| Code | LAW254 |
| School | EBSL |
| Module Level | 2 |
| Module Code | LAW254 |
| Class | GE|EL|MA|MI| |
| Availability | DE|SA| |
| Semester | 1 |
| Credits | 12 |
| ECTS Credits | 6 |
| Contact Hours | 48 |
| Self Study Hours | 72 |
| Course Aims | Law is an important part of the business environment, providing a framework for the creation and regulation of business relationships and activities. This module is designed to build upon the knowledge and skills gained in Introduction to Business Law and to give the students an opportunity to develop such knowledge and skills within the specific areas of consumer law and employment law. Through an analysis of case studies, students will gain an understanding of the legal mechanisms involved in making businesses more accountable for the protection of the economic interests and physical safety of consumers and employees and in considering the question of access to justice. This course will also provide a link with other business modules, such as Human Resource Management (HRM) and Principles of Marketing. Thus, it fits into the overall ethos of BAIB. |
| Course Content | Consumer Law
" Identification of Consumer needs
" Statutory framework relating to contracts for the supply of goods and services
" Statutory framework relating to tortious and criminal liability of the producer and the supplier of goods and services
" Manufacturers Warranties
" Consumer Protection Institutions
" Current debates and topical developments in Consumer Law
Employment Law
" The contract of employment; termination of the contract of employment
" Equal Pay, Maternity and Parental Rights, Discrimination in Employment
" Minimum Wage: Working Time Regulations
" The Human Rights Act 1998; The Data Protection Act 1989; Employer Access to Employee Communications
" Employee References
" Health and Safety at Work
Core Skills ContentOral and written communication skills
These will be demonstrated by means of final examination, oral presentations and written assignments and other activities; these include seminar performance (including discussions, debates and other appropriate activities), reading and discussion of legal materials written in technical language in order to identify key statements and to be able to argue both sides of a case, presentations of such knowledge in a way which is comprehensible to others and which demonstrates a fair attempt at analytical thought and critical evaluation.
Basic introductory research skills
These will be demonstrated by being able to find/extract relevant information for presentations and assignments from textbook, casebooks, newspapers, journals the world wide web, including legal websites and use of CD ROM packages such as IOLIS and LAWTEL.
Basic application and problem solving skills
To develop further the basic problem solving skills learnt in the first year introductory law module by demonstrating by means of assessed coursework, final examination, and seminar activities, a clear attempt at analysis, synthesis, critical judgement and evaluation in the application of legal rules to a practical case study/legal debate of contemporary issue. The skill of analysis requires, inter alia, that students be able to discriminate between the legally relevant and irrelevant. Synthesis can be demonstrated through a variety of tasks, i.e. by bringing together material presented in lectures, studied in seminars together with wider reading, or bringing together material from different assigned reading or from researching own sources. Critical analysis will involve the ability to identify flaws in an argument i.e. through commentary on a new case or article, or role-play exercises. In evaluation an ability to offer reasons for a point of view is important. This can be a student's own developed point of view or a particular author's perspective.
Autonomy and ability to learn
To reflect on his/her own learning and make use of feedback through presentations, assignment and seminar discussion feedback processes including peer assessment and feedback.
Teamwork
This will be demonstrated through group work on oral presentations and during seminar discussions/debates and other appropriate activities.
IT
Word processing skills, demonstrated through production of written assignment in an appropriate form, the use of websites including legal websites and CD ROM packages e.g. IOLIS and LAWTEL.
Numeracy
Students may on occasion need to evaluate information produced in numerical or statistical form. |
| Learning Outcomes | A6, A7, A8, B5, B6, B7, B8, C6, C6, C8, C10, D5, D6, D8. |
| Presentation | The teaching/learning strategy for this module has been designed to ensure that the programme level learning outcomes outlined above have been acquired. The teaching/learning strategy is a weekly format for each topic and this will consist of one 3-hr session which will be taught using a combination of lecture and seminar/workshop activity to be followed by self-directed study. This method is appropriate for law and reasonably small module numbers.
The lecture component will identify and explain the key legal rules, including current debates and identify issues which will be the focus of further development in the seminar component, including additional material to prepare for the seminar activity. In some cases students will firstly be given material to read/discuss/analyse with the lecture component following this seminar activity. The seminar component will give the students an opportunity to clarify further any of the key legal rules including current debates from the lecture component through the use of additional materials supplied including short knowledge questions, articles and case studies in variety of seminar activities including group discussion and role-play exercises. Students will also be asked to prepare supplied material in advance or to research their own material in readiness for the next session. Case-study inevitably forms part of the seminar. |
| Reading Recommended | Employment Law
Simon Honeyball & John Bowers (2004) Textbook on Labour Law.
Gwyneth Pitt (2004) Employment Law, Sweet & Maxwell.
Eady. Jennifer & Tuck. Rebecca (2004) Labour Law Review 2004, IER
Consumer Law
Atiyah, P.S. and Adams, J.N. (2001) The Sale of Goods, Longman
Barrett, B. (l999) Occupational Health & Safety Law, M & E/ Pearson Education Ltd |
| Reading Required | Either:
Alix Adams (2006) Law for Business Students, Pearson Education Ltd (formerly Financial Times/Pitman Publishing) ISBN 0582473187
Or:
Employment Law
Nairns, J. (2005) Employment Law for Business Students, Pearson Education Ltd
AND:
Consumer Law
Lowe, R. and Woodroffe, J. (2004) Consumer Law and Practice, Sweet and Maxwell |
| Asseseement Methods | 1 x Individual written assignment
1 x Unseen examination ( 2.5 hours) |