Company Law
36 hours face to face + blended + swinburne online
One Semester or equivalent
Hawthorn
Overview
This unit examines the law governing the incorporation, regulation and operation of Australian companies. It includes the rights and obligations of those who operate or deal with companies and those of its members. Students are enabled, through the study of cases, statutes and other material, to acquire an understanding of, and competence in, Australian company law and policy.
Requisites
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025
Teaching Period 1
Location
Online
Start and end dates
10-March-2025
08-June-2025
08-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
23-March-2025
Census date
04-April-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-May-2025
Results released date
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
03-November-2025
08-February-2026
08-February-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-November-2025
Census date
28-November-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-January-2026
Results released date
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Evaluate Australian company law in a broader regulatory, social or economic context
- Locate and interpret relevant legislation and case law and apply it to a given factual scenario
- Communicate with clients and others to advise them about their rights and obligations in terms of identified company law
- Conduct company law related research and use the results of that research in the synthesis of a legal argument
- Work as a group to produce a cogent argument based in company law and communicate the argument to others
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Class | 3.00 | 12 weeks | 36 |
| Online Lecture | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 8.50 | 12 weeks | 102 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 11.50 | 12 weeks | 138 |
| Live Online Class | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | Individual | 50 - 70% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Oral Presentation | Group | 10 - 20% | 2,3,4,5 |
| Written Assignment | Individual | 20 - 30% | 1,2,3,4 |
Content
Topics will include:
- The corporate personality and incorporation process
- The internal structure, governance, administration and management of companies
- The corporate constitution
- Criminal and civil liability
- Corporate contracting and liability
- Share capital and membership
- Duties and liabilities of directors and officers
- Corporate finance, credit and security arrangements
- Members’ remedies
- Insolvency, winding up and creditors’ remedies
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.