COMLAW 101 : Law in a Business Environment
Business and Economics
2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
The law is pervasive, impacting on almost every aspect of life, and an understanding of the legal framework within which businesses operate in New Zealand is critical for anyone wishing to embark upon a career in commerce.
COMLAW 101 offers an introduction to this framework, and considers how New Zealand's unique history and culture shapes the legal, political and constitutional landscape of our country, with particular reference to the Treaty of Waitangi and tikanga Māori . We explore the structure of government and how law is made, interpreted and applied. From this foundation, we move on to examine some of the most significant areas of law impacting on business.
As well as providing a knowledge base in key aspects of commercial law, COMLAW 101 aims to develop the skills of critical thinking and problem-solving, and to enhance communication skills. This will provide a sound basis for any future study of commercial law and for a career in commerce.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse the distinction between legal and ethical decision-making in business. (Capability 1.1 and 8.1)
- Explain the evolution and significance of the unique legal and political framework within which businesses operate in New Zealand. (Capability 1.1)
- Assess the implications for business of the growing recognition of the importance of tikanga Māori and the Treaty of Waitangi. (Capability 1.2, 4.1 and 8.1)
- Explore, through examination of key areas of commercial law, how the law protects business interests and facilitates commercial transactions and relationships. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
- Apply a problem-solving approach in analysing legal case studies. (Capability 3.2, 4.2, 5.1 and 6.2)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Quizzes | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| Presentation | 10% | Group Coursework |
| Workshop participation | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| Mid-Semester Test | 20% | Individual Test |
| Final Exam | 50% | Individual Examination |
| 5 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| Quizzes | ||||||||||
| Presentation | ||||||||||
| Workshop participation | ||||||||||
| Mid-Semester Test | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 24 hours of in-person Workshops (1 x 2-hour Workshop per week for 12 weeks), as well as approximately 72 hours of Workshop preparation (including reading, watching pre-recorded lecture content, and engaging with online activities), and around 54 hours on assignments and consolidation/revision in preparation for assessments.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at weekly Workshops to receive credit for components of the course. These Workshops will not be available as recordings.
Attendance on campus is required for the Exam and all Workshops.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
All reading is available on a Talis Reading List and will be accessible online. All preparation activities (including pre-recorded lectures) will be available online.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.