The University of New South Wales

go to UNSW home page

Handbook Home

PRINT THIS PAGE
Commercial Law - LAWS3018
Law Books

 
Faculty: Faculty of Law
 
 
School:  Faculty of Law
 
 
Course Outline: See below
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 6
 
 
EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)
 
 
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 3
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Prerequisite: LAWS1071, LAWS1072, LAWS2381, LAWS2382, LAWS1061; Corequisite:LAWS2010 Prerequisite: JURD7171, JURD7172, JURD7281, JURD7282, JURD7161; Corequisite:JURD7224
 
 
Excluded: JURD7318
 
 
CSS Contribution Charge:Band 3 (more info)
 
 
Tuition Fee:See Tuition Fee Schedule
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description

Commercial Law LAWS3018 is an Undergraduate Elective which introduces students to the general principles of commercial law, and builds on their foundation courses in Contracts, Business Associations 1 and Property, Equity & Trusts. It does not substantially overlap with specialised commercial options such as Law of Banking, Commercial Finance, Consumer Protection Law, Economic Analysis of Law, Insurance Law, Insolvency Law, International Trade Law, Interests in Securities, Regulation of Economic Activity, and Securities and Financial Services Regulation.

As a 6 unit elective, Commercial Law introduces students to the way in which general principles of common law, equity and statute law have developed to deal with the needs of commercial markets by focussing on:
  • The law applicable to commercial sales of goods; and
  • Agency law
The course, like the players in commercial markets, takes a problem-solving approach to subject matter, but also considers the broader policy dimensions of commercial law doctrines and practices. The problem solving approach investigates the way traders structure transactions to take best advantage of the protection offered by existing legal doctrines, and so illuminates the creative ways in which legal models or concepts are adapted to achieve pragmatic goals.

Recommended Prior Knowledge

See pre-requisites and co-requisite above. Concurrent enrolment with LAWS3137 Consumer Protection Law (if on offer) is recommended.

Course Objectives

The aim of the course is to give students a broad understanding of commercial law principles in context, rather than a detailed knowledge of particular rules or statutes. Students will:
  • Acquire an understanding of the way in which the basic concepts they have already learned in foundational courses (in particular, in contracts and property) are applied in a commercial environment
  • Acquire an understanding of several (new) key legal doctrines of importance in commercial transactions
  • Develop skills in thinking laterally about legal problems so as to find alternative approaches to achieving commercial goals
  • Appreciate the role of law in facilitating and regulating market activity in an evolving commercial environment

Main Topics

  • Understanding the contract of sale and the multiple legal concepts of goods
  • Contractual and statutory terms of contracts of sale
  • Concepts of ownership: property, possession and transfer of risk
  • How sales of goods are contracted for.
  • Warranties in commercial and in consumer sales.
  • What is ownership? How does bailment work legally?
  • Performance and breach in the sale of goods.
  • Agency law, including an introduction to fiduciary duties, and the rather interesting problems presented by double agents

Assessment

Class participation (25%)

Mid-session examination (25%)

Final exam (50%)

Course Texts

Prescribed

  • Commercial Law Commentary and Materials (Gail Pearson, Simon Fisher, Elisabeth Peden, GJ Tolhurst) 3rd Ed. ISBN: 9780455226286
  • Students should also purchase a copy of LAWS3018 Supplementary Reading Materials from the UNSW Bookshop

Recommended

  • Commercial Law (Samantha Traves) 2nd Ed ISBN: 9780409325362 2
  • Goode on Commercial Law, Edited and Fully Revised by Ewan McKendrick 4th Ed. (Penguin Books)
  • Australian Commercial Law (Clive Turner) 28th Ed. 2010, ISBN:9780455225753

URL for this page:

© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.