School: Business and Law

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

Please note that given the circumstances of COVID-19, there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for Semester 1 2020 Units. Students will be notified of all approved modifications by Unit Coordinators via email and Unit Blackboard sites. Where changes have been made, these are designed to ensure that you still meet the unit learning outcomes in the context of our adjusted teaching and learning arrangements.

  • Unit Title

    Principles of Contract and Corporate Law in Business
  • Unit Code

    LAW6501
  • Year

    2020
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    20
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Mostafa Mahmud NASER

Description

Australian corporate law, which with the cooperation of the States achieved in 2001 a truly national character with the advent of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), has experienced many challenges and significant changes in recent decades. Not the least of these changes has involved regulatory requirements of arguably increasing severity on the decision makers of companies, especially directors. It has been said that business participants who ignore (or are ignorant of) their rights, responsibilities, risks and the law generally do so at their own peril. Accordingly, with these important issues in mind, this unit aims first to provide post graduate business students with a general knowledge of key principles of the Australian legal framework and commercial law environment including an introduction to the law of contract and the law of business organisations generally. The unit then examines the Australian corporate law framework in some detail, with particular attention paid to the nature and application of the key statutory and general law principles relating to companies and corporate governance within the context of the business environment in Australia, and the risks, responsibilities and regulation of corporate participants. The unit concludes with an introductory study of the principles of corporate insolvency and liquidation law.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Critically reflect on the key principles, theories and issues of the legal environment of commerce, with particular reference to key aspects of the Australian legal system, the law of contract and the law of business organisations.
  2. Have developed the necessary technical and communication skills to navigate their way around the current Corporations Act.
  3. Combine those skills with a knowledge of commercial and corporate law principles and case-law developed through evaluation and critical reflection.
  4. Apply such skills and knowledge to achieve a mastery of the key principles, theories and issues in the specified areas of commercial and corporate law, primarily those relating to proprietary companies (refer 'unit content', below).
  5. Apply such skills and knowledge to investigate, analyse and synthesise the ideas, concepts and problems within the overall structures and forms of the body of commercial and corporate law studied in the unit.
  6. Demonstrate that understanding to justify and interpret commerce and corporate law propositions, issues and problems in their written answers to questions, given under exam conditions and with access only to the Corporations legislation.

Unit Content

  1. First principles: The Australian legal framework and business environment.
  2. Principles of the common law of Contract, and an introduction to statutory initiatives in contract law.
  3. Organisations of business and the Australian corporate law framework, with particular reference to proprietary companies.
  4. Principles of Incorporation: features, effects and procedures of incorporation.
  5. The corporate constitution and corporate meetings: features, internal regulation and procedures.
  6. Principles of corporate governance and responsibility.
  7. Directors: their duties, risks and responsibilities.
  8. Members: their shares, rights and remedies.
  9. Corporate share capital and its variation.
  10. First principles of corporate insolvency and an introduction to liquidation law.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour seminarNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour seminarNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECU Blackboard as well as additional ECU learning technologies.

Additional Learning Experience Information

On-campus students attend lectures and seminars using a technology enhanced learning (TEL) learning approach including interactive presentations, videos and small group discussions. Students are required to complete a series of tasks allocated each week before attending weekly seminars. Activities encompass a weekly two-hour seminar, a lecture aimed at providing students with the knowledge of the important principles of commercial and corporate law, and the provisions of the Corporations Act and a tutorial component aimed at further developing knowledge and insight through revising legal principles of commercial and corporate law and the provisions of the Corporations Act. Online students participate in the unit via Blackboard and will require regular online access. An electronic version of the module highlights is available for students, in addition to support materials specifically for the online mode. Students are required to complete a series of tasks each week and participate in various online activities to discuss, develop and apply the concepts covered in the lecture and readings to learning tasks and assessments. Online activities are designed to develop digital communication skills, critical thinking and teamwork.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestShort Answer Test10%
AssignmentOnline Assignment20%
PresentationGroup Presentation20%
ExaminationFinal Examination50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
TestShort Answer Test10%
AssignmentOnline Assignment20%
PresentationGroup Presentation20%
ExaminationFinal Examination50%

Core Reading(s)

  • Chapple, E. J., Nickolas; Wong, A. B., Richard; Copp, R. C., Robert; Kamalnath, A. W., & Katherine; Harpur, P. (2019). Business and Company Law. Wiley. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.ecu.edu.au/login?url=https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ecu/detail.action?docID=5986313

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

LAW6501|1|1

School: Business and Law

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

Please note that given the circumstances of COVID-19, there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for this unit. All assessment changes will be published by 27 July 2020. All students are reminded to check handbook at the beginning of semester to ensure they have the correct outline.

  • Unit Title

    Principles of Contract and Corporate Law in Business
  • Unit Code

    LAW6501
  • Year

    2020
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    20
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Mostafa Mahmud NASER

Description

Australian corporate law, which with the cooperation of the States achieved in 2001 a truly national character with the advent of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), has experienced many challenges and significant changes in recent decades. Not the least of these changes has involved regulatory requirements of arguably increasing severity on the decision makers of companies, especially directors. It has been said that business participants who ignore (or are ignorant of) their rights, responsibilities, risks and the law generally do so at their own peril. Accordingly, with these important issues in mind, this unit aims first to provide post graduate business students with a general knowledge of key principles of the Australian legal framework and commercial law environment including an introduction to the law of contract and the law of business organisations generally. The unit then examines the Australian corporate law framework in some detail, with particular attention paid to the nature and application of the key statutory and general law principles relating to companies and corporate governance within the context of the business environment in Australia, and the risks, responsibilities and regulation of corporate participants. The unit concludes with an introductory study of the principles of corporate insolvency and liquidation law.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Critically appraise key legal principles, theories and issues related to corporate environments.
  2. Analyse corporate law principles and theories within contemporary business environments.
  3. Interpret and apply corporate law knowledge to minimise legal risks within contemporary business environments.
  4. Formulate decisions addressing ethical and social issues in complex business environments.

Unit Content

  1. First principles: The Australian legal framework and business environment.
  2. Principles of the common law of Contract, and an introduction to statutory initiatives in contract law.
  3. Organisations of business and the Australian corporate law framework, with particular reference to proprietary companies.
  4. Principles of Incorporation: features, effects and procedures of incorporation.
  5. The corporate constitution and corporate meetings: features, internal regulation and procedures.
  6. Principles of corporate governance and responsibility.
  7. Directors: their duties, risks and responsibilities.
  8. Members: their shares, rights and remedies.
  9. Corporate share capital and its variation.
  10. First principles of corporate insolvency and an introduction to liquidation law.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour seminarNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour seminarNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECU Blackboard as well as additional ECU learning technologies.

Additional Learning Experience Information

On-campus students attend lectures and seminars using a technology enhanced learning (TEL) learning approach including interactive presentations, videos and small group discussions. Students are required to complete a series of tasks allocated each week before attending weekly seminars. Activities encompass a weekly two-hour seminar, a lecture aimed at providing students with the knowledge of the important principles of commercial and corporate law, and the provisions of the Corporations Act and a tutorial component aimed at further developing knowledge and insight through revising legal principles of commercial and corporate law and the provisions of the Corporations Act. Online students participate in the unit via Blackboard and will require regular online access. An electronic version of the module highlights is available for students, in addition to support materials specifically for the online mode. Students are required to complete a series of tasks each week and participate in various online activities to discuss, develop and apply the concepts covered in the lecture and readings to learning tasks and assessments. Online activities are designed to develop digital communication skills, critical thinking and teamwork.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestShort Answer Test10%
AssignmentOnline Assignment20%
TestOnline Test20%
ExerciseTake home exam50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
TestShort Answer Test10%
AssignmentOnline Assignment20%
TestOnline Test20%
ExerciseTake home exam50%

Core Reading(s)

  • Chapple, E. J., Nickolas; Wong, A. B., Richard; Copp, R. C., Robert; Kamalnath, A. W., & Katherine; Harpur, P. (2019). Business and Company Law. Wiley. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.ecu.edu.au/login?url=https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ecu/detail.action?docID=5986313

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

LAW6501|2|2