Course Syllabus
Business Law
Winter 2017
Instructor: David Krull, J.D.
Course Number: BUS$-201
Item Number: 0340
Time: MWF 9-9:50a.m. Room RAH 304 and ONLINE
Course Textbook: Beatty & Samuelson, Legal Environment (5th Ed.)
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to Business Law. There are many definitions of what law is; however, the most appropriate description demonstrates that law is a means by which society promotes, protects, and punishes behavior. More specifically for this course, we will be studying how law regulates the conduct of different types of Business Entities. Focus will be on internal regulations of companies; the Fiduciary Duties Directors and Managers owe to the entity’s owners; AND how entities behave toward other businesses and its own customers.
Student Learning Outcomes: at the end of the terms students will be able to:
- UTILIZE critical thinking processes.
- Identify, Explain, and Apply legal terminology relating to Business Law.
- Recognize and EVALUATE ethical issues in business, including their legal implications.
- Analyze legal problems and questions, and Create reasonable legal conclusions based on the proper Identification of legal principles.
Course Geography:
This class will be taught from the perspective of the lawyer acting as an advocate. Some of the assignments will require the student to take the place of a lawyer, analyze facts, and produce an argument supporting the lawyer’s position on a given topic.
Grading:
Discussions: 80 Points
Case Brief: 20 Points
Midterm: 75 Points
Legal Memorandum: 100 Points
Final Exam: 125 Points
Total: 400 Points
ASSIGNMENTS, EXERCISES, & EXAMS
Discussions:
Studies have shown that level of participation in a class correlates to the student’s ability to retain information disseminated during a course. As such, throughout this quarter students will be required participate in the weekly class discussions. Each discussion is worth roughly 10 points toward the student’s final grade.
Case Brief:
Students will be assigned a seminal Washington State case on Business Law. Students will be required to write a one-page “brief” on the case; which must include all parts of a case brief, the question answered by the court, and the facts and law the court used to come to its conclusion/rule/decision.
Midterm & Final:
There will be two examinations this quarter. Both the Midterm and the Final will consist of Multiple Choice Questions and Essay Questions. Multiple Choice portions of the exam will be taken online. Students will have 60 Minutes to complete the Multiple Choice portion of an exam. The Essay portions of the exam will be take-home exams. Students will have four days to complete the essays. Students may ONLY use the course text book and the course Powerpoint Presentations (provided by the Instructor).
Legal Memorandum:
Students will be assigned to prepare and compose a Legal Memorandum. This assignment involves a fictional corporation and the behavior of one of its Directors. Students will be provided a statute and case law to help them analyze the scenario and provide a client with a reasonable, well-articulated legal conclusion.
IRAC Exercises:
IRAC: Issue, Rule, Analysis, and Conclusion. This is a means by which students will analyze factual situations. Additionally, this is format you will use when answering Essay Exams. At the end of each lecture there will be a walk-through of a sample scenario along with sample IRAC answers.
Modes of Instruction
Studies have shown that students learn better when course material is reinforced through a variety of modes or media:
- Textbook
- Case Law
- Lectures
- Powerpoint Presentations – available to students
- Hypothetical Scenarios
- Videos
Academic Dishonesty and course Conduct
South Seattle College’s policy on plagiarism is as follows: “[p]lagiarism includes, but is not limited to, using another person's ideas, words, or other work in an instructional course without properly crediting that person.” WAC 132F-121-110(1)(b) (2003). Further: “Academic dishonesty also includes, but is not limited to, submitting in an instructional course either information that is known to be false (while concealing that falsity) or work that is substantially the same as that previously submitted in another course (without the current instructor's approval).” WAC 132F-121-110(1)(c).
Any evidence of a student or students plagiarizing, cheating, or violating instructions of an assignment or exam will result in a grade of ZERO for that assignment or exam. Any second violation will result in a grade of 0.0 for the course.
Conduct:
During this class we will be discussing a variety of issues, some of which may be highly controversial. This may result in differing opinions between students. While each individual’s opinion is important, equally as important is each student’s ability to freely express themselves without reprisal. It is expected that each class member comport themselves in a Professional and Respectful manner. It is OK to disagree, but not OK to be disagreeable.
Disclaimer:
The Instructor is a practicing attorney in Washington; however, this class is not the establishment of an attorney-client relationship. Please do not take any information provided in this course as legal advice. Further, please do not attempt to solicit legal advice from the Instructor.
WEEKLY READING ASSIGNMENTS
Week 1: Introduction to Law and Canvas
- Chapter 1: Introduction to Law
- Chapter 2: Business Ethics and Social Responsibility
- Chapter 4: Common Law, Statutory Law, and Administrative Law
Week 2: Torts & Property
- Chapter 5: Constitutional Law
- Chapter 6: Torts
- Chapter 25: Property
Week 3: Agency, Partnerships, and Limited Liability Entities
- Chapter 16: Agency Law
- Chapter 19: Starting a Business: LLC’s and Other Options
Week 4: Corporations
- Chapter 17: Employment and Labor Law
- Chapter 20: Corporations
Week 5: Midterm
- Part 1: Multiple Choice
- Part 2: Take-home Essay Exam
Week 6: Contracts
- Chapter 9: Introduction to Contracts
- Chapter 10: Legality, Consent, and Writing
- Chapter 11: Performance, Discharge, and Remedies
- Chapter 12: Practical Contracts
Week 7 & 8: Legal Writing Assignment
- Lesson is conducted online
Week 9: Uniform Commercial Code: Sales
- Chapter 13: The UCC: Sales and Secured Transactions (Sales only pp. 311-325)
Week 10: Uniform Commercial Code: Secured Transactions & Negotiable Instruments
- Chapter 13: The UCC: Sales and Secured Transactions (Secured Transactions only pp. 325-335)
- Chapter 14: Negotiable Instruments
Week 11: Final Exam
- Part 1: Multiple Choice
- Part 2: Take-home Essay Exam
The chapters that are UNDERLINED will not be covered in lecture but WILL be on the exams.
Course Summary:
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