology/Psychology/Business/Professional Practice/ International

Law

LAW_11718

LEGAL METHOD

Coursework 2012 – 13

SUGGESTED/OUTLINE ANSWERS AND GENERIC FEEDBACK

Part A

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Dole1

General comments

Students have been provided with a number worked examples throughout the academic year,

lectures on case-reading technique (with examples) and the opportunity to receive feedback on a

practice coursework and numerous examples in seminars. Consequently the examiners were

expecting the standard of answers to be high. The vast majority of students performed well in Part A

(answers to Part B were, generally, of a much lower standard – see below).

The standard of written expression was generally of an acceptable standard.

Students who receive negative feedback on their spelling and/or grammar are advised to seek

support from the student support mentors.

1. Material facts:

The respondent and his dependents occupied two houses as their home. The houses were very close

to each other, but physically separated by other houses. Neither house could physically

accommodate the whole family. The day to day living requirements of the family such as eating and

sleeping were split between the two houses.

The respondent appealed against the appellant’s decision to disregard the value of only one of his

houses as ‘the dwelling occupied as the home’ when calculating the respondent’s capital because

‘only one dwelling’ can be disregarded’ pursuant to Schedule 8 para.1 of the Job Seekers Allowance

Regulations 1996.

1

Secretary of State v. Miah

Page 1 of 3

Comments

There were some excellent answers to this question. On the whole, most students made a genuine

attempt to isolate the material facts and demonstrated an awareness of the need avoid repetition

and to be as precise and accurate as possible in their answers. Some students failed to appreciate

the importance of the close...