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Unit outline_

CLAW2214: Business Law

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The entire fabric of commerce is woven from a complex legal regime which regulates all commercial activity. The dominant vehicle for this commercial activity is the limited liability company. A thorough understanding of key aspects of the legal and regulatory frameworks for business and the operation and governance of corporations is essential for business professionals and those who engage in business activity in Australia. The overall aim of this unit is to introduce students to the range of issues likely to be encountered in the contemporary commercial context and the legal implications of such conduct.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
CLAW1001 or CLAW1003 or CLAW2201
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Trang Quang, trang.quang@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Take-home extended release) Type E final exam Final exam
Written exam
50% Formal exam period 96 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Presentation News items reflection
Students will be asked to submit answers to a set of questionnaires.
20% STUVAC
Due date: 23 Nov 2020 at 23:00
Assessed as submitted work
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Assignment
Written task
30% Week 08
Due date: 23 Oct 2020 at 23:00
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Type E final exam = Type E final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Assignment: This written assignment is designed to test your critical, analytical and research skills in relation to content covered in allocated readings and classes.
  • News item reflection: Instructions to be provided on Canvas.
  • Final exam: The final exam gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the relevant topics and to critically analyse and apply this knowledge to resolve legal problems under formal examination conditions. The final exam may cover any topic that has been covered in any seminar throughout the semester. 

Replacement exams: The Business School has determined that second replacement exams (both mid-semester and final) will not be offered for this unit of study should a student submit two special considerations for the same exam as this unit forms part of the professional accounting accreditation pathway. Should a student be granted a replacement exam via special consideration, and is then unable to attend or does not complete the replacement exam, any subsequent special consideration will result in a DC grade (Discontinue Without Fail).

Further information regarding assessments will be available on Canvas and discussed in classes in due course.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 A - Business and The Law Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 02 A - The Australian Legal System Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 03 A - The Sources of Law Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 04 B - Contracts and Contract Law Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 05 B - Contracts in Business Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 06 B - Fair Trading and the Australian Consumer Law: unconscionable conduct, unfair contract terms, misleading or deceptive conduct, consumer guarantees Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 07 B - Obligations Beyond Contract: Tort Law Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 08 B - Business Operation and Innovation: Competition and IP Law Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 09 C - Incorporation and Corporate Actors Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 10 C - Fundraising and Corporate Governance Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 11 C - Directors Duties Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 12 C - Rights and Remedies Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 13 C - Disclosure and Insolvency Seminar (3 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: All lectures and seminars are recorded and will be available on Canvas for student use. Please note the Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Andrew Terry and Des Giugni, Business and the Law, 7th Edition, Thomson Reuters, Sydney.

 

 

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. identify, analyse and assess business law issues in given fact situations and real-world contexts
  • LO2. resolve legal problems by applying relevant law, evaluating appropriate solutions to legal problems, synthesising information and developing arguments to support conclusions
  • LO3. demonstrate legal research skills by locating and selecting relevant sources using libraries, the web and other online research facilities
  • LO4. manage, analyse, evaluate and use legal materials and information
  • LO5. communicate to a professional standard using prescribed legal citation and referencing to directly support your analysis and conclusions
  • LO6. interact with people from diverse cultural backgrounds with inclusiveness, open-mindedness and integrity and work within group environments
  • LO7. apply ethical and professional approaches to your conduct both within and beyond the classroom.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Assessment has been reviewed since the last offering of this unit.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.