Skip to content

Law for Business

Level: 1
Credit Rating: 20
Subject Area: Law
Module Type: Double
Semester Offered: 1 through 2
Course(s) for which module is acceptable and status in course:
  • BA(Hons) Business Management/Studies  - Compulsory
  • BA(Hons) International Business (Non Language) – Compulsory
  • BA(Hons) Business Management/Studies with Marketing – Compulsory
Pre-Requisites: None
Aims:
  • To explore a broad range of legal issues that are relevant to business.
  • To provide an introduction to the legal formation and functioning of business organisations
  • To examine the general principles of the English Legal System, its sources, characteristics and dispute settlement structures.
  • To develop an appreciation of the basic legal concepts of Contract, Agency, Consumer Protection, and aspects of the Law of Torts.
  • To examine in outline the law relating to employment relationships.
  • To encourage an appreciation of the contribution that law makes to the business community.
  • To develop the skills of research, analysis, problem solving and critical discussion in a legal context.
Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:

Subject Specific:

  • Explain the fundamental principles of the English Legal System in the context of the business environment.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental legal principles of contract law including the formation, content, vitiating factors, breach and remedies of contracts.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of consumer protection law and the tortuous liability in the context of the business environment.
  • Show an appreciation of the importance of employment law issues.
  • Explain the different types of business structure and appreciate the importance of adopting a business structure.
  • Demonstrate and understanding of the formation, running and management of a company.
  • Describe how legal disputes can be resolved.

Cognitive:

  • Identify legal issues and apply basic legal research skills in their investigation.
  • Demonstrate ability to research and analyse legal areas, and apply understanding gained to a factual legal problem.
  • Apply and communicate relevant research material to a given situation, and produce a logically structured and well balanced reports.
Content:

An introduction to the English Legal System: The sources of English law including legislation, case law and European Community Law.  Dispute resolution structures including the Court System, Tribunals, Arbitration and mediation.

Essential elements of the  Law of Contract: The requirements for a valid contract including Offer & Acceptance, Consideration, The Intention to Create a Legal Relationship, Terms of a Contract and Exclusion Clauses.  Discharge of a Contract and Remedies.

An Outline of the Law of Agency: The creation of an Agency, and the rights and liabilities of Agents.

An introduction to Consumer Protection: Statutory protection against defective goods including the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended), and the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

Essentials of Law of Tort.

An introduction to Employment Law: The rights of employees within the working environment.

Business Structures and the essentials of Company law. The formation of a registered Company.  The consequences of incorporation, and the running and management of a company.
Teaching & Learning Strategies:

The module will consist of lectures supported by seminars.  Students will be given questions to prepare for each seminar and will be expected to thoroughly research and read around the topics and prepare detailed answers to seminar questions. 

These will be both discursive and problem solving questions. The aim of the seminars is to reinforce knowledge and understanding of the subject and to encourage critical and analytical thinking.

Lectures: 20
Open Learning: 0
Seminars: 20
Self Study: 120
Workshops: 0
Assessment: 40
   
TOTAL 200
Learning Support:

Indicative Reading:

Latest editions of:
Adams, A.,  Law for Business Students , Longman,
Davies, F.R., Davies on Contract, Sweet & Maxwell
Dine, J., Company Law,  Palgrave
Harpwood, V.,  Modern Tort Law, Cavendish
Keenan, D.  & Riches, S., Business Law , Pearson
Keenan, D., Company Law for Students, Pitman
Keenan, D., Law for Business , Pearson            
Kelly, D. & Holmes, A., Principles of Business Law , Cavendish
Lockton, D.J.,  Employment Law,  Palgrave
Macintyre, E., Business Law, Pearson                            
Rush. J. & Otley, M., Business Law, Thomson
Smith, K. & Keenan, D., English Law , Longman
Smith, J.C., Contract Law, Sweet & Maxwell
Stone, R., Modern Law of Contract, Cavendish
Assessment:

Coursework (30%): a team (maximum 2 students) assignment of up to 2000 words

Examination (70%): a two hour unseen examination.
Brief Description of the Module:       The module is designed to support students in the process of learning and understanding the basic principles of the law relating to the business environment, and to develop their awareness of the importance of law within the business context.

School home

Brighton Business School

Site where delivered: Moulsecoomb
Module Writer(s): P Marini & L.Jones
Date of  First Approval: 2002
Date of Last Revision: June 2008
Version Number 2