| Unit name | Company Law |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAWD20037 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Mr. VJ Poopalasingham |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | University of Bristol Law School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
Company Law is a complex, dynamic and engaging area that encompasses and builds on concepts encountered in foundational subjects like contract/tort and explores issues at the intersection of legal, commercial and market activity.
Although companies are core to the functioning of society and impact every aspect of our day to day lives, the internal and external structures that govern these business structures and the complexities underpinning them are not as well understood.
The focus of the unit is therefore on the legal nature of the company as a business organisation, the law relating to corporate personality, the relations between the company and third parties, the distribution of power within a company, the duties of directors and the associated enforcement mechanisms when thing go wrong. We shall also explore broader questions that arise about the role of corporate actors as part of society and about the accountability or lack thereof for the consequences that result from corporate activity.
How does this unit fit into your program of study?
Company Law is a level 5 optional unit. It builds on concepts that were introduced in core units of the LLB and challenges students to consider concepts in a non-linear approach. The topics and issues in company law require a degree of conceptual adaptability and will present principles which will need to evaluated and tailored to specific contexts in which they are to be applied. It will support development of the critical and practical application capabilities that future lawyers will need in practice.
An overview of content
Introduction to the law governing the creation, operation and management of companies in the UK. Topics include the legal nature of the company, shareholder liability, concept of the corporate veil, the corporate constitution, directors’ duties and shareholder remedies. We will also have opportunities to explore contemporary issues that impact corporate actors like climate change, labour rights and social responsibility.
How will students personally be different as a result of the unit?
Students will have a deeper understanding of the corporate form as an economic vehicle and its roles within a broader market economy. They will also appreciate the current economic landscape and its dominant reliance on corporate actors as the primary structure to facilitate economic activity is the result of historical precursors which have shaped the economic and corporate landscape we know today. Students will be able to engage critically in the broader commercial and social questions that arise from the activity of corporate actors whilst understanding how to navigate the central legal frameworks which govern companies.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit a successful student will be able to:
The unit consists of a mix of seminar and large group teaching. This will be complemented by individual guided activities in advance of sessions.
Activities will be a combination of asynchronous material such as recorded lectures/ podcasts, student discussion, group work in seminars and structured reading, engaging with both audio/visual and an array of written sources.
Each element will focus engagement with topics as they are presented and support the development of knowledge and skills required for the portfolio assessment. One central theme throughout the unit will be on ensuring students can appreciate the practical application of the law to different factual paradigms reflective of scenarios that might be encountered in a real world situation.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (Formative)
Each seminar will provide opportunities to discuss and undertake tasks that will develop substantive skills and knowledge relevant to the portfolio assessment. There will also be a specific formative task in seminar which will encompass development of a question plan and the drafting of a 400 word portfolio question.
Formative feedback will be provided in seminars and complemented by large group session which will go over example question / example draft.
Tasks which count toward your unit mark (Summative)
Portfolio: Ongoing portfolio assessment encompassing 3 questions of 400 words each.
Each question will be tied to a particular topic(s) as students cover them in seminars throughout the teaching weeks and each seminar will have tasks reflective of content required for the portfolio questions.
Presentation: Students will also undertake an individual 5 minute pre-recorded presentation on a key topic/judgment in Company Law.
The portfolio will comprise 60% of overall unit mark. The presentation will comprise 40% of overall unit mark. Both pieces of assessment will be submitted at the end of the teaching block.
These assessments together cover all Intended Learning Outcomes for this unit.
When assessment does not go to plan
When a student fails the unit and is eligible to resubmit, the failed component/s will be reassessed on a like-for-like basis.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessment required for credit in the usual way.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. LAWD20037).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
