Unit Outline
BAA215
Business and Corporate Law
Semester 1, 2024
Rachel Baird
Tasmanian School of Business & Economics (TSBE)
College of Business and Economics
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Rachel Baird
Email: rachel.baird@utas.edu.au
 
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
This unit covers a range of legal topics relating to the business environment. It combines topics that are necessary for a consideration of business and corporate law including: an introduction to the legal system; contract law principles; sale of goods; competition and consumer law; tort law; law of agency; business structures and basic corporate law and governance principles. The unit teaches students how to analyse, and solve legal problems, all essential skills for those wishing to work in both the fields of accounting and business management.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1.
Explain business and corporate law principles and critique its application.
2.
Apply business and corporate law to authentic legal situations.
3.
Present advice in oral and written forms on authentic business and corporate law case studies.
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)
BFA213
Alterations as a result of student feedback
 
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Workshop
Introductory 1-hr workshop, Week 1
1
Once only
Lecture (Online)
Pre-recorded 1-hr lecture, once a week
1
Weekly
Workshop
2-hr workshop, weekly, commencing in Week 2
2
Weekly
Independent Learning
5-hrs independent learning
5
Weekly
Online
Online Class
Introductory 1-hr workshop, Week 1
1
Once only
Independent Learning
Pre-recorded 1-hr lecture, once a week
1
Weekly
Workshop (Online)
1-hr workshop, weekly, commencing in Week 2
1
Weekly
Independent Learning
5-hrs independent learning
5
Weekly
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
 
 
 
How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Online Quiz on Respondus
Week 5
20 %
LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:
Case Studies
Week 9
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:
Exam via Respondus
Exam Period
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
 
Assessment details
    
Assessment Task 1: Online Quiz on Respondus
Task Description:
The online quiz will consist of both multiple-choice questions and short answer questions. There will be a combination of question types. Some answers will require you to write a paragraph, while others will require you to select answer.

An information sheet will be provided on MyLO.

Task Length:
90 minutes
Due Date:
Week 5
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Describe and explain business and corporate law concepts and principles.
LO1
2
Apply basic legal problem-solving techniques and legal rules to case studies to provide advice using legal reasoning, judgement, rules and sources.
LO2
 
Assessment Task 2: Case Studies
Task Description:
You will be required to apply your learning of business law and corporate law principles to answer two authentic case studies to resolve the legal issues that appear in the case studies. You will submit an individual written report in week 9 and participate in an oral group report in Week 12 on the outcomes of your analysis.

More information will be provided on MyLO.

Task Length:
Individual written report - 1500 words. Group oral report - 10 minutes.
Due Date:
Week 9
Weight:
40 %
 
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify relevant sources of relevant law and demonstrate how those laws are used.
LO1
2
Describe and explain relevant business and corporate law concepts and principles.
LO1
3
Explain relevant legislation and common law and critique how it can used to answer legal problems.
LO1
4
Apply basic legal problem-solving techniques and legal rules to case studies to provide advice using legal reasoning, judgement, rules and sources.
LO2
5
Research academic articles, business and corporate law web pages and other material to inform and assist in resolving complex authentic business law and corporate legal situations.
LO2
6
Analyse and explain how either business and/or corporate law impacts on the legal rights and obligations of business people and the stakeholders in a company.
LO2
7
Communicate advice in the appropriate form, including in report format, as applicable for the recipient stakeholder.
LO3
8
Present legal arguments to a diverse audience and various stakeholders to justify decisions.
LO3
 
Assessment Task 3: Exam via Respondus
Task Description:
The exam will enable you to demonstrate your breadth and depth of understanding across all unit materials. All topics are examinable. An information sheet with details about the exam will be given to you in the last week of the semester and posted on MyLO.

The invigilated exam will be completed by you via MyLO and Respondus on a day and time determined by the exams office.

Task Length:
3 hours
Due Date:
Exam Period
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify relevant sources of relevant law and how those laws are used.
LO1
2
Describe and explain business and corporate law concepts and principles.
LO1
3
Explain relevant legislation and the common law and critique how it can used to answer legal problems.
LO1
4
Apply basic legal problem-solving techniques and legal rules to case studies to provide advice using legal reasoning, judgement, rules and sources.
LO2
5
Analyse and explain how either business and/or corporate law impacts on the legal rights and obligations of business people and the stakeholders in a company.
LO2
6
Communicate advice in written form including in report format, as applicable for the recipient stakeholder.
LO3
 
 
 
How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.
 
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
 
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
 
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.
 
 
 
Required Resources
Required reading materials
You will need the following text.
Prescribed reading material:
Understanding Business Law (10th edition) by S Graw, D Parker, K Whitford and C Do.
 
Recommended reading materials
Other reference materials
Coleman, A., Bender, M., et al, Law in Commerce, 7th edn., 2020, LexisNexis Butterworths, Chatswood.
Gooley, J., Zammit, M., et al, Corporations and Associations Law – Principles and Issues, 7th edn., 2020, LexisNexis Butterworths, Chatswood.
James, N., Chapple, E., et al, Business and Company Law, 2ndEdition, 2020, Wiley, Milton, Queensland.
Li, E., Business and Corporate Law, 2nd Edition, 2017, Thomson Reuters, Australia.
Ciro, T., Goldwasser, V., Verma R., Law and Business, 5thEdition, 2020, Oxford University Press, Docklands, Victoria.
The Morris Miller Library (MML) and Law Library in Hobart and the Launceston Library have many resources. Check the relevant library for more details. You may contact the library online at: http://www.utas.edu.au/library/  
Other useful websites:
-     The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) site at http://www.accc.gov.au and in particular https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers . It is particularly useful in relation to the Australian Consumer Law and also has some helpful `Links' to other sites, including Commonwealth and State Government sites such as, for example, Tasmanian Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading.
-    The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) site at https://asic.gov.au/ and in particular https://asic.gov.au/regulatory-resources/. This is particularly useful for finding regulatory guides and information sheets. 
 
Other required resources