Introduction to Law and its Role in Business Operations

Learning and Teaching

This module is delivered over 15 weeks using a campus-based blended learning approach with scheduled face-to-face and online sessions.

Most sessions comprise a lecture with workshop activities. If you are unable to attend a session due to factors outside your control, you are expected to inform your tutor and engage in the activities set before the next scheduled session.

In weeks 6 & 13 tutorials will take place which will provide you with the opportunity to discuss your progress on the module and receive feedback on assessments.  This may be face-to-face or online as arranged.

To complete the module successfully you must allocate a substantial amount of independent study time, which will include undertaking set activities and carrying out assessment activities.

Graduate attributes are the personal qualities and skills which the University of Bolton community values, and which a student is expected develop during their time at the University. Graduate attributes act as a point of reference for a student’s personal development and support the articulation of employability and transferable skills.

Module Communications

The Module Tutor’s contact details are provided at the top of this page.  You must check your University of Bolton email address and the Moodle area dedicated to this module regularly as many module communications are channelled through these media.

Your Module Tutor will normally aim to respond to your email messages within 2 full working days of receipt.  However responses will be longer in holiday periods.

Module Description

This module is designed as an introduction to the law as and how it relates to business operations and activities. The module will help you to understand the legal framework within which businesses operate, and the legal implications of business activities. Furthermore, it will aim to develop key skills, including your ability to identify, critically analyse and apply relevant legal rules to realistic business situations. You will also develop your problem solving skills. The module will also aim to develop the Bolton core value of Ethical Responsibility through discussion of the legal process and the role of those persons involved in its operation. In addition, it will aim to develop the Bolton core value of Internationalisation, Environmental Sustainability and Ethical Responsibility by emphasising the impact of European Law Harmonisation with regard to Company Law and the role of directors investigating the impact of s172 Companies Act 2006.

Learning Outcomes and Assessments

LO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the main concepts, principles and rules of the English Legal System.

Module Communications

LO2:  Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Contract Law, Tort Law, Company law and Employment law.

LO3:  Explain sources of law, business transactions, the nature and management of a company, the concept of business liability in negligence, the vicarious liability of an employer and also individual employment rights.

Feedback on items of assessment can be formal (such as on a signed feedback form) or informal (such as advice from a tutor in a tutorial). Feedback is therefore not just your grade or the comments written on your feedback form, it is advice you get from your tutor and sometimes your peers about how your work is progressing, how well you have done, what further actions you might take.

We recognise the value of prompt feedback on work submitted. Other than in exceptional circumstances (such as might be caused by staff illness), you can expect your work to be marked and feedback provided not more than 15 working days from the deadline date. However, please note that that such feedback will be provisional and unconfirmed until the Assessment Board has met and may therefore be subject to change.

Please take time to read or listen to your assessment feedback. This can be very useful in determining your strengths and key areas for development, and can therefore help you improve on future grades.

Guidelines for the Preparation and Submission of Written Assessments

Written assessments should be word-processed in Arial or Calibri Light font size 12. There should be double-spacing and each page should be numbered.

There should be a title page identifying the programme name, module title, assessment title, your student number, your marking tutor and the date of submission.

You should include a word-count at the end of the assessment (excluding references, figures, tables and appendices). Where a word limit is specified, the following penalty systems applies:

• Up to 10% over the specified word length = no penalty
• 10 – 20% over the specified indicative word length = 5 marks subtracted (but if the assessment would normally gain a pass mark, then the final mark to be no lower than the pass mark for the assessment).
• More than 20% over the indicative word length = if the assessment would normally gain a pass mark or more, then the final mark will capped at the pass mark for the assessment.

All written work should be referenced using the standard University of Bolton referencing style– see: https://libguides.bolton.ac.uk/resources/referencing/

Unless otherwise notified by your Module Tutor, electronic copies of assignments should be saved as word documents and uploaded into Turnitin via the Moodle class area. If you experience problems in uploading your work, then you must send an electronic copy of your assessment to your Module Tutor via email BEFORE the due date/time.

Please note that when you submit your work to Moodle, it will automatically be checked for matches against other electronic information. The individual percentage text matches may be used as evidence in an academic misconduct investigation (see Section 13).

Late work will be subject to the penalties:

• Up to 7 calendar days late = 10 marks subtracted but if the assignment would normally gain a pass mark, then the final mark to be no lower than the pass mark for the assignment.
• More than 7 calendar days late = This will be counted as non-submission and no marks will be recorded.

Late submission of assessments on refer and those which are graded Pass/Fail only, is not permitted. Students may request an extension to the original published deadline date as described below. 

8. In the case of exceptional and unforeseen circumstances, an extension of up to 14 days after the assessment deadline may be granted. This must be agreed by your Programme Leader, following a discussion the Module Tutor. You should complete an Extension Request Form available from your Tutor and attach documentary evidence of your circumstances, prior to the published submission deadline.

Extensions over 14 calendar days should be requested using the Mitigating Circumstances procedure, with the exception of extensions for individual projects and artefacts which, at the discretion of the Programme Leader, may be longer than 14 days.

Requests for extensions which take a submission date past the end of the module (normally week 15) must be made using the Mitigating Circumstances procedures.

Some students with registered disabilities will be eligible for revised submission deadlines. Revised submission deadlines do not require the completion extension request paperwork.

Please note that the failure of data storage systems is not considered to be a valid reason for an extension. It is therefore important that you keep multiple copies of your work on different storage devices before submitting it.