LAW-30132 - Module Specification
School of Law
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

A practical approach to advising businesses at the start of trading or during their lifetime. Covering the key aspects of trading as either a sole trader, partnership or company. Legal and other obligations on partners and directors of businesses. This is a valuable insight into the practicalities of commercial law and understanding the status of your commercial client.
This will provide an introductory level of understanding of commercial legal practice and be helpful to students who wish to undertake future work as a paralegal, solicitor or CILEx especially acting for businesses.

To provide a practical understanding of the legal process and documentation involved in advising businesses. This will incorporate various legal skills and professional conduct which are essential for work in this area at a junior level in a law firm. Students have indicated this is an area of interest to them, as have employers.
Students who undertake this type of practice based activity are generally considered to develop their analytical skills by the application of the law and attain higher grades as a result of experiencing an alternative way of analysing the law. The module will build on the legal foundations established through the core LLB and take it to a more practical level with higher levels of analysis and better degree of accuracy of legal advice expected at Level 6
It is also an area specifically identified as part of the reform of the route to qualification as a solicitor. The Solicitors Regulation Authority has made it clear an understanding of this area is essential for those aspiring to become solicitors.

Intended Learning Outcomes

advise on the advantages and disadvantages of being a sole trader, partnership or company: 1,2
evaluate the tax implications for each trading vehicle: 1,2
evaluate the duties which apply to Directors of a Company and in problem based scenarios advise accordingly: 1,2
analyse and apply the obligations on a partner and the importance of a partnership agreement: 1,2
advise on the management of a business and ensuring compliance with statutory and other legal obligations: 1,2

Study hours

11 x 1 hour asynchronous lectures (recorded)
18 hours (9 x 2 hour workshops) delivered in 4 blocks of 2 hours (am) and 2 hours (pm) and a final 2 hour session on a 5th occasion across the summer
9 x 4 hours prep per workshop = 36

Self study hours will be used in listening to recorded lectures, preparatory reading and drafting of advice to be used in the workshops and revision for the exam.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment