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Module Catalogue

IB3G4-15 Law for Entrepreneurs

Department
Warwick Business School
Level
Undergraduate Level 3
Module leader
Robert Poole
Credit value
15
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
Multiple
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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Introductory description

This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students.
Warwick Business School aims to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit of its students. This module is aimed at providing the essential legal knowledge required by a potential entrepreneur in the UK. The module will afford WBS students a broader insight into business law and encourage post-graduation entrepreneurialism. As such, it has the potential to become a USP for the accounting, finance and management degrees offered by the School.

Module web page

Module aims

The module aims are to enable students:

  1. To understand the basic principles of copyright and intellectual property as applied to new business ventures.
  2. To understand the legal requirements relating to business to consumer transactions, sales of goods and distance selling.
  3. To understand the basic legal regulations applied to data protection and privacy.
  4. To understand the concept and application of standard term contracting in business, the key contractual terms and terms deemed unfair at law.
  5. To understand the methods by which a business may pursue payment of debts and the potential penalties for late payment of commercial debts.
  6. To understand the regulation of health and safety in the workplace.
  7. To understand the legal requirements involved in lawfully hiring, managing and dismissing workers or employees.
  8. To develop legal research skills, the ability to analyse legal problems and to apply problem-solving techniques to hypothetical problems.
  9. To develop the ability to critically evaluate legal principles and law in practice.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The module includes the following:

Law regulating business:
Intellectual property with reference to patents, designs, trademarks and copyright. Sales of Goods Act 1979, Consumer Protection Act 2015, Consumer Contract Regulations 2013, Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR. Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003, Computer Misuse Act 1990. Commercial and consumer contracting including standard terms and unfair contract terms. Debt recovery and the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.

Law regulating employment:
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, penalties and legal enforcement, Environmental Protection Act 1990. The Employment Rights Act 1996. Employees and other workers, employment contract and written particulars, itemised pay, protection from discrimination in employment under The Equality Act 2010. Terminating employment including unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, compulsory early conciliation via ACAS and remedies at the Employment Tribunal.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Understand the basic legal principles underlying UK law on copyright and intellectual property.
  • Understand the basic legal principles underlying UK law on consumer transactions, sale of goods and distance selling.
  • Understand the basic legal principles underlying UK law on data protection.
  • Understand the basic legal principles underlying UK law on standard terms for customers and suppliers.
  • Understand the basic legal principles underlying UK law on debt recovery and late payment of commercial debts.
  • Understand the basic legal principles underlying UK law on Health & Safety and the environment.
  • Understand the basic legal principles underlying UK law on employing others lawfully.
  • Analyse texts and oral presentations.
  • Communicate complex ideas effectively.
  • Test and refine hypothesis.

Indicative reading list

There is no textbook available which covers all of topics relating to law for entrepreneurs. To overcome this, relevant sections from suitable text books will be copied (with permission of the publishers) and provided to students. Relevant text book sources could include the following:

Introduction to Business Law 5th Ed, Lucy Jones, Oxford University Press.
Business Law, 6th Ed, James Marson and Katy Ferris, Oxford University Press.

Subject specific skills

Analyse legal problems.
Conduct research using official sources of legislation and relevant case law.
Prepare and present legal arguments for both sides in a legal dispute.
Critically evaluate current law and make proposals for reform.

Transferable skills

Conduct independent research of legal issues using library and electronic sources.
Present reasoned arguments orally and in writing.
Work in teams to prepare and present case studies and critically reflect on personal learning.
Supporting legal arguments by reference to appropriate sources.

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 10 sessions of 1 hour (7%)
Seminars 9 sessions of 1 hour (6%)
Online learning (independent) 10 sessions of 1 hour (7%)
Private study 48 hours (32%)
Assessment 73 hours (49%)
Total 150 hours

Private study description

Private Study.

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group D6
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Group Project Presentation (15 CATS) 15% 11 hours No
Individual Contribution - Group Project Presentation (15 CATS) 10% 8 hours No
Examination 75% 54 hours No

~Platforms - AEP

  • Answerbook Green (8 page)
Assessment group R2
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Individual Assignment 25% Yes (extension)

Reassessment for Group work & Individual Contribution component.
In-person Examination 75% No

~Platforms - AEP

  • Answerbook Pink (12 page)
Feedback on assessment

Feedback via My.WBS

Past exam papers for IB3G4

Courses

This module is Optional for:

  • UPHA-L1CA Undergraduate Economics, Psychology and Philosophy
    • Year 3 of L1CA Economics, Psychology and Philosophy
    • Year 3 of L1CC Economics, Psychology and Philosophy (Behavioural Economics Pathway)
    • Year 3 of L1CD Economics, Psychology and Philosophy (Economics with Philosophy Pathway)
    • Year 3 of L1CE Economics, Psychology and Philosophy (Philosophy and Psychology Pathway)
  • UPHA-L1CB Undergraduate Economics, Psychology and Philosophy (with Intercalated Year)
    • Year 4 of L1CG Economics, Psychology and Philosophy (Behavioural Economics Pathway) (with Intercalated Year)
    • Year 4 of L1CH Economics, Psychology and Philosophy (Economics with Philosophy Pathway) (with Intercalated Year)
    • Year 4 of L1CJ Economics, Psychology and Philosophy (Philosophy and Psychology Pathway) (with Intercalated Year)
    • Year 4 of L1CB Economics, Psychology and Philosophy (with Intercalated Year)

This module is Unusual option for:

  • UPHA-L1CA Undergraduate Economics, Psychology and Philosophy
    • Year 2 of L1CA Economics, Psychology and Philosophy
    • Year 3 of L1CA Economics, Psychology and Philosophy