1. Critically analyse and produce an informed account of the concept of separate legal personality in the development of company law.

Knowledge and Understanding, Learning

2. Select and deploy knowledge and understanding of legislative provisions and relevant case law to build up logical, relevant and well-reasoned argument.

Analysis, Application

3. Undertake evaluative, independent research and Communicate effectively in academic writing using acceptable referencing practices.

Enquiry, analysis, reflection, Communication

4. Demonstrate a systematic knowledge and understanding of key aspects of company law.

Knowledge and Understanding, Learning, Enquiry

Working towards the assessment tasks will be a key element of the learning, and tutors will be available to guide students through the process, and to improve their ability to meet the learning outcomes to a high standard. It is expected that around 25 hours of the module will be devoted to the assessment tasks - much of it during the self-directed periods.

Assessment will be an integral part of the module. There will be one assessment point and workshops focused on assessment activities will be scheduled into the timetable. Earlier tasks will be shorter and more succinct, enabling fast feedback from the tutors so that students can learn and improve for later assessment tasks. At least one task will be of the active variety such as a verbal presentation, group activity or similar. Formative feedback will be provided wherever possible.
Written Assignment weighted at 100%

Online submission

To assess learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, & 4

The assignment task will be a 4000 word essay on a critical aspect of company law. The students will be assessed on their understanding of contemporary company law related issues and the quality of academic writing based on independent research. The students are expected to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Company law Act 2006 and relevant case law to critically analyse the company law principles.

A study of Company Law not only demands a high level of academic understanding but also draws significantly on legal skills. The module is designed to provide the requisite knowledge and understanding and develop the legal skills deemed necessary for those students who wish to work in a trading environment.

Company Law

- 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

Company law regulates how companies operate in general. In this module you will have the opportunity to form a detailed understanding of company law and contemporary issues. This module will help you understand the company structure, corporate governance, incorporation, constitution and practical interrelations between key actors, such as shareholders, directors and other stakeholders. This module will provide you with the initial foundation on company principles, which will help you immensely if you are interested in the commercial field.

The learning strategy for this module is based around students committing a total of 200 hours of activities towards achieving the learning outcomes.

The majority of learning materials will be presented online asynchronously organised as a series of weekly topics. Students will be encouraged to follow the weekly schedule where this is possible. Three synchronous online webinars will be held to provide opportunities for live interaction between students and lecturer, to cover an introduction to the module and learning expectations, an assessment guidance session, and a consolidation session prior to the assessment date. These sessions will be recorded for the benefit of students who are unable to attend at the scheduled time.

The online learning materials will be organised as a range of short activities for each topic which allow students to construct and apply their own knowledge as they work through them. Instant feedback will be provided where appropriate on computer-aided tests of knowledge. Summaries and explanations of applied tasks will be available, allowing students to assess their progress against suggested answers.

Tutor-student and peer interaction will be facilitated through the use of collaborative online learning spaces. Students will be able to post questions and queries as they reflect on their own developing understanding of the key subject concepts.

Students will be expected to be familiar with contemporary discussions in this area of law, and to bring a range of ideas to bear on the discussions. Thus, although there will be a framework of knowledge and understanding, students will be actively, rather than passively, engaged in the process of both learning about, and increasing understanding of, the subject

The independent learning activities encourage students to develop a critical understanding of the principles of company and commercial law and provide practice in preparation for assessments. Students will be expected to keep a self-reflective journal throughout the module.

Latest editions of the following:

French, D. Blackstone's Statutes on Company Law, (OUP)

Sealy, L., Worthington.S., Cases and Materials in Company Law (OUP)

Wild.C., Weinstein.S., Smith and Keenan's Company Law, (Pearson)

French, D.; Mayson, S. & Ryan.C, Mayson, French, and Ryan on Company Law (OUP)


OUP Legal Textbooks are available to students on Law Trove.

Textbooks/e-text

VLE

Westlaw/Lexis Nexis/LawTrove