Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
A practical approach to advising businesses at the start of trading or during their lifetime. Covering the key aspects of trading as either a sole trader, partnership or company. Legal and other obligations on partners and directors of businesses. This is a valuable insight into the practicalities of commercial law and understanding the status of your commercial client. This will provide a foundation level of understanding of commercial law and be helpful to students who wish to undertake future work as a paralegal, solicitor or CILEx especially acting for businesses.
Aims
To provide a practical understanding of the legal process and documentation involved in advising businesses. This will incorporate various legal skills and professional conduct which are essential for work in this area at a junior level in a law firm. Students have indicated this is an area of interest to them, as have employers. Students who undertake this type of practice based activity are generally considered to develop their analytical skills by the application of the law and attain higher grades as a result of experiencing an alternative way of analysing the law. The module will build on the legal foundations established through the core LLB and take it to a more practical level with higher levels of analysis and better degree of accuracy of legal advice expected at Level 6It is also an area specifically identified as part of the reform of the route to qualification as a solicitor. The Solicitors Regulation Authority has made it clear an understanding of this area is essential for those aspiring to become solicitors.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Advise on the advantages and disadvantages of being a sole trader, partnership or company: 1Evaluate the tax implications for each trading vehicle: 1Evaluate the duties which apply to Directors of a Company and in problem based scenarios advise accordingly: 1Analyse and apply the obligations on a partner and the importance of a partnership agreement: 1Advise on the management of a business and ensuring compliance with statutory and other legal obligations: 1
Introductory lecture 1 x 2 hoursSynchronous delivery of targeted online class in Learning Units 9 x 1 hour18 hours (9 x 2 hour workshops)Revision lecture 1 x 2 hoursSelf study hours will be used in working through tasks in the learning units and podcasts, preparatory reading and drafting of advice to be used in the workshops and revision for the exam.
Description of Module Assessment
1: Exam weighted 100%2 hour Open book examination with advance materials. Questions are unseen.An unseen examination with materials (legal documents and scenarios) released in advance.
20% of the assessment will be MCQ in the style of the SQE to enable students to become familiar with this method of assessment.