Law is a crucial ingredient in all business dealings. A business education is certainly incomplete if it fails to include one or more courses which develop legal knowledge and skills along with a practical appreciation of the fact that all commercial relationships and transactions have legal consequences. One or more papers in the Business Law area are therefore highly recommended to those completing a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), whatever their major subject. Some occupations require more - for example, those who plan to become chartered accountants are required to complete three papers of Business Law.
Law also affects ordinary people's lives in important and numerous ways and for students from other faculties, gaining some knowledge of law generally is very worthwhile. Business Law papers are open to students from other faculties and - within the cross credit regulations - can be counted towards other degrees.
Law itself is a vast field, but the various papers have been designed with reality firmly in mind and concentrate on developing a sensible number of important legal skills. Broadly, these include identifying potential and actual legal problems in personal and business situations, knowing your own limits in dealing with these and being able to use professional legal advisors effectively. The themes of particular papers include the central role played by contract law, the variety of business vehicles and their legal foundations, consumer/trader tensions in the market, and the practical importance of the courts and government in developing the law which regulates the business environment.
Also see the subject entry for Accounting.
See the full list of Business Law (BLAW) papers.
Email accountancy@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/accountancy
This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.
Regulations on this page are taken from the 2024 Calendar and supplementary material.