The module is designed to provide students with an understanding and a grasp of the essentials of substantive Company Law. It is intended to give students the understanding and skills to deal confidently with any aspect of Company Law.

Issues covered will include:
- The different mediums within which a business can be conducted
- The doctrine of separate legal personality
- Lifting the corporate veil
- Constitution of a company
- The legal nature of shares and class rights
- Company meetings
- Loan capital
- Share issues
- Capital maintenance
- Directors
- Minority protection
- Winding Up/Administration Orders

Assignment, length 3000 words, at the end of semester 1, weighted at 50%

Examination - unseen but with access to legislation, length 2 hours, weighted at 50%

Semester 1 assignment will assess outcomes 1, 2, and 5
Semester 2 examination will assess outcomes 3, 4 and 5

Students must achieve an overall mark of 40%. Students must obtain at least 25% in both course work and examination elements of the module.

Access to appropriate texts, legislation and case law.
Module Study Guide.
Computing facilities will be needed to access material available on the web and specialist on-line databases.

Dignam A & Lowry J, Company Law, 6th Edition, Oxford University Press
Copy of current Companies Legislations

Whole group sessions - In these sessions students will be introduced to the general concepts underlying the subject and will be provided with an outline of the relevant legal principles and cases. Handouts and teaching materials will supplement the sessions and in some sessions time will be spent in familiarising students with the practical skills of dealing with statutes and problems (3 hours x 8 sessions = 24 hours)

Small group sessions - In these sessions students will explore and examine aspects of company topics in depth. A variety of teaching and learning methods will be used to encourage and develop both individual and collaborative learning (1 hour x 8 sessions = 8 hours)

Directed study and independent learning:
At least two study plans will be used to cover particular aspects of the subject. One of the study plans will provide experience of directed study and will be supported by a tutorial session. The second study plan will consist of a selected area which will be the subject of a question in the end of year examination. This topic will not be dealt within the tutorials but students will be encouraged to work collectively. Generally, students will be expected to follow the study guide, which will provide a directed programme of learning guidance relating to set texts and websites. Assessment forms at the end of each tutorial will encourage students to assess their progress, identify strengths and weaknesses, and decide how they can better profit from doing the module: 268

TOTAL LEARNING TIME = 300 HOURS.