Legal Foundations for Sustainable Business
| Module title | Legal Foundations for Sustainable Business |
|---|---|
| Module code | LAW2115C |
| Academic year | 2021/2 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Janet Keliher (Convenor) Dr Caroline Keenan (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 40 |
|---|
Module description
This module introduces you to law in the business environment. Law is intrinsic to the safe and effective operation of your business, and will have an impact upon operations from conception to dissolution. Which format will your business take? Will you operate as a sole trader, as a partnership or limited company? Who will you employ and upon what terms? And what if you decide an employee isn’t fitting in, or you no longer need them? What relationships will you have with other businesses? Where will you source your materials for example, and on what terms? Are you free to call your company what you like, and what if another organisation is suddenly found to be benefitting from selling your design? Perhaps your business is damaged by bad press for which you seek compensation. Maybe you suffer loss following receipt of faulty products or you lose business due to disruptive neighbours or negligent suppliers.
To be savvy in business, you need to be familiar with key areas of the law, such as governance, contract, employment, regulation and liability. The law is a tool to be utilised and vast costs can be saved from simply understanding the legal system and how lawyers navigate it. There are no pre-requisites for this module. The module is suitable for students entirely new to law and those studying on a Flexible Combined Honours pathway.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module is an important aspect of your business education and will provide a foundation for any career that you might wish to pursue when you graduate. A sound grasp of the law is assumed of any accomplished businessperson, and to achieve this as part of your undergraduate study is sure to set you apart from competitors. This module will provide a legal platform in business to ensure compliance, while arming you with the awareness you need to identify when a legal professional might be required.
This module aims to introduce you to the various sectors of business law, offering an overview of basic principles while providing you with a practical understanding of key aspects of the law for business.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate an understanding of the key legal principles that impact business
- 2. Explain and apply business law to case studies
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Apply foundational principles of legal issue spotting
- 4. Apply foundational principles of legal writing
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Communicate complex ideas professionally
Syllabus plan
While the module’s precise content may vary, it is anticipated that it will cover the following topics:
- Introduction to law for non-lawyers
- The Law of Contract
- Corporate Governance
- Employment Law
- Corporate Liability (including Torts such as defamation, nuisance and negligence and criminal offences)
- Health & Safety at work
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | 124 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 11 | Lectures (11 x 1 hours) |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 12 | Workshops (6 x 2 hours) |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 3 | Surgeries (3 x 1 hour) |
| Guided Independent Study | 70 | Preparation of assignments |
| Guided Independent Study | 54 | Preparing for workshops and reading around the topics covered |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Solicitors Letter of Advice | 350 words | 1-5 | Oral and written feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barristers Opinion | 60 | 2,000 words | 1-5 | Written |
| Solicitors Letter of Advice | 40 | 1,000 words | 1-5 | Written |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barristers Opinion | Submission of barristers opinion on a new case study (2,000 words) | 1-5 | August/September reassessment period |
| Solicitors Letter of Advice | Submission of solicitors letter of advice on a new case study (1,000 words) | 1-5 | July |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
Lucy Jones Introduction to Business Law (5th edn. OUP 2019)
Alix Adams, Stephanie Caplan, Graeme Lockwood Law for Business Students (10th edn. Pearson, 2020).
Emily Finch & Stefan Fafinski Legal Skills (7th edn. OUP, 2019). The textbook explains how to find legal resources from statutes to cases and includes tips on legal writing.
Steve Wilson, Helen Rutherford, Tony Storey, Natalie Wortley, and Birju Kotecha English Legal System (4th edn OUP, 2020)
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – vle.exeter.ac.uk/
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 08/03/2020 |
| Last revision date | 01/04/2021 |
