Skip to main content Skip to navigation

Module Catalogue

IB3G4-15 Law for Entrepreneurs

Department
Warwick Business School
Level
Undergraduate Level 3
Module leader
Leela Cejnar
Credit value
15
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
30% coursework, 70% exam
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

Download as PDF

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.

This module provides some of the essential legal knowledge required by a potential entrepreneur in the UK and beyond. The module is divided into two broad themes relating to the regulation of businesses and regulation of the employment relationship. A wide-ranging insight into business law is included with topics covering key areas such as protection of intellectual property, data protection, contract terms, debt recovery options, health and safety, anti-discrimination law and employment law. The focus is on applied law (how the law operates in practice) and the object of the module is to provide students with sufficient knowledge to avoid potential legal problems in a business start-up situation. Although students may choose this module to build on knowledge gained in other law modules at WBS, no previous study of law is required as the topics can be understood in their own right.

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.
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 D8
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
Individual Assignment 30% 22 hours Yes (extension)
Reassessment component is the same
Assessment component
Examination 70% 51 hours No
  • Answerbook Pink (12 page)
Reassessment component is the same
Feedback on assessment

Feedback via My.WBS

Past exam papers for IB3G4

Pre-requisites

To take this module, you must have passed:

Courses

This module is Optional for:

  • UIBA-N20B BSc in Management
    • Year 3 of N20B Management
    • Year 3 of N20B Management
    • Year 3 of N23K Management with Accounting
    • Year 3 of N234 Management with Digital Business
    • Year 3 of N235 Management with Entrepreneurship
    • Year 3 of N232 Management with Finance
    • Year 3 of N252 Management with Marketing
    • Year 3 of N23L Management with Strategy and Organisation
  • Year 3 of UIBA-N400 Undergraduate Accounting and Finance
  • UIBA-N404 Undergraduate Accounting and Finance (with Foundation Year and Placement/Undergraduate Partnership Programme)
    • Year 5 of N4N7 Accounting and Finance (Foundation Year and Intercalated)
    • Year 5 of N404 Accounting and Finance (Foundation Year and Placement)
    • Year 5 of N405 Accounting and Finance (Foundation Year and UPP)
    • Year 5 of N403 Accounting and Finance (with Foundation Year)
  • Year 4 of UIBA-N403 Undergraduate Accounting and Finance (with Foundation Year)
  • UIBA-N401 Undergraduate Accounting and Finance (with Placement Year/Undergraduate Partnership Programme)
    • Year 4 of N401 Accounting and Finance (Placement)
    • Year 4 of N402 Accounting and Finance (Undergraduate Partnership Programme)
  • 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 3 of UECA-L1N2 Undergraduate Economics and Management
  • Year 4 of UECA-L1N3 Undergraduate Economics and Management (with Intercalated Year)
  • Year 4 of UGEA-RN21 Undergraduate German and Business Studies
  • Year 3 of UIPA-L8N1 Undergraduate Global Sustainable Development and Business
  • Year 4 of UIPA-L8N2 Undergraduate Global Sustainable Development and Business Studies (with Intercalated Year)
  • Year 4 of UIBA-N1RA Undergraduate International Business with French
  • Year 4 of UIBA-N1RB Undergraduate International Business with German
  • Year 4 of UIBA-N1RC Undergraduate International Business with Italian
  • Year 4 of UIBA-N1RD Undergraduate International Business with Spanish
  • UIBA-N20F Undergraduate International Management
    • Year 4 of N20F International Management
    • Year 4 of N20F International Management
    • Year 4 of N20S International Management (with Accounting)
    • Year 4 of N20T International Management (with Chinese)
    • Year 4 of N20P International Management (with Entrepreneurship)
    • Year 4 of N20M International Management (with Finance)
    • Year 4 of N20U International Management (with French)
    • Year 4 of N20L International Management (with Marketing)
    • Year 4 of N20V International Management (with Spanish)
    • Year 4 of N20W International Management (with Strategy and Organisation)
    • Year 4 of N20N International Management with Digital Business
    • Year 4 of N20E Management (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 4 of N234 Management with Digital Business
  • UIBA-N220 Undergraduate International Management (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N220 International Management (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N221 International Management with Accounting (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N226 International Management with Chinese (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N223 International Management with Digital Business (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N224 International Management with Entrepreneurship (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N222 International Management with Finance (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N227 International Management with French (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N225 International Management with Marketing (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N228 International Management with Spanish (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 5 of N229 International Management with Strategy and Organisation (with Foundation Year)
  • UIBA-N20J Undergraduate Management (with Foundation Year and Placement Year/Undergraduate Partnership Programme)
    • Year 5 of N20J Management (Foundation Year and Placement)
    • Year 5 of N20K Management (Foundation Year and UPP)
    • Year 5 of N23H Management with Digital Business (with Foundation Year and Placement Year)
    • Year 5 of N23J Management with Entrepreneurship (with Foundation Year and Placement Year)
    • Year 5 of N23G Management with Finance (with Foundation Year and Placement Year)
    • Year 5 of N255 Management with Marketing (with Foundation Year and Placement Year)
  • UIBA-N20E Undergraduate Management (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 4 of N20E Management (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 4 of N23N Management with Accounting (with Foundation Year and Placement Year)
    • Year 4 of N23M Management with Accounting (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 4 of N23E Management with Digital Business (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 4 of N23F Management with Entrepreneurship (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 4 of N23D Management with Finance (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 4 of N252 Management with Marketing
    • Year 4 of N254 Management with Marketing (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 4 of N23P Management with Strategy and Organisation (with Foundation Year)
  • UIBA-N20C Undergraduate Management (with Placement Year/Undergraduate Partnership Programme)
    • Year 4 of N20M International Management (with Finance)
    • Year 4 of N20B Management
    • Year 4 of N20D Management (Undergraduate Partnership Programme)
    • Year 4 of N20C Management (with Placement Year)
    • Year 4 of N20Q Management with Accounting (with Placement Year)
    • Year 4 of N236 Management with Digital Business (with Placement Year)
    • Year 4 of N237 Management with Entrepreneurship (with Placement Year)
    • Year 4 of N232 Management with Finance
    • Year 4 of N233 Management with Finance (with Placement Year)
    • Year 4 of N253 Management with Marketing (with Placement Year)
    • Year 4 of N23L Management with Strategy and Organisation
    • Year 4 of N20R Management with Strategy and Organisation (with Placement Year)
  • Year 4 of UMAA-G1NC Undergraduate Mathematics and Business Studies
  • Year 3 of UMAA-G1N2 Undergraduate Mathematics and 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