LAW4680 - Australian corporations law - 2018

The unit critically examines the body of legal rules that govern the formation, management, financing and winding up of Australian corporations. Specific topics include: choice of the corporate business form, formation and characteristics of a corporation, the corporate constitution, corporate finance, share structure and membership, constitution and powers of the corporate organisation (board and general meeting), corporate authority, governance of the corporation, share capital, loan capital and dividends, shareholders' remedies, administration and winding up of the corporation.

At the end of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate the law and its practice relating to corporations, including contemporary developments, in a broader regulatory, social and economic context;
2. Identify, research, and evaluate relevant legal, factual and policy issues, including interpretation and application of relevant provisions of the Corporations Act;
3. Demonstrate intellectual and practical skills in interpreting and justifying theoretical propositions, legal methods and conclusions;
4. Engage in critical analysis and make reasoned and appropriate choices among alternatives;
5. Exercise professional judgment in evaluating jurisprudential and practical considerations raised by corporations law issues; and
6. Select, analyse, interpret and apply principles of corporations law to generate appropriate responses to complex legal issues embedded in factual scenarios;

1. Three assessed tutorial contributions (10% each) - 30%
2. Final Exam - Open book - 40%
3. Research essay (max 1,500 words) - 30%

39 contact hours taught over 4 weeks

See also Unit timetable information