Browse Hierarchy LAW6168: Class Actions and Collective Redress

In October 2015, the United Kingdom introduced into its law, for the very first time, an opt-out class action. This procedural device has revolutionised civil procedure in those other common law jurisdictions in which it has been introduced. The United States is considered to be 'the home' of the modern class action, but similar models also exist in Australia and in Canada. The purpose of the module is to explore the features and the controversies of the the UK class action, to identify where future class action reform may occur in the UK and the likely nature of that reform, and to analyse the UK class action by reference to its emerging case law. The module will focus primarily on domestic jurisprudence, both case law and statutory. However, to provide greater depth, the module will also have regard to some comparative jurisprudence and to various domestic law reform proposals for class actions. Given the rapidly evolving landscape of class actions and collective redress in the UK, the module may particularly interest those students who propose to enter into a practising law career, a law or policy-reform role in which class actions feature, or a court-related role; or who may enter into associated fields such as third party funding, consumer lobbying and activism, or governmental legal offices.