732-103 Introduction to Business Law

Coordinator:

Timetable:

Contact:

Objectives:

At the end of this subject students should be able to:

• explain the relationship between the law, the legal system and business;

• identify the legal issues or considerations which typically arise in conjunction with day-to-day business transactions;

• evaluate in a preliminary form the doctrinal bases of such legal issues or considerations in business;

• develop strategies for responding to legal issues or consideration in business;

• explain the advantages for businesses which operate within the legal system;

• comfortably make use of oral skills in their learning;

• use analytical style writing skills in explaining legal issues.

Content:

The following topics will be covered: overview of the relationship between law and business; the Australian legal environment and legal reasoning (role and responsibilities of infrastructure of the Australian legal system; forms of law; reading and interpreting legislation; reading and interpreting case law; classification of laws); regulation of business transactions (formation of agreements, requirements for enforcing agreements as contracts; remedies and relief available where agreements are not properly entered or formed; scope of obligations under contracts; determining the content of the contract and the meaning of its terms; remedies and relief available when contract breaks down; impact of community standards on business (overview of white collar crime; overview of tort law; tort of negligent mis-statement); impact of legislation on business (Trade Practices Act [Cth] 1974; Fair Trading Act [Vic]); introduction to Property Law (concepts of property; impact of property law on business).

Assessment:

Prescribed Texts:

A reading list will be provided at the beginning of the subject.