RGU: RGU Module: Law Of Business Associations (BS3125)

Module Title
Law Of Business Associations

Keywords
Partnership; Limited Liability Partnership; Limited Partnership; Company; Partners; Formation; Dissolution; Share Capital.

Reference

BS3125

SCQF Level

SCQF 9

SCQF Points

ECTS Points

7.5

Created

April 2003

Approved

April 2003

Amended

March 2013

Revision No.

This Module Revision is not active until 01/Sep/2013

Prerequisites for Module

None in addition to SCQF 8 entry requirements or equivalent.

Corequisite Modules

None.

Precluded Modules

None.

Aims of Module

To provide the student with an understanding of the principal forms of business association i.e. partnerships and companies.

Learning Outcomes for Module

On completion of this module, students are expected to be able to:

1.	Explain the legal and commercial advantages and disadvantages of partnerships as business associations.
2.	Explain how the law regulates the relationship of the partners within the firm and the relationship of the firm and its partners to third parties.
3.	Explain the key concepts of company law such as corporate personality, limited liability and share capital.
4.	Explain important constitutional arrangements of the company.

Indicative Module Content

This module covers the principles of partnership law and aspects of company law. The content of the module will include an examination of the different forms of partnership and the essential characteristics of partnership. It shall also include the following topics: How partnerships are created; how partnerships are dissolved. The rights of the partners inter se. The rights of third parties against the firm (and its partners) and the rights of the firm against third parties.
In the company law section of the course a number of key topics shall be covered. These shall include an examination of the company as a business medium. The classification of companies by size, types and purpose. The registered company shall be compared and contrasted with the ordinary partnership.
The other topics of the course shall include; the formation and registration of the company, corporate personality and limited liability and the implications of these concepts, the company constitution, the Memorandum of Association and the issue of corporate capacity.

The topics will also include the Articles of Association and the alteration of the Articles, the financial structure of the company, share capital, classes of shares and class rights and loan capital and debentures.

Indicative Student Workload

Contact Hours	Full Time	Part Time
Assessments	20	20
Lectures/Tutorials	36	36
Directed Study
Directed Study	30	30
Private Study
Private Study	64	64

Mode of Delivery

This is a lecture-based course supplemented with seminars. The Lectures provide the core course content, and the seminars develop the associated skills. Given the nature of the course, certain topics are well suited to a student-centred learning approach and, therefore, students may be set research tasks both individually and in groups as part of the preparation for seminars.

Assessment Plan

	Learning Outcomes Assessed
Coursework	1,2,3,4
Examination	1,2,3,4

Coursework worth 30% of the module grade.

Exam worth 70% of the module grade.

Indicative Bibliography

1.	BENNETT D., 1995. An introduction to the law of partnership in Scotland. Edinburgh: W Green.
2.	BOURNE, N. AND PILLANS, B., 1999. Scottish company law. 2nd ed. London: Cavendish Publishing.
3.	DAVIDSON F. and MACGREGOR L.J., 2003. Commercial law in Scotland. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Thomson W Green.
4.	GRIER N., 2009. Company law. 3rd ed. Edinburgh: Thomson W Green
5.	KEENAN, D., and BISACRE, J., 2009. Smith and Keenan's company law for students with Scottish supplement. 14th ed. Harlow: Pitman. ebook
6.	FRENCH, D., MAYSON, S.W.and RYAN, C.L., 2010. Mayson French and Ryan on company law. 27th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
7.	MORSE, G. et al., 2005. Charlesworth and Morse company law. 17th ed. London: Sweet and Maxwell.