Module LAW3083 for 2018/9
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
LAW3083: Company Law Foundation
This module descriptor refers to the 2018/9 academic year.
Module Aims
The aim of this module is to introduce you to some of the key topics and themes in Company Law. It is not an ‘introduction’ to the subject in the sense of providing you with relatively shallow knowledge over a wide range of topics; instead it considers in depth some of the main ideas underpinning Company Law and thus provides a foundation in the subject. (A wider range of topics within Company Law are considered in the 30-credit module LAW3043 (Company Law).)
Having completed the module you should have gained an appreciation of the role of the company as a form of business enterprise and a thorough understanding of some of the aspects of its legal regulation, focusing on the nature of the company and the positions of directors and shareholders within the company. The module aims to enable you to identify legal issues and problems arising through the use of a company, to consider and analyse areas of legal complexity within the topics covered and advise appropriately on the legal resolution of problems. The module covers various topics concerning the use of the corporate form, in particular looking at issues arising on incorporation, issues arising from the company's structure, administration and management and issues with directors' obligations and minority shareholder protection.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
---|---|
Module-Specific Skills | 1. demonstrate detailed understanding of the role and principal features of companies in England & Wales 2. demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of the principal features of company law in the areas considered in the module: (a) corporate form and structure; (b) ownership and control; (c) duties and remedies 3. identify, explain, assess and analyse issues and problems of differing levels of complexity arising in the areas of company law considered in the module and identify and apply relevant legal rules to those issues and problems and reach appropriate conclusions 4. understand and access a range of different sources of company law and use them appropriately to explain issues, reach conclusions and critique arguments and problems in the areas of company law considered in the module |
Discipline-Specific Skills | 5. apply legal knowledge to a problem/ case study and to suggest a conclusion supported by relevant arguments 6. select, integrate and present coherently and reflectively, relevant law and legal/theoretical arguments |
Personal and Key Skills | 7. manage relevant learning resources/ information/ learning strategies and develop own arguments and opinions with minimum guidance; 8. communicate and engage in debate effectively and accurately in a manner appropriate to the discipline/ different contexts; and 9. 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;
Ownership and control: shareholders, directors and decision-making; corporate governance ;
Duties and remedies: directors’ duties;
Shareholder remedies;
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 |
---|---|---|
28.5 | 121.5 | 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 | 24 | 12 x 2 hour lectures, including introductory and revision sessions |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 4.5 | 3 x 1.5 hour Workshops |
Guided independent study | 54.5 | Individual reading and lecture preparation |
Guided independent study | 20 | Workshop preparation |
Guided independent study | 40 | Assessment preparation |
Guided independent study | 7 | Formative assessment |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
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. |
Examination practice assignment | 1 hour | 1-9 | In class feedback; additional feedback available on 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 | 2 hours and 15 minutes | 1-9 | Individual student feedback available on request |
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 |
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 | Examination (2 hours and 15 minutes) | 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.
Basic reading:
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.