Corporate Law (BLAW20001)

Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
Semester 1
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Companies are all around us. Most of us deal with companies each day. In fact, there are more than 2.5 million active companies in Australia.

When you travel to the University on Public Transport, that transport is run by a company. The contract you hold with your mobile phone provider, is a company. Some cafes, restaurants, and retail outlets are also companies. Your social media accounts are all connected to a company.

What’s most fascinating is that, just like you and I, companies are people. They are recognised in the eyes of the law as ‘artificial’ legal persons. They enjoy some of the same rights as us ‘natural’ people.

They can sue and be sued. They can enter into contracts. They have obligations under law and the people ‘behind’ the companies are required to behave a certain way.

In this subject, we look at the rules and regulations that govern the formation, composition, management, financing and winding up of Australian corporations.

Indicative list of principal topics:

  • the incorporation process and its consequences;
  • the regulation on company shareholders and directors and their effects on those who deal with companies;
  • the internal composition of companies i.e., who are the people behind the corporate entity (such as shareholders, directors, secretaries);
  • how companies can enter into contracts with outsiders and what the outsiders can assume when dealing with company participants;
  • the duties and liabilities of company directors and other offers and what consequences they face under law if they do the wrong thing;
  • The actions and remedies you can take against a company if you have been wronged or harmed by the company or its participants.

Intended learning outcomes

This subject is designed to assist and add valuable knowledge to students from all faculties.

Upon successful completion of this subject, you should:



  • understand the incorporation process and the pros and cons of operating your business through a corporate structure;
  • acquire a general knowledge of the regulation of companies and the legal environment in which they operate;
  • understand the roles, functions and duties of the people who operate, participate in and control a company;
  • be aware of relevant sections of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and the key case law relevant to its operation;
  • be familiar with the risks and responsibilities of those who manage and control a company, including the criminal and civil consequences they face for breaching their obligations under law;
  • acquire specialised knowledge in key areas of corporate law of relevance to the business community; and
  • be aware of your rights and actions under law which you can take if you have been wronged by a company or its internal participants.

Last updated: 14 March 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
BLAW10001 Principles of Business Law
Semester 1 (Online)
Semester 2 (Online)
 12.5

OR

Equivalent

Corequisites


Non-allowed subjects


Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 14 March 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Tutorial attendance

Throughout the teaching period10%

Interim Written Assignment

  • 60 minutes
Mid semester25%

Multiple Choice Quiz

  • 30 minutes
During the teaching period10%

Final exam

  • 2 hours
During the examination period55%

Additional details

More information on the above assessment will be available to students via the LMS Canvas space for this subject.

Last updated: 14 March 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 1
    Principal coordinatorJulian Panetta
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hoursThis subject will be delivered through a mix of pre-recorded lectures, in-person tutorials and consultations.
    Total time commitment144 hours
    Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025
    Last self-enrol date14 March 2025
    Census date31 March 2025
    Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025
    Assessment period ends27 June 2025

    Semester 1 contact information

    Teaching staff: 

    Julian Panetta (Subject Coordinator) 

    For undergraduate student enquiries, contact us

Time commitment details

144 hours

What do these dates mean

Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:

  • Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
  • And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
       -  Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
     

    Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.

Last updated: 14 March 2025

Further information

Last updated: 14 March 2025