| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
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The overall aims of this module are to give students an introduction to Company Law and to enable them to gain knowledge of its main features and some of its specific 'technical' rules; to analyse and evaluate this knowledge; and to gain some understanding of how corporate law operates in practice in the commercial world.
Company law in the U.K. is a vast subject. This module aims to cover the main features of the law and provide an insight into how the legislation works, how it falls to be construed, and how far it succeeds in its actual or apparent aims. It will consider the salient features of the legislation addressing certain key topics along with the important case law. It also aims to provide a firm theoretical base, which seeks to put company law and the governance of companies into a wider context. By the end of the module, students should have gained a general awareness of the technicalities and theoretical structure of company law.
-General Introduction - Forms of business organisation
-An introduction to Partnerships and Partnership law
-Types and Classification of Companies
-Formation, Constitution and Governance Structure of Companies
-Corporate Personality and Corporate groups
-Financing: raising capital by issuing shares: Nature of Equity Capital and Shares, Types of Shares and variation of rights.
-Constituting and maintaining the company’s capital
-Company’s Officers: Directors: Role, Appointment, Removal, Duties and Responsibilities: Disqualification of Directors
-Enforcement of Directors’ Duties: Majority Rule and Shareholder Litigation, Minority Shareholder protection
At the end of the module students should have acquired a basic knowledge and understanding of:
The fundamentals of partnership Law
The formation, registration and key legal features of a company
The constitution and governance structure of a company
The nature and implications of a Company’s Separate Legal Personality, including its implications for Corporate Groups
Corporate Finance: Share Capital and Capital Maintenance
Company Directors and Directors' Duties: Their substance and enforcement
Protection of Minority Shareholders
Subject-Specific Skills:
1. Ability to analyse and discuss the legal framework surrounding UK company law.
2. Ability to explain the process by which companies are formed and how they operate.
3. Ability to assess and apply the relevant legal provisions.
4. Ability to write and speak with care and precision in the analysis and synthesis of the law.
5. Ability to structure legal argument and analysis.
Cognitive Skills:
1. Analysis; Identifying and ordering issues by relevance and importance.
2. Synthesis of materials from diverse sources.
3. Critical judgement; Discernment between the merits or otherwise of particular arguments.
4. Evaluation; Making a reasoned choice between competing solutions or arguments.
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | Lecture materials introducing and structuring the main topics covered in the module. |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Introduction to the Module based on the Module Handbook |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 60:00 | 60:00 | Preparing for the summative assessments |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 18 | 1:00 | 18:00 | Weekly lectures in-person. |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 5 | 5:00 | 25:00 | Preparing for seminars |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 5 | 1:00 | 5:00 | Small group teaching/ seminars. These can be held synchronous on-line via Zoom as may be necessary. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | To assist students with consolidation of the topics, preparation for the seminars and assessments |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 81:00 | 81:00 | Own reading and study based on Module Handbook, textbooks, and lecture materials |
| Total | 200:00 |
The Teaching Methods are based on those that have worked successfully before as adapted for delivery post Covid 19. However, they are also based on the assumption that some face to face delivery may be possible, though there is flexibility as indicated in case this is not the case. Delivery is therefore based on lecture-type materials and commentary and if possible some lecture delivery to give students a solid framework of knowledge and a good base for their independent study and preparation for seminars and assessment. The seminars will aim to consolidate this by identifying key themes and issues arising from each topic with the aim of stimulating students’ interest and enthusiasm for the subject, their engagement with it, and helping them to become active, independent, and reflective learners.
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Examination | 135 | 1 | A | 70 | Inspera, Digital Exam. Choice of three from six questions. |
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 30 | Summative exercise - submit advice to a client based on a given scenario (c 1,000 words) 20%. slide explaining the advice given 10% |
This assessment reflects the form adopted post-Covid to replace the previous assessment method of a 3 hours unseen examination. The main component will still be an unseen examination to test their ability across a range of topics and to ensure that they have met the learning objectives and knowledge outcomes by the end of this module. The advice exercise will give students an opportunity to apply their learning to a given scenario, with the slide enabling them to show reflective learning.
Original Handbook text:
Disclaimer: The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2023/24 academic year. In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described. Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2024/25 entry will be published here in early-April 2024. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.