LW6020 - Company Law

What will I learn on this module?

In this module you will develop an in depth knowledge and understanding of key aspects of company law in England and Wales. You will learn about the most important types of companies: private companies that are privately owned and public companies that can offer their shares to the general public and may be listed on a stock exchange. You will develop a critical awareness of current issues and an understanding of the perspectives and wider debates about the nature of company law.
This module covers the following topics:
• types and classification of companies;
• incorporation and the nature of corporate personality;
• the role of directors in managing a company and directors’ duties;
• financing: raising capital by issuing shares and the role and rights of shareholders;
• the corporate governance debate and public companies; and
• company insolvency.
In terms of skills development, you will read and apply company law cases, interpret statutory provisions and consider some of the relevant academic articles in this area.

How will I learn on this module?

You will learn through lectures, workshops and independent learning. The lectures will cover theories and concepts that will enable you to prepare for the seminar sessions and tackle guided exercises within these sessions.

Directed learning will centre on lectures supported by detailed learning materials which will be made available via the module dedicated e-Learning (elp) site and will include guided reading using electronic reading lists. There will also be opportunities to engage with your tutor and fellow students in seminars. For one of the seminars you will have to work with other students in your seminar group in order to prepare and deliver a short presentation on a company law topic.

Independent learning will centre on you identifying further reading and research to provide deeper/broader knowledge and understanding of company law.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

The University is well-placed to support you in learning and research and has an extensive range of company law materials including books, journal articles and case materials. Many of these materials are available electronically and you will have access to on-line legal databases.

This module is designed and managed by your designated Module Tutor who will be responsible for guiding you in your engagement and learning on the module. All relevant materials and instructions will be accessible on-line through the module eLP site, maintained by your Module Tutor, who will also provide updates on issues of current significance to the area of company law. Extensive use is therefore made of the eLP at module level to facilitate discussions between you and your Module Tutor, to provide materials, make announcements and highlight recent developments in company law. You may communicate with the tutors of this module in person or by email. Where questions are raised by students that may be of interest to the whole cohort, the tutors may respond to questions via the module discussion board on the eLP site.

You will have the opportunity to undertake a piece of mock coursework. You will then be provided with an answer guide so you can compare your answer to the answer guide and identify areas for improvement before you submit your final assessed piece of coursework. Support will include feedback from tutors during small-group seminars. Oral feedback will be provided on the group presentation you will give in one of the seminars.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the module you will have:

• Developed a systematic and in depth knowledge and understanding of key aspects of company law and will be able to demonstrate detailed and coherent understanding in this area

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
By the end of the module you will be able to:

• Conduct self-directed research into company law issues including identification of issues which require researching, retrieval and evaluation of accurate, current and primary sources of company law.

How will I be assessed?

Formative assessment (i.e. feedback and preparing you for the summative assessment) will be achieved in a number of ways. The seminar exercises, feedback in these small-group seminars and informal peer assessment will help to prepare you for the assessment.

You will have the opportunity to undertake a piece of mock coursework and will be provided with an answer guide so you can compare your answer and identify areas for improvement before you submit your final assessed piece of coursework.

Oral feedback will also be provided on the group presentation you will give in one of the seminars.

Summative assessment for this module will take the form of a coursework assignment which constitutes 100% of the marks for this module.

This assignment aims to encourage a deep and critical approach to learning, developing your ability to think widely about the issues explored in the module. The specific nature of the assignment may vary but will likely include a problem style question.

Assessment criteria will be provided to enable you to understand what is expected from you and how we will judge your performance.

You will be provided with appropriate written feedback on your coursework. Whilst this feedback is provided to help you understand the mark you have been awarded, another aim of such feedback is to help you to do better in future assessments.

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

Companies are involved in nearly every aspect of our daily lives. We buy our food, clothes and petrol from them and they provide us with transport, entertainment and many other goods and services we take for granted. ‘Company Law’ will examine the laws governing private and public companies in England and Wales and you will develop an in depth knowledge and understanding of key aspects of company law.

You will also develop a critical awareness of current issues and an understanding of the perspectives and wider debates about the nature of company law. The global financial crisis highlighted the fact that companies play a significant role in shaping our society and that the failure of prominent companies can have a devastating economic and social impact. ‘Company law’ will explore and question the role of companies: are they forces for good or evil?

Course info

UCAS Code M102

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad

Department Northumbria Law School

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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