Module LAW3043 for 2018/9
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
LAW3043: Company Law
This module descriptor refers to the 2018/9 academic year.
Module Aims
The aim of this module is to enable you to gain a detailed understanding and appreciation of many key topics in Company Law and to develop your legal skills of analysis and problem-solving. Having completed the module you should understand the role of the company as a form of business enterprise and have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the key aspects of its legal regulation. The module aims to enable you to identify legal issues and problems arising through the life of a company, to consider and analyse areas of legal complexity and advise appropriately on legal resolution of problems. The module covers topics ranging from the formation of a company, through the administration and management of a company, directors’ duties, shareholder remedies, corporate responsibility, and capital, to insolvency, liquidation and associated liabilities.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. demonstrate understanding of the role of English company law (hereafter 'company law') and of companies within the English legal and business system; 2. demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of the principal features of companies and company law within the key areas of (a) corporate form and structure; (b) ownership and control; (c) duties and remedies; (d) dealings with the outside world; (e) capital; (f) corporate insolvency; 3. identify, explain and critically assess/analyse issues arising in the key areas of company law and identify and apply relevant legal rules to those issues; 4. demonstrate ability to use comprehensive knowledge and understanding to deal with complex issues and problems arising in the key areas of company law, reach appropriate and reasoned conclusions and offer analysis/criticism of legal arguments; |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 5. demonstrate ability to integrate and assess information from primary and secondary legal sources using appropriate interpretative techniques; 6. demonstrate ability to select, integrate and present coherently and reflectively, relevant law and legal/theoretical arguments; |
| Personal and Key Skills | 7. demonstrate ability to manage relevant learning resources/ information/ learning strategies and to develop own arguments and opinions with minimum guidance; 8. communicate and engage in debate effectively and accurately in a manner appropriate to the discipline and context; and 9. Demonstrate the ability to work independently, within a limited time frame, with access to external sources, to complete a specified task. |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
It is envisaged that the syllabus will include the following topics in the following order although precise content and order may vary.
Introduction business enterprise and the company
Corporate form and structure: corporate personality and lifting the veil of incorporation; the company’s constitution
Ownership and control: shareholders, directors and decision-making; corporate governance
Duties and remedies: directors' duties; shareholder remedies
Dealing with the outside world: contractual, tortious and criminal responsibility; corporate social responsibility
Capital: share capital; loan capital
Corporate Insolvency: insolvency and corporate rescue; winding up of companies; liability of directors on insolvent liquidation
Revision session
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | 245 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 46 | 23 x 2 hour Lectures (including introductory and revision sessions) |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 9 | 6 x 1.5 hour Workshops |
| Guided Independent Study | 120 | Individual reading and lecture preparation |
| Guided Independent Study | 35 | Workshop preparation |
| Guided Independent Study | 80 | Assessment preparation |
| Guided Independent Study | 10 | Formative assessment |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk
www.companieshouse.gov.uk
www.dbis.gov.uk
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Various essay and problem solving questions in workshops (number and type of question will vary according to the workshop) | Fortnightly workshops requiring thorough preparation | 1-8 | Discussed in workshops; individual students may seek additional feedback if required. |
| 2 x examination practice assignments | 2 x 1 hour | 1-8 | In class feedback; additional feedback available on individual request |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 100 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examination (open note) | 100 | 3 hours | 1-9 | Individual consultation meetings with students as required |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination (3 hours) | Examination (3 hours) | 1-9 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
Indicative basic reading list:
French, D. et al, Mayson,French and Ryan on Company Law 35th ed. (Oxford) 2018;
OR
Hannigan, B., Company Law 5th ed, (Oxford) 2018.
OPTIONAL:
Sealy, L. & Worthington, S. Sealy & Worthington, Worthington’s Texts, Cases and Materials in Company Law, 11th ed. (Oxford) 2016;
French, D. Blackstone’s Statutes on Company Law 2018-19 (Oxford) 2018.
Moore, I. Q&A Company Law 2nd ed. (Oxford) 2018.
