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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2020/2021

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Law : Law

Undergraduate Course: Business Law (LAWS08058)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Law CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course is principally intended for students of accounting, economics and business, as it deals with the main areas of law relevant to these disciplines.

The aim is to give students an understanding of the general principles of the branches of law most relevant to them and, so far as practicable, to set the law in its current commercial context. It is an introductory course, with an emphasis on general principles.
Course description The course is divided into six sections, as follows:

1) The Scottish Legal System: Covers the court system and sources of law.

2) General Principles of Scots Private Law:
(i) Contract (the general law according to which business transactions are made legally binding);
(ii) Property (the general law relating to ownership); and
(iii) Delict (the general law relating to harm caused to other persons by a person's actions, omissions or words, e.g. negligent advice, or personal injury caused by a road accident).

3) Business Organisations:
(i) Agency;
(ii) Partnership; and
(iii) Company Law.

4) Rights in Security and Insolvency: Security for payment of debts entitling the creditor to be repaid in priority to others (i.e. rights in security); and personal insolvency (i.e. bankruptcy): and the types of corporate insolvency: liquidations, receiverships and administrations.

5) Trusts: The law of trusts, including constitution of trusts and duties of trustees.

6) Intellectual Property and Regulatory Subjects: A very brief look at the main categories of intellectual property (copyright, patents and trade marks) together with some newly emerging topics: computer misuse, data protection and environmental law.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Business Entities (LAWS08134) OR Contract and Unjustified Enrichment (LAWS08127)
Other requirements Non LLB students only
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting students must not be studying law in their home jurisdiction and must not be also taking Business Entities (LAWS0134) or Contract and Unjustified Enrichment (LAWS08127)
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Have knowledge and understanding of certain important aspects of Scots business law.
  2. Have experience in analysing problems and applying the law to those problems.
  3. Be able to draft a clear and comprehensive written answer communicating the results of his/her analysis of problem questions.
  4. Have experience in working by yourself to prepare for classes and tutorials by reading and understanding texts on the subject.
  5. Have experience in actively participating in group discussions on legal issues and problems.
Reading List
The Course text is Business Law in Scotland by Gillian Black et al, 2nd edition published by W Green (Aug 2011).

In addition to reading and referring to the course text, you will be expected to undertake private study and may also find it helpful to refer to the following books at different points of the course:

White, Willock and MacQueen, The Scottish Legal System, (5th edition, 2013); this book is available electronically from the library.
F Davidson and L Macgregor, Commercial Law in Scotland, 3rd ed (2014).
A Forte, Scots Commercial Law (1997).
J Huntley & ors, Contract: Cases and Materials (2003, 2nd edn).
J Thomson, Delictual Liability (4th ed, 2009) this book is available electronically from the library.
Gillian Black, Woolman on Contract (2014, 5th edn).
Janet Dine and Marios Koutsius, Company Law, (7th edition, 2009), Palgrave
French, Mayson & Ryan on Company Law, (31st ed, 2014)
Paul Davies, Introduction to Company Law, (2nd ed, 2010)
Grier, Company Law (3rd ed, 2009) (Green's Concise Scots Law)
Gloag and Henderson, The Law of Scotland (2012, 13th edn).

Statutory Material

(i) Avizandum Statutes on Scots Commercial and Consumer Law (by John MacLeod); and
(ii) Blackstone's Company Law Statutes (by Derek French).
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsBusiness Law
Contacts
Course organiserDr Jonny Hardman
Tel: (0131 6)50 2374
Email: Jonathan.Hardman@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Tracy Noden
Tel: (0131 6)50 2053
Email: Tracy.Noden@ed.ac.uk
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