Legal Environment of Business

University of Texas/MBA Houston

Spring 2009

 

Professor David Spence, David.Spence@mccombs.utexas.edu

Professor Christopher Meakin, Christopher.Meakin@mccombs.utexas.edu

 

 

Objective: This course is intended to help students develop: (1) a basic knowledge of the legal questions that can arise in the course of doing business, (2) an understanding of the rules and norms governing the relationship between government (including legislatures, regulators, and courts) and business; and (3) the analytical skills and reasoning power to recognize and respond to potential and emerging legal issues.

 

Participation: You are expected to have read the assigned readings before class and be prepared to discuss the cases when called upon.  Class participation will comprise 30% of your grade.  You can maximize your participation grade by being present at every session, being prepared (by having done the readings), and contributing to class discussions.  For more about maximizing your participation grade, click here.  There will be several in-class exercises, which comprise a portion of the class participation grade.  

 

Exam:  There will be an in-class mid-term and an in-class final exam, each which will comprise 35% of your grade.  The midterm will cover material from the first half of the course; the final will cover material from the second half of the course.  The exam will take place during the last 2 hours of the 4-hour class block.  For the exam you be allowed to bring one 8 1/2” x 11” piece of paper with anything you wish written on it (both front and back side) in only your own handwriting.  Your full name must be written on one side of the sheet in letters at least this big. The sheet shall be turned in with the exam.  

 

Readings: The text for this course is Cross & Miller, West’s Legal Environment of Business (7th Edition).  Additional readings will be identified on the syllabus.

 

 

Schedule, Readings, and Presentation Topics:

 

 

COHORT 1

COHORT 2

Jan  3

(Spence)     

Introduction to Legal Systems, Sources of Law, and

Constitutional Law

          Chps. 1, 2 & 5

National Legislature Exercise – link TBA

Jan  2        

(Spence)

Introduction to Legal Systems, Sources of Law, and Constitutional Law

          Chps. 1, 2 & 5

National Legislature Exercise – link TBA

Jan 17

(Spence)

Contracts I

Chp. 9

Contracts Exercise – link TBA

Jan 17

(Spence)

Contracts

Chp. 9

Contracts Exercise – link TBA

Jan 31

(Spence)

Contracts II (including warranties)

Chps. 10 and pp. 273-77

Jan 30

(Spence)

Contracts & Warranties

Chps. 10 and pp. 273-77

Feb 14

(Spence)

Antitrust Law

Environmental Law

Chps. 24, 26, 27

Tradeable Permits Exercise – link TBA

Feb 14

(Spence)

Antitrust Law

Environmental Law

Chps. 24, 26, 27

Tradeable Permits Exercise – link TBA

Feb  27

(Spence)

Criminal Law (2 hrs)

Chp. 7

EXAM

Feb 28

(Spence)

Criminal Law (2 hrs)

Chp. 7

EXAM

Mar 14

(Meakin)

Real, Personal and Intellectual Property

Chp. 25, handout, Chp 14

Mar 13

(Meakin)

Real, Personal and Intellectual Property

Chp. 25, handout, Chp. 14

Mar 28

(Meakin)

Torts and Products Liability

Chps. 12 and 13

Mar 28

(Meakin)

Torts and Products Liability

Chps. 12 and 13

Apr 11

(Meakin)

Agency and Business Entities

Chps. 19, 16-18

Apr 10

(Meakin)

Agency and Business Entities

Chps. 19, 16-18

Apr 25

(Meakin)

HR and Bankruptcy

Chps. 20, 21 and 15

Apr 24

(Meakin)

HR and Bankruptcy

Chps. 20, 21 and 15

May 1

(Meakin)

Topic TBA (2 hrs) & Exam

May 2

(Meakin)

Topic TBA (2 hrs) & Exam