ETR 410 Legal Issues in Entrepreneurship

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Cross, Frank B. & Roger LeRoy Miller. West’s Legal Environment of Business. 10th ed. Cincinnati: West Legal Studies in Business. 2015.  ISBN-13: 978-1305967304

CATALOG DESCRIPTION: This course provides a sound legal foundation that students can use to understand the laws and regulations affecting today’s entrepreneurs.  The legal system has a major impact upon every aspect of entrepreneur’s life. Legal Issues for Entrepreneurs explores such current critical legal topics as ethics, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Torts, Property, and Contracts.  In addition the course will highlight key areas of government regulation, employment practices, and consumer and environmental protection. Students will be exposed to relevant legal forms and documents.  By taking this course, students will gain a comprehensive overview of the law as it relates to entrepreneurship.

RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITES:

ETR 210: Introduction to Entrepreneurship & MGT 305: Business Law I

COURSE OBJECTIVES: In order to expose business students to the critical relationship between business and law, this course acquaints students with fundamental concepts and principles of law that may concern them in their day-to-day business activities. Specifically, the objectives are:

  • To familiarize the student with legal language and concepts.
  • To increase the student’s knowledge of the legal system and how it functions.
  • To develop the student’s appreciation of the legal environment in which business must operate.
  • To expose the student to legal reasoning and develop his/her ability to apply legal concepts.
  • To encourage the student to do critical thinking of the legal implications present in business activities.
  • To expose students to relevant legal forms, documents, and local courts.
  • To enhance students written and oral communication.

TEACHING AND LEARNING STRATEGIES: The principal vehicles for exploring the content of this course will be independent readings, discussion, critical thinking (Using the Socratic Method), case analysis, a research project, and class presentation.  Because of this choice of approach, a high degree of commitment is necessary to assure effective learning outcomes.  Students are required to check Blackboard prior to each class and download and print any documents/forms required for class.

STUDENT COMPETENCIES: This course satisfies Hampton University competencies: 1. Critical Thinking, 2. Ethics, 4. Information and Technology Literacy, 5. Oral Communication, 8. Written Communication; School of Business competencies: 1. Business Theories; 2. Law and Ethics; 3. Global; 4. Decision Making; 5. Written Communication; 6. Oral Communication; 7. Critical Thinking; 10. Technical Skills; and Entrepreneurship program competencies: 1. Critical Thinking and 4. Business Knowledge.

In addition, at the end of this course, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the legal system and the legal environment of entrepreneurship.
  • Produce a research paper using on-line and legal resources, legal citations, and legal reasoning.
  • Engage in basic legal analysis, reasoning, argument, and critical thinking.
  • Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills.
  • Demonstrate familiarity with various legal documents and forms commonly encountered by entrepreneurs.