IB237-15 Business Law 2
Introductory description
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
Module aims
To understand and critically evaluate the concepts and principles of contract law and the importance of contract formation in the business world.
To gain an in depth understanding of: Duress, Misrepresentation and Mistake.
To introduce students to the concepts and principles of the tort of negligence.
To understand and demonstrate what a claimant has to prove to succeed in a negligence claim and to recognise and understand and demonstrate the main defences to a claim in negligence.
To understand the principles imposing liability for professional negligence.
To gain experience in preparing and presenting legal arguments.
To develop an ability to evaluate and criticise legal principles.
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:
Contract Law
- The use and control of exclusion clauses.
- The need for consensus ad idem in contract formation and the affect of mistake, misrepresentation, duress and undue influence.
- The various methods of discharging a contract.
Contractual remedies, including damages, specific performance and injunctions.
Tort Law - The rules required to prove the tort of negligence – duty of care, breach and damages.
- Contributory negligence and volenti non fit injuria.
- The importance of vicarious liability.
- The rules on economic loss and financial loss due to negligent mis-statements.
- Liability for professional negligence – accountants, solicitors, surveyors
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Understand and critically evaluate the principles and theories underlying the law of contract.
- Understand and critically evaluate the theories and principles underlying the law of tort. -
- To gain experience in preparing and presenting legal arguments.
- To develop an ability to evaluate and criticise legal principles.
- Understand and demonstrate coherent and detailed subject knowledge of the legal framework within which business operate.
- Appreciate the importance of making ethical and sustainable decisions
- Analyse texts and oral presentations
- Communicate complex ideas effectively.
- Test and refine hypotheses.
Indicative reading list
Landes, William M., and Richard A. Posner. "The positive economic theory of tort law." Ga. L. Rev. 15 (1980): 851. Farnsworth,
E. Allan. "On trying to keep one's promises: the duty of best efforts in contract law." U. Pitt. L. Rev. 46 (1984): 1. Talbot, Lorraine.
Critical company law. Routledge, 2015. Chitty, Joseph. Chitty on contracts: General principles. Vol. 1. Sweet & Maxwell, 2012.
Lucy Jones, Business law, 2019, Oxford.
Illustrative Reading:
Stephen Judge, Law for Business Students, 2006, Palgrave.
Smith & Keenan English Law , 2002, Pitman Publishing.
George Applebey Contract Law , 2003, Sweet & Maxwell.
David Kelly & Ann Holmes Principles of Business Law , 2001, Cavendish Publishing Limited.
Chris Turner & Sue Hodge Unlocking Torts, 2004, Hodder & Stoughton
Subject specific skills
Analyse legal problems.
Conduct research using official sources of legislation and case law.
Prepare and present legal arguments for both sides of a legal dispute.
Evaluate and criticise current law and reform proposals
Transferable skills
Conduct independent research of set issues using library and electronic sources.
Present reasoned arguments orally and on paper.
Work in teams to prepare and present case-studies.
Support 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 must pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group B1
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
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| On-campus Examination | 100% | 73 hours | No |
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Exam
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Feedback on assessment
Feedback via my.wbs.
Pre-requisites
To take this module, you must have passed:
Courses
This module is Optional for:
-
UIBA-N20B BSc in Management
- Year 2 of N20B Management
- Year 2 of N20B Management
- Year 2 of N23K Management with Accounting
- Year 2 of N234 Management with Digital Business
- Year 2 of N235 Management with Entrepreneurship
- Year 2 of N232 Management with Finance
- Year 2 of N252 Management with Marketing
- Year 2 of N23L Management with Strategy and Organisation
- Year 2 of UIBA-N400 Undergraduate Accounting and Finance
- Year 3 of UIBA-N403 Undergraduate Accounting and Finance (with Foundation Year)
- Year 3 of UCSA-I1N1 Undergraduate Computer Science with Business Studies
- Year 4 of UCSA-I1NA Undergraduate Computer Science with Business Studies (with Intercalated Year)
- Year 2 of UGEA-RN21 Undergraduate German and Business Studies
- Year 2 of UIPA-L8N1 Undergraduate Global Sustainable Development and Business
- Year 2 of UIBA-N1RA Undergraduate International Business with French
- Year 2 of UIBA-N1RB Undergraduate International Business with German
- Year 2 of UIBA-N1RC Undergraduate International Business with Italian
- Year 2 of UIBA-N1RD Undergraduate International Business with Spanish
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UIBA-N20F Undergraduate International Management
- Year 2 of N20F International Management
- Year 2 of N20F International Management
- Year 2 of N20S International Management (with Accounting)
- Year 2 of N20T International Management (with Chinese)
- Year 2 of N20P International Management (with Entrepreneurship)
- Year 2 of N20M International Management (with Finance)
- Year 2 of N20U International Management (with French)
- Year 2 of N20L International Management (with Marketing)
- Year 2 of N20V International Management (with Spanish)
- Year 2 of N20W International Management (with Strategy and Organisation)
- Year 2 of N20N International Management with Digital Business
- Year 2 of N20E Management (with Foundation Year)
- Year 2 of N234 Management with Digital Business
- Year 2 of UIBA-MN3A Undergraduate Law and Business Studies
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UIBA-N20E Undergraduate Management (with Foundation Year)
- Year 3 of N20E Management (with Foundation Year)
- Year 3 of N23N Management with Accounting (with Foundation Year and Placement Year)
- Year 3 of N23M Management with Accounting (with Foundation Year)
- Year 3 of N23E Management with Digital Business (with Foundation Year)
- Year 3 of N23F Management with Entrepreneurship (with Foundation Year)
- Year 3 of N23D Management with Finance (with Foundation Year)
- Year 3 of N252 Management with Marketing
- Year 3 of N254 Management with Marketing (with Foundation Year)
- Year 3 of N23P Management with Strategy and Organisation (with Foundation Year)
- Year 3 of UMAA-G1N4 Undergraduate Mathematics with Business Studies
- Year 4 of UMAA-G1N5 Undergraduate Mathematics with Business Studies (with Intercalated Year)
- Year 4 of UPXA-F3ND Undergraduate Physics and Business Studies (with Intercalated Year)
- Year 3 of UPXA-F3N2 Undergraduate Physics with Business Studies