BUSINESS LAW -BIE 251
MULUNGUSHI UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS (SBS)
COURSE OUTLINE
BUSINESS LAW -BIE 251
1.0 LECTURER:
2.0 LECTURER CONTACT TIME AND PLACE
Day(s) From To Location
2 08:00 17:00 Lusaka
3.0 PRE-REQUISITE : NONE
4.0 OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE
The objectives of this subject are to enable the students to:
a) Understand the need for laws to protect businesses and creativity.
b) Understand sources of law and forms of liability as applied to Industry.
c) Apply the law relating to contracts to various relationships namely
partnerships, agencies, sale of goods, employment and companies.
d) Understand the law of torts and its relevance to product liability.
e) Apply the law relating to negotiable instruments.
5.0 COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides the student with the legal framework in which business transactions
thrive.Business law encompasses the law governing contracts, sales, Negotiable
instruments, Agency partnerships and employment law, business organizations. The laws
aim to protect fair business practices and due process rights for aggrieved parties.
6.0COURSE OUTLINE
6.1 DEFINITION AND CLASSIFICATION OF LAWS
Public Law
Private Laws
Sources of Laws e.g Republican Constitution, Legislation. Delegated
Legislation, African Customary Law, English Received Law, Common Law and
Equity, Judicial Precedent and International Treaties.
6.2THE COURT SYSTEMS AND FORMS OF LIABILITY E.G CIVIL AND CRIMINAL
LIABILITY.
Supreme Court
Constitutional Court
Court of Appeal
High Court
Magistrates Court
Small Claims Court
6.3THE LAW OF CONTRACT
Elements of a valid contract
Contents of a contract
Vitiating factors
Discharge of a contract
6.4PARTNERSHIP AND AGENCY
1. Creation
2. Reciprocal rights and duties
3. Nature and types of Agency/Partnership
4. Termination of Agency/Partnership
6.5THE LAW OF TORTS
Definition and nature of Torts
Basic concepts of Negligence and product liability
Professional Negligence
Defences in Tort generally
Concept of vicarious liability
6.6COMPANY LAW
The need to do business through companies
Legal requirements for company formation in Zambia
Corporate Finance and Administration
Corporate Insolvency
6.7EMPLOYMENT LAW& LABOUR RELATIONS
Definition of Employment Contracts
Common law duties of parties
Concept of vicarious liability in employment
Termination of employment contract and remedies
Collective bargaining
Settlement of collective disputes
7.0 PRACTICALS
Case studies
(Studying Business Law)
8.0 EVALUATION
Assignments 10%
Supervised test 30%
Continuous Assessment 40%
Final exam 60% (3 hour exam paper)
Total 100%
9.0 REFERENCES
9.1 MAIN TEXT
1. Dennis Keenan, Smith and Keenan’s English Law, 12th Edition, 1998 financial
times/pitman publishing, London.
2. Sarah Richies and Vida Allen, Keenan and Riches Business Law, 9 th Edition, 2009,
Pearson Education Limited, London
3. Paul Davies and Sarah Worthington, Gower and Davies principles of modern
company law, 9th edition, 2012, Sweet and Maxwell, London.
9.2 OTHER TEXTS
I. David Kelly et al, 6th Edition, 2011, New York
10. TUTORIAL WORK
Students will be given tutorial problem sheets on a weekly basis.
