SUPPLEMENTARY APPLICATION FORM

LLM Qualifying Law Degree

2019-20 Entry
This section forms part of your application. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING NOTES.
Thank you for applying for the LLM QLD course, we now ask you to complete the second stage of the application, the written exercise. The deadline for this part of the application process is 2 weeks from the date you receive this.
If for any reason you are unable to meet this deadline, it is important that you let us know as soon as possible so that alternative arrangements can be made. We reserve the right not to accept any written exercise received after the deadline. If we do not hear from you within 2 weeks, we will assume that you are no longer interested and automatically reject the application. If you have any questions, please email us at
Please complete this form electronically and then upload to your online application via My Birkbeck.
Please make sure to put your full name and 8 digit Student Reference Number in the file name.
Please note that applications received close to the course start date are assessed on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. As such, you are advised to submit your application as early as possible. We may accept late applications if there are places available.
The written exercise
This exercise involves no prior legal knowledge, but does involve reading a case and answering some questions about it. As soon as we have received and reviewed your answers we will let you know our decision. The case is available at:
The questions are provided on page 2. Please download the case and complete the answers, keeping the following in mind:
  • You should read through the case at least twice before you attempt your answers to the questions.
  • There are no “right answers” to some of the questions; we are interested in your viewpoint and your reasons for them.
  • Your answers should be as brief as they can be, while still communicating what you want to say. There is no advantage to long answers as they run the risk of including irrelevant information.
  • We are interested in your comprehension and your ability to express your views clearly and succinctly.
  • Clarity of expression is very important.
  • There is nothing to be gained by getting someone to help you with your answers. If you are accepted onto the course on the basis of someone else’s work, you may struggle.

Section 1
Contact details
Last Name / First Name
Contact telephone number / Student Reference Number
E-mail address
Section 2
Questions on Mullin v Richards [1998] 1 WLR 1304
Q1.Outline the relevant facts.
Q2.What was the trial judge’s decision and what were his main reasons for reaching this decision?
Q3.Why did the Court of Appeal disagree with the trial judge?
Q4.How does the Court of Appeal define foreseeability in their judgment?
Q5.What part in the reasoning of the Court of Appeal did the following cases play:
(a)Bolton v Stone?
(b)McHale v Watson?
Q6.Why did the Court of Appeal think that this accident was unforeseeable?
Q7.Would the result have been different if:
(a)The facts had been the same but in relation to two adults messing around at work?
(b)Two ten year olds had been having a pillow fight and one had suffocated the other causing brain damage?
Q8.In a negligence case if it is no answer for an adult defendant to say that he is unusually inexperienced or slow-witted, why is it an answer for a child defendant to say that he is only fifteen?
Q9.Does this decision fit in with our attitudes to children generally?

I confirm that the answers given above are entirely my own work.

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