ENTREP 3017 - Driving Decisions: Legal

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2020

Do you know where to seek appropriate legal advice or identify key functions you need to address if you wish to start, join or invest in a startup or new business at some future point? This course enables students from a variety of backgrounds to understand the legal aspects of entrepreneurship. On completion of this course, you will have a broad understanding of Commercial Law and how it will impact entrepreneurial activity in several areas. You will learn how to identify specific legal issues an entrepreneur needs to understand at various stages of venture development. The course covers, from a very practical perspective, key issues in: creating a business entity including sole traders, partnerships and trusts; Australian Consumer law; Contract law; Intellectual Property; Employment law; Restrictive Trade Practices; Accounting; Insurances; Australian and overseas Digital Privacy Regulations and Laws; Exit strategies; Ethics and Compliance.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ENTREP 3017
    Course Driving Decisions: Legal
    Coordinating Unit Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation & Innov Centre
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Intensive: 36 to 40 hours
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible ENTREP 3007, TECHCOMM 3007
    Course Description Do you know where to seek appropriate legal advice or identify key functions you need to address if you wish to start, join or invest in a startup or new business at some future point? This course enables students from a variety of backgrounds to understand the legal aspects of entrepreneurship. On completion of this course, you will have a broad understanding of Commercial Law and how it will impact entrepreneurial activity in several areas. You will learn how to identify specific legal issues an entrepreneur needs to understand at various stages of venture development. The course covers, from a very practical perspective, key issues in: creating a business entity including sole traders, partnerships and trusts; Australian Consumer law; Contract law; Intellectual Property; Employment law; Restrictive Trade Practices; Accounting; Insurances; Australian and overseas Digital Privacy Regulations and Laws; Exit strategies; Ethics and Compliance.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Wendy Lindsay

    Program Director Contact Details:
    Entrepreneurship & Innovation
    Name: Dr Wendy Lindsay
    Email: wendy.lindsay@adelaide.edu.au

    Teaching Staff:
    Name: Bill McFarlane
    Email:  bill.mcfarlane@adelaide.edu.au
    Profile: https://madderns.com.au/team/bill-mcfarlane/
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

    On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

    1 Identify legal issues in commercial scenarios
    2 Articulate practical skills for setting up and running a new venture
    3 Apply critical thinking and problem solving skills
    4 Demonstrate a high level of literacy and to verbally communicate information and ideas effectively
    5 Develop a practical legal strategy for a new venture
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    3-5
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1, 3-5
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1-3, 5
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1, 5
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1, 3-5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    No required textbook
    Recommended Resources

    Library Resources
    The University of Adelaide’s Barr Smith Library provides a range of learning resources including texts, journals, periodicals, magazines, and access to online databases and information services. It also offers a virtual library which is accessible via the University’s website. Access to the Library's electronic resources.

    Online Learning
    MyUni is the University of Adelaide's online learning environment. It is used to support traditional face-to-face lectures, tutorials and workshops at the University. MyUni provides access to various features including announcements, course materials, discussion boards and assessments for each online course of study.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course is offered in blended learning mode with the face-to-face component offered as intensives.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    As a guide, a 3 unit course comprises a total of 156 hours work (this includes face-to-face contact, any online components, and self directed study).
    Learning Activities Summary
    This is a draft schedule and session dates are a guide only. The timetable may be changed during the course delivery if necessary.

    Learning Activities Summary
    Intensive Content Readings
    1

    Introduction to the Legal System in Australia
    Legel Entities
    Definintion of Intellectual Property
    Patents, Trade Marks, Designs
    Trade Secrets
    Other IP Copyright, Circuit Protection, Plant Varieties
    Inventorship/Authorship
    Practical Exercise to consider the application of IP to a start-Up senario

    2 Business Structures:
    Sole Proprietorship
    Partnership
    Company (various types)
       Constitution
       Shares
       Issued Capital
       Shareholders Agreement
       Establishment
       Directors Duties
       Board of Directors
    Trusts (various types)
    Joint Venture
    Asset Protection
    Guarantees
    Vendor Finance
    On-Line Business
    Workshop
    3 Agency arrangements
    Distribution arrangements
    Licensing arrangements
    Due Diligence
    Contracts
    Heads of agreement
    Contracts going wrong
    Competition and consumer protection and ACCC 
        anticompetitive behaviour
        misleading and deceptive conduct
        unconscionable conduct
        consumer guarantees
        consumer warranties against defects
        unfair contract laws
        other laws affecting offering of goods and services
    Tender process
    Franchises
    Workshop
    4 Accountancy     
    Record Keeping and Systems Investment Funds handling Taxation Payroll
    GST (applying and paying)
    PAYG
    Capital Gains
    Policies and Procedures
    Government Schemes R&D Tax EMDG, etc.

    Employment
    OH&S
    Fair Work & Bullying
    Discrimination
    Hiring and Firing
    Terms of Engagement
    Contractors
    5 Insurance
    IP insurance
    Office Equipment (leased/owned/borrowed)
    Data (Cloud/Local Servers)
    Software functionality (when it goes wrong)
    Key Person
    Directors
    Staff 
    Public liability
    Product liability
    Disclosure requirements
    Reporting Incidents
    Record Keeping
    6 Revision Day

    Various Entrepreneurs
    How did they deal with various legal issues?
    How and when to get advice?
    How do you choose an advisor?

    Review of Examination
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    An overview of the course assessment appears in the following Table. Details appear in the following section:
    #Assessment TaskTask TypeLengthWeightLearning Outcomes
    1 True/False Quiz (opening intensive) Individual 50 questions 12.5% 1,2,3
    2 Question/Answer written assessment Individual 10-15 questions 20% 1-5
    3 True/False Quiz (closing intensive) Individual 50 questions 12.5% 1,2,3
    4 Question/Answer written assessment Individual 10-15 questions 20% 1-5
    5 Final Question/Answer written assessment Individual 10-15 questions 30% 1-5
    6 Participation Individual in class 5% 1,2,3
    Total 100%
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Students should attend all classes in order to pass the course. There is considerable experiential learning during classes that build your knowledge and thus enable you to be successful in this course.

    Course results may be subject to moderation by the Assessment Review Committee.
    Assessment Detail
    True/False Quiz (opening and closing intensive)
    50 True/False questions on content of respective intensives

    Question/Answer written assessment (opening and closing intensive)
    Within the range of 10-15 questions on content of respective intensives

    Final Question/Answer written assessment
    Within the range of 10-15 questions on content of respective intensives

    Participation
    Contributing to class discussions
    Submission

    All text based assignments must be submitted via MyUni:

    • Assignment Submission: Assignments should not be emailed to the instructor; they must be lodged via the MyUni Course site (unless specified to do both).
    • Cover Sheet: Please include in the assignment a completed University of Adelaide Assessment Cover Sheet (found in MyUni, under Modules) providing details of yourself and your team members (if applicable), your assignment, the course, date submitted, etc. as well as the declaration signed by you that this is your (your team’s) work. Note that the declaration on any electronically submitted assignment will be deemed to have the same authority as a signed declaration.
    • Backup Copy of Assignments: You are advised to keep a copy of your assignments in case the submitted copy goes missing. Please ensure that all assignment pages are numbered. If your assignment contains confidential information, you should discuss any concerns with the Course Lecturer prior to submission.
    • Assessment extensions request: An application for Assessment Extension should be made before the due date of the assignment to the Course Lecturer. Normally, extensions will only be granted for a maximum of two weeks from the original assignment submission date. Extensions will only be granted in cases of genuine medical, compassionate or extenuating circumstances. See sections 3 and 7a) i. in particular on assessment extensions in the Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment (MACA) Policy.
    • Failure to submit: Failure to submit an assignment on time or by the agreed extension deadline may result in penalties and may incur a fail grade. Note that a late penalty of 5% of the total available marks for that assessment item will be incurred each day an assignment is handed in late (Unless otherwise stated in 'Assessment Related Requirements' or 'Assessment Detail' above). Assignments handed in after 14 days from the due submission date will fail even if a 100% mark is granted for the work.
    • Resubmission: of an assignment after reworking it to obtain a better mark will not normally be accepted. Approval for resubmission will only be granted on medical or compassionate grounds.
    • Appealing a mark or grade: If you are dissatisfied with your mark or grade, you may request a review or re-mark. There must be academic or procedural reasons for your request, so you can’t simply request a re-mark because you are disappointed with your result. For more information on the process see Assessment Grievance: Appealing a mark or grade
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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