Business Law

Business Law

About the Business Law Certificate

Businesses follow the law. In order to setup or operate a business you would need some basic knowledge of the laws that apply to the country where you run a commercial activity. Owners, managers, or any other business professionals need a basic understanding of the legal landscape to make better decisions. This course is about the English legal system, with a touch on European law. It also tackles concepts such as legal relationships, business contracts, negligence or product liabilities.

This course does not require any previous experience. You should however have a keen interest in business operations and the law. The Business Law course should take around 110 hours of study, but you are free to study at your own pace and can take as little or as long to compete it.

Who should study this course?

If you plan to study and take up a career in business, if you want to setup a business, or if you already run one this business law course is a great way to cover all bases on legal concepts that you would confront in your professional life. You may not want a full-time law degree, or it may be you are only interested in certain aspects of English or European law.

You do not need any prior knowledge or any qualifications before enrolling on one of our short business courses. All it takes to enrol is a strong interest in business and law, access to our study materials and the motivation to engage in independent home study.

What happens after the course?

You will have developed competences in identifying legal issues, applying legal concepts to factual situations and be aware of a range of legal controls. At the end of this course, you may choose to continue your studies with a higher education degree in Law, or you may apply this knowledge to a real business.

The knowledge you will have gained after this course will put you in good stead to running your own business, advising a company on recruitment policies, or progress to operations manager at your workplace. Potential jobs would include:

• HR associate
• Operations manager
• Legal secretary

For more information about this course, give us a call on this number: 01202 006 464

Modules

Unit 1: The English Legal System

Section One: The Nature of Law

Introduction

Some social functions of law

Criminal and civil law

Common law and equity

Equitable rights

Equitable remedies

Maxims of equity

Common law damages

Summary of section one

Section Two: Sources of Law

Legislation

Statutory interpretation

Precedent

European Union law

Summary of section two

Section Three: The Courts and Tribunals

Possible classifications

The legal process

Criminal courts

Indictable offences

Summary offences

Offences triable either way

Civil courts

Tribunals

Arbitration

Mediation

Summary of section three

Section Four: Legal Personnel and Legal Aid

Magistrates

Juries

Members of tribunals

The solicitor

The barrister

The judges

Legal aid and other sources of legal assistance

Summary of section four

Unit 2: Legal Relationships

Section One: Liability for Employees and Agents

The employment relationship

Vicarious liability

The contract of employment

Agency

Types of agent and formation

Responsibilities of the parties

Terminating an agency

The commercial agents regulations

Summary of section one

Section Two: Sole Traders and Partnerships

Business organisations introduced

Sole traders

Partnerships

Liability of partners

The partnership agreement

Ending the partnership

Summary of section two

Section Three: Forming a Company

Basic principles

Separate legal personality

Company membership and limited liability

Types of company

Forming a company

The constitution: memorandum and articles

The Memorandum of Association

The Articles of Association

Changing the constitution

Summary of section three

Section Four: Managing the Company

Capital

Shares

Borrowing

Company management

Summary of section four

Unit 2: additional questions

Additional questions: guidance

Unit 3: Business Contracts

Section One: Making a Contract

What is a contract?

Creating the contract

Agreement - offer

Concluding the agreement - acceptance

Intention to create legal relations

Consideration

Summary of section one

Section Two: What Can Go Wrong During the Making of a Contract

What can go wrong in the making of a contract and how it affects the contract

Lack of certainty

Lack of necessary formality

Lack of capacity

Illegal contracts

Misrepresentation

Summary of section two

Section Three: Contractual Terms

The contents of a contract

Terms and pre-contractual statements

Contractual terms - express and implied

Conditions, warranties and innominate terms

Terms which exclude or limit liability

Summary of section three

Section Four: Discharging a Contract

How contracts come to an end

Discharge by performance

Discharge by agreement

Discharge by breach of contract

Frustration of contracts

Remedies

Summary of section four

Unit 3: additional questions

Additional questions: guidance

Reading list for Unit 3

Unit 4: Non-Contractual Obligations of the Seller/Producer

Section One: The Duty of Care in Negligence

Negligence: an introduction

The duty of care

Special circumstance

Negligent statements and professional
negligence

Summary of section one

Section Two: Other Aspects of Negligence and Product Liability

Breach of duty

Factors in setting the standard

Proof of breach

Resulting damage

Defences

Remedies

Product liability

Summary of section two

Section Three: Other Aspects of Tort

Nuisance

The rule in Rylands v Fletcher

Occupier's liability

Summary of section three

Section Four: Liability in Respect of Employees

Vicarious liability

Liability for employees only

Within the course of employment

Health and safety at work

Making the system work

Summary of section four

Unit 4: additional questions

Additional questions: guidance

Unit 5: European Community Law

Section One: The Development of the European Community

Introduction and history

The Treaty of Rome

The four main institutions

The Treaty of Maastricht

Terminology

Summary of section one

Section Two: The Functions of the Institutions

The role of the institutions

Inter-relationship of the institutions

Recent changes

Summary of section two

Section Three: The Sources of European Community Law

Transformation of European Community
law into English law

The enacted sources of European
Community law

The general principles of EC law

Modes of interpretation

Summary of section three

Section Four: The Integration of European Community Law at a National Level

Supremacy of European Community law

Direct effect

Indirect effect of EC law

State liability for non-compliance with EC law

Summary of section four

Section Five: Enforcement of European Community Law at a European Level

Introduction

Control of the institutions

The action for failure to act

The plea of illegality

The action for damages

Control of Member States

The preliminary reference procedure

Comment

Summary of section five

Unit 5: additional questions

Additional questions: guidance

Further reading

For a more detailed syllabus on this course, click here

Entry Requirements

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before certification can be ordered.

*You will have access to the course for 24 months.

Assessment Method

After each lesson there will be a question paper, which needs to be completed and submitted to your personal tutor for marking. This method of continual assessment ensures that your personal tutor can consistently monitor your progress and provide you with assistance throughout the duration of the course.

On successful completion of your course you will receive the learndirect Certificate of Completion of Training in Business Law.

Your course certificate will also state the number of CPD points/hours the course is eligible for.

View a sample of the certificate (opens in new window)

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