Overview

This unit aims to enable students to gain an understanding of the law applicable to contracts and companies that are employed in the modern business environment. In particular the primary focus is on contracting activities and repercussions relating to businesses and entrepreneurial activities. The operations of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) which regulate the activities of companies, company officers and shareholders also take significance in this unit.

Requisites

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
26-February-2024
26-May-2024
Last self-enrolment date
10-March-2024
Census date
31-March-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
12-April-2024
Results released date
02-July-2024

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Critically analyse a range of legal concepts relating to corporate and contract law, drawing both from common law and statute law
  • Generate a range of solutions from case law drawing on analysis and interpretation of the Corporations Act 2001, the common law and other related state and commonwealth legislations
  • Apply critical thinking and analytical skills when applying legal concepts and principles
  • Construct coherent and logical legal arguments and communicate them effectively in both written and oral activities assigned
  • Apply advanced knowledge of a wide range of legal concepts, principles and rules of Australian contract and corporations’ law and to explain their relationship in the conduct of businesses and entrepreneurial activities

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class		2.00 12 weeks 24
Online
Lecture		1.00 12 weeks 12
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning		9.50 12 weeks 114
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssignmentIndividual 40 - 50% 1,2,3,4,5 
ExaminationIndividual 30 - 50% 1,2,3,4,5 
TestIndividual 10 - 20% 1,3,4,5 

Content

Topics may include:

  • The Australian Legal System
  • Formation of Contract
  • Terms of Contract
  • Validity of Contract
  • Termination of a Contract and Remedies
  • Characteristics of a Company & its Constitution
  • Company’s Relations with Outsiders including Company Contracts
  • Directors’ Duties
  • Company Insolvent Trading

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.