732-103 Principles of Business Law

Credit Points

HECS Band

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Semester

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Subject Description

The topics in this subject are selected for their relevance to business activity. They are introduction: an overview of the nature, function and organisation of law and legal materials; how law is made, administered and enforced; sources of law: custom, legislation and case law; contract law: the creation and performance of legally enforceable agreements; how terms of a contract are created by agreement and by law; the nature and scope of contractual obligations; performance of contractual obligations; circumstances in which performance might be avoided or excused; breach of contract; remedies for breach; tort law: liability for wrongful harm caused to other persons or property; how liability in tort arises; the recovery of damages in common law for purely economic loss caused by negligent misstatements; statutory liability for misrepresentations under the Trade Practices Act; criminal law: liability for conduct prohibited and penalised by law; elements of criminal liability; and criminal liability for false representations under the Trade Practices Act.

Assessment

Seminar tasks (10%) and one take-home assignment of 850 words (20%) and a 2.5-hour end-of-semester examination (70%). (The seminar tasks will include one or more multiple choice tests, administered during designated seminars, and small group preparation and presentation tasks on specific questions.)

Prescribed Texts

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