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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "LAW 219-2"
COURSE NAME: "Legal Environment of Business"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2015
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Mark Graham
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 6:00 PM 7:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Recommended: EN 110 with a grade of C or above
OFFICE HOURS: By Appointment - Call 346-1546387
COURSE DESCRIPTION:

To introduce students to legal and risk management decision making tools in today's legal US and Global Environment and apply the legal risk decision tools to contemporary business legal problems.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
PART I - Legal and Ethical Environment of Business

PART II - Public and Global Environment

PART III - Contracts, Sales of Goods and E-Commerce

PART IV - Business Orgainizations and Investor Protection

PART V - Agency and Employment Law

PART VI - Government Regulation of Business
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon completion of the course, the students should be able to:

  • Explain the legal framework in which businesses operate in the U.S. and global legal systems, and the importance for business of the rule of law; 
  • Apply the fundamental concepts of contract, tort, and property law to business situations and understand governmental regulation of business;
  • Use the Internet to find information relevant to the analysis of legal issues arising in business situations;
  • Develop legal reasoning and analysis skills and be able to apply them to factual situations orally and in writing; and,
  • Recognize the differences among various forms of business organizations, including but not  limited to the sole proprietorship, the partnership, the limited partnership, and the corporation.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Business Law - Pearson New International Edition, 8th ed., 2014Henry CheesemanPearson Education Limited10: 1-292-02340-6; 13: 978-1-292-02340-3     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Class Presentations and ParticipationStudent Briefings of Problems and Cases in class and Contributions to Class Discussions12%
QuizzesClosed books quizzes.25%
Midterm Examination 20%
Final Examination 40%
News 3%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance for all class sessions is mandatory. Absences must be excused in advance by the professor.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE
Class sessions will consist of lectures, student presentations, and discussion of the issues related in the text.  Students will be challenged in class to show their understanding of business law principles and concepts and how the legal system is used to resolve business legal issues.  Writing assignments will be used to demonstrate that students can apply procedural and substantive law to realistic business legal issues and articulate clearly and concisely, in writing, the analysis and resolution of those issues. The instructor will provide a schedule for the exams, presentations for the course. The topics to be covered include:  

Legal Heritage and the Information Age

Business Ethics and Social Responsibility

Court Systems and Administrative Law

Constitutional Law for Business and E-Commerce

Torts and Strict Liability

Criminal Law and Cyber Crimes

International and World Trade Law

Traditional and E-Contracts and Sales

CyberLaw and E-Commerce

Global Forms of Business and Corporations

Agency Law, Equal Opportunity in Employment and Labor Law

Intellectual Property and Cyber Piracy

Antitrust Law and Unfair Trade Practices

Consumer Protection and Global Product Safety

Environmental Protection and Global Warming

Regulation of Property