LL6063 - Company Law (2022/23)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2022/23 | ||||||||||
| Module title | Company Law | ||||||||||
| Module level | Honours (06) | ||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||||
| School | Guildhall School of Business and Law | ||||||||||
| Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Assessment components |
|
||||||||||
| Running in 2022/23(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
|
Module summary
Company Law includes the study of the formation, constitution and management of companies, together with share issue, share capital, loan capital and selected aspects of insolvency law.
Students will also examine – and look behind – the corporate veil, making a critical evaluation of the rules of corporate governance.
The module aims to develop several key transferable skills including independent
research, critical analysis and academic writing in the context of company law, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources of law.
It is a vital and dynamic topic for anyone interested in working in the corporate sector, and anyone who needs to know how businesses operate.
The aims of the module are as follows:
1. Students will acquire knowledge of the rules and regulations of company law, which have arisen both at common law and under statute.
2. Students will develop several key transferable skills, including independent research, critical analysis and cogent academic writing in the context of company law, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources;
3. Students will enhance their employability by the development both of these skills, and by the practice of written communication activities (including summative) and oral communication activities (formative only).
Syllabus
1. Incorporation of Companies
2. The Corporate Constitution
3. Corporate Governance
Corporate Personality
Directors’ Duties
Protection for minority shareholders
Corporate Transparency
The Veil of Incorporation
4. Corporate Finance
Share issue
Share capital
Capital maintenance
Loan capital
Securing loans on corporate assets
5. Corporate Failure
Priority of creditors
Transaction avoidance provisions
Disqualification of directors
Learning Outcomes LO 1 - LO3
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
Learning and Teaching Strategy
Weekly two-hour lecture and one-hour seminar.
The lecture will be used for:
• Dissemination of knowledge through an overview of each topic with detailed guidance on appropriate aspects;
• An introduction to relevant academic literature;
• Guidance on learning strategies;
• Use of WebLearn and IT resources;
• Whole group questions and discussion.
The seminar will be used for the development of skills necessary to attain the module learning outcomes through:
• Written and oral questions/answers designed to reinforce fundamental rules, principles and cases;
• A range of step-by-step analytical exercises;
• Problem solving;
• IT tasks, such as research of cases and statutes;
• Legal writing.
Blended Learning
All learning materials, previous examination questions and sample Q/A’s will be on WebLearn for use in directed private study.
Student engagement will be encouraged in both lectures and seminars through weekly use of WebLearn for access to all of the above materials.
There will be required use of the professional legal databases, especially Westlaw and Lexis Library, for legal research.
Opportunities for reflective learning/pdp
Each weekly seminar will contain space for students to reflect on what they have learnt in relation to the overall syllabus. There will be frequent feedback opportunities structured into the timetable and a range of sample answers posted onto WebLearn.
Students’ Study Responsibilities
The need for attendance, punctuality, preparation and engagement will be emphasised with particular reference to written and IT research, problem-solving, team-work, discussion, debate and critical awareness of the subject.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, the students will be able to:
1. Critically analysis the principles of company law.
2. Demonstrate the ability to solve legal problems relating to company law.
3. Demonstrate the ability to write critical, discursive essays relating to the topics covered in the syllabus.
Assessment strategy
Written examination (2 hours)
This will assess the ability cogently to discuss and critically analyse legal case studies and/or contemporary legal issues within the context of the company law.