MBA 5909X: Legal Environment of Business

This course provides a study of law as it relates to organizational activity. Emphasis is placed on current legal problems, together with evolving theories or trends within the law. Primary emphasis is placed on business, the formation of contracts, the problems with sales contracts, secured sales contacts and security interests, and the proper forms of business organizations including sole-proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations. The course introduces the student to the problems that currently beset the business community, the origins of those problems, the consequences anticipated and, basically, what is to be expected in the future. The student should come to an understanding of the dangers to be encountered with such problems as changes in corporate structures, mergers and acquisitions, changes in employment responsibilities, civil rights considerations and violations, harassment problems, early buy-outs, forced retirements, etc. At the end of the course it is hoped that the student will be familiar with not only the problems to be encountered in the business world, but the language and legal thinking surrounding these problems. Prerequisites: None.