Accessibility statement

Company Law - MAN00003H

« Back to module search

  • Department: The York Management School
  • Module co-ordinator: Mr. Liam Kilvington
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2021-22 to Summer Term 2021-22

Module aims

This module looks at some basic principles of English Law and how they impact upon the business organisation from a finance and accountancy perspective. It does not try to cover all aspects of the law as this would not be possible in a single module. Instead it covers aspects most relevant to accountants and those working in finance. It is not intended to make legal experts of students but to raise awareness of how the law impacts upon a business organisation in certain aspects of its trading activities. It assumes no prior knowledge.

The module begins with a brief introduction to the English legal system. This discusses the law in general, the reasons for which a system of law is necessary, the main sources of law, the institutions that create the law and the differences between the criminal and civil legal systems. It then proceeds to examine the different legal structures that business organisations can adopt before concentrating on the limited company, both in terms of its external and internal relationships. The module next considers the business organisation from two different perspectives: as an employer and as a user or provider of goods and services. The former involves examination of certain aspects of employment law, whilst the latter looks at the basic principles of the tort of negligence and the elements of a legally binding contract including the impact of statutory intervention on behalf of the consumer. The module concludes with an overview of the impact of the criminal law on a business organisation.

Module learning outcomes

On completion of the module students will be able to:

  • Identify the sources of law and distinguish case law from legislation
  • Distinguish different forms of business organisation, understand the concept of legal personality and analyse the relationships between a company and its directors, shareholders and creditors
  • Analyse different forms of employment relationship and evaluate an employerâ approach to termination of the employment relationship
  • Understand different forms of civil obligations and apply them to given factual circumstances with reference to the liabilities that they give rise to
  • Evaluate the impact of the criminal law on the activities of a commercial organisation.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled)
Company Law		 3 hours 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled)
Company Law		 3 hours 100

Module feedback

Written guidance on the tasks set for seminars is provided to students at the end of each seminar cycle and they are actively encouraged to hand in work for diagnostic purposes throughout the module. Sample questions are also provided during the revision period for further formative feedback.

A two hour revision and feedback session covering the whole course is scheduled in Week 1 of the Summer Term. This is supported by a cycle of seminars where students can raise any particular areas of concern to them personally.

The module tutor is also accessible to students to meet with them to offer personal feedback and further assistance.

Indicative reading

  • Business Law, James Marson and Katy Ferris (OUP 2015, 4th ed.)
  • Introduction to Business Law, Lucy Jones (OUP 2015, 3rd ed.)
  • Essentials of Business Law, Ewan MacIntyre (Pearson 2015, 5th ed.)


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.