LAW5011 - Principles of company law - 2019

The unit introduces the basic principles of Australian corporations law. The unit examines the corporation as a separate legal entity and those situations where the law ignores the separateness of the corporation; classification of Australian companies; adopting, altering and enforcing the corporate constitution; how a company enters binding contracts with third parties; corporate governance and the role and duties of directors; membership of companies, company meetings and members' rights and remedies; corporate finance, share capital, share capital transactions and dividends; administration of insolvent companies and winding up. The unit considers the legal principles in these areas critically and in their social, economic and policy context.

At the successful completion of this Unit students will be able to:

1. critically evaluate the law relating to corporations in a broader regulatory, social or economic context, including contemporary developments in the law and its practice;
2. identify, research, synthesise and evaluate relevant legal, factual and policy issues, including interpreting and applying relevant provisions of the Corporations Act;
3. demonstrate intellectual and practical skills to interpret and justify 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;
6. select, analyse, interpret and apply principles of corporations law to generate appropriate responses to complex legal issues embedded in factual scenarios; and
7. communicate effectively and persuasively to specified audiences.

Research assignment (3,000): 40%

Examination (2 hours plus 30 min reading time): 60%

42 contact hours per teaching period (either intensive, semi-intensive or semester long, depending on the Faculty resources, timetabling and requirements)