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LAW-30112 - Module Specification
School of Law
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 25 April 2024

LAW-30112 - Business Law and Practice
Coordinator: Eve Lakin Tel: +44 1782 7 34175
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733218

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25


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 6
It 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: 1,2
Evaluate the tax implications for each trading vehicle: 1,2
Evaluate the duties which apply to Directors of a Company and in problem based scenarios advise accordingly: 1,2
Analyse and apply the obligations on a partner and the importance of a partnership agreement: 1,2
Advise on the management of a business and ensuring compliance with statutory and other legal obligations: 1,2

Study hours

Introductory lecture: 1 x 1 hour
In person lectures: 9 x 1 hour
Workshops: 9 x 2 hours
Workshop Prep: 9 x 4 Hours
Revision lecture: 1 x 1 hour
Self study hours will be used in working through preparatory reading and drafting of advice to be used in the workshops and revision for the assessment.
It is expected that students will spend approximately 6 hours in total completing the OOBA and approximately 2 hours completing the MCQs.


School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Open Book Examination weighted 80%
Online Open Book Assessment - 28 hour window
An unseen assessment containing two elements: Problem Question advising on directors' duties; and Report advising a hypothetical client on business structure. From the 28-hour window for the assessment, students are expected to spend approximately 3-4 hours on the report and problem question (Active Working Time).

2: Multiple Choice Questions - Knowledge weighted 20%
Online MCQs - 28 Hour Window to complete
MCQs on module as a whole - 20% From the 28-hour window for the assessment, students are expected to spend approximately 1 hour on the MCQs (Active Working Time).

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 25 April 2024