LW1A06-Introduction to Business Law

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Not open to students on any LLB programme
Co-requisites: LW1A05 General Introduction to Law
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Mrs Elizabeth Conaghan
Email: e.t.conaghan@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

To provide students with an introduction to the foundations of English law as it impacts upon business and professional services: agency law, company and insolvency law, criminal law, the law relating to information and its legal environment, employment and social security law. 

Aims:
To provide students with an introduction to the foundations of English law as it impacts upon business and professional services: agency law, company and insolvency law, criminal law, the law relating to the handling of information and employment and social security law.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of this module it is expected that the student will be able to:

• Understand the legal implications of incorporation, including the roles of shareholders and directors, and the main implications of insolvency law;


• Identify instances of criminal behaviour that may be encountered by professional accountants;


• Identify other key areas in which the law affects the role and work of the professional accountant, for example, employment and social security law, the law of agency and the law relating to information and its legal environment;


• Display a familiarity with the basic techniques of statutory interpretation and rules of precedent;


• Exhibit a basic knowledge of some fundamental legal rules and an ability to deploy these rules in solving rudimentary problems;


• Formulate and evaluate simple legal arguments; and


• Show some ability to analyse the existinglaw critically.

Additional outcomes:
Students will develop research skills and computer skills in preparing for and completing computer-based exercises.

Outline content:

• The nature of the agency relationship: its creation, the duties and rights of agents, the authority that an agent has to enter into contracts on behalf of a principal, including express, implied and apparent authority, and that given to partners under legislation.


• Company and insolvency law: the differences between sole traders, general partnerships, limited liability partnerships and companies, the fundamentals of the incorporation and operation of a company including the issue and transfer of shares, statutory accounts and audits, capital maintenance, shareholder meetings and resolutions, the relationship between directors and shareholders, appointment and removal of directors and their duties and powers, the law relating to security and the key principles and implications of insolvency law and processes.


• Instances of criminal behaviour that may be encountered by professional accountants including the law relating to whistleblowing, fraud, bribery, money laundering, the relationship between law and ethics, computer misuse and cybercrime


• The impact of other aspects of law in the professional context: information and its legal environment, including the protection of intellectual property, and employment and social security law.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Teaching will be by lectures, and students will also learn through completing interactive computer-based exercises, with on-line feedback. Students will be required to supplement the knowledge they acquire from lectures by independent study, and will be able to evaluate their comprehension through the completion of the computer-based exercises.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		20
Practicals classes and workshops		4
Guided independent study:		76
Total hours by term		100
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

One 2 hour unseen examination paper. The paper will have two sections: Section A - Multiple choice questions. Section A counts for 50% of the mark for the examination. Section B - Short Form Questions (a choice will be given). Section B counts for 50% of the mark for the examination.

The examination for this module will require a narrowly defined time window and is likely to be held in a dedicated exam venue.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Formative assessment methods:
Students will have the opportunity to complete a number of formative online computer exercises containing sets of multiple choice questions for which they receive instant feedback.

They will also be given the opportunity to submit a short essay of the same kind and length as those that they will be required to write in the module examination. This will be marked and returned to them with feedback.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
40% overall

Reassessment arrangements:
As for the first attempt, but during the summer re-take period.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 30 March 2023