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Wright State University Raj Soin College of Business

Dr. J. Michael Bernstein
LAW 300 - Legal Environment of Business
     
Spring Quarter 2007
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The course title, The Legal Environment of Business, is meant to convey a different emphasis than that found in traditional business law courses. In this course, additional attention is given to public and regulatory law topics with coverage of contract law and the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). Law is identified as changing and dynamic and throughout the course attention is directed to the social, economic, and political forces which shape law. While attention is given to the understanding of legal rules, an emphasis is placed on understanding the forces which produce the law and shape the legal environment in which businesses operate in the United States.

The nature of what is meant by law is explored first, followed by an investigation into how civil disputes are resolved in court and alternative dispute resolution systems. Next, the course explores the three sources of law, which are relevant to U.S. business: common law, statutes, and administrative law. The substantive law of business crimes and torts is covered next. Through out the course, the law of contracts, the Uniform Commercial Code, employment law, and the different forms of business organizations are discussed.

The material covered in this course provides the legal foundation for all future law courses and especially Management 493. The course objectives are:

  1. Increase reasoning skills and encourage an analytical approach and critical thinking skills to aid in solving business problems.
  2. Develop awareness of the legal environment in which U.S. business firms operate and prepare students to understand how the law impacts business decision making.
  3. Develop an understanding of the nature of law and legal systems and methods of alternative dispute resolution.
  4. Introduce the nature of white collar crimes as they impact the business community.
  5. Introduce important public, regulatory law topics, including constitutional limits on government regulation of business, regulation of the employment relationship. This includes employment discrimination laws, and an introduction to the forms of organization of business, and bankruptcy.
  6. Provide an understanding of private, civil law topics which impact business, including the law of contracts, intentional torts, negligence theory and strict liability for defective products.