POB

1. Principles of Business
Stage 2 Seminar 14:
Introduction to Law

2. Key topics / learning outcomes
of this Seminar
• Explain the significance of the rule of law
• Explain the key characteristics of English Law
• List the areas of law which have most impact on business.
• Demonstrate understanding of the difference between civil
2
and criminal liability

3. 3
Activities
• Criminal/civil liability exercise
• Characteristics of English law – recap
• Rule of Law – group exercise
• Report back
• Summary and conclusion

4. 4
Scenario 1
Charlie is a van driver for a supermarket, WaitCo
plc. He is delivering groceries and stops for lunch
at the George and Dragon. He has a pint of beer
and then carries on making his deliveries. He
loses concentration and doesn’t notice Florence,
a 10 year girl, who is cycling unsteadily and
wobbles in front of him. He hits Florence
injuring her severely.

5. 5
Scenario 2
The Daily Rag publishes an article about a well-known
singer, Gary Williams, alleging that he is a
habitual user of cocaine. The story is untrue.

6. 6
Scenario 3
Mr Weasle and Ms Stoat are the directors of Peakshire
Loans Ltd, a payday loan business. The typical rate of
interest on their loans is 1,500% APR. Charmian has
borrowed £100 for 3 months at the standard rate of
1,500%. At the end of the three month period, she is
sent a demand for £250 (£100 principal plus interest of
£150). In fact, the interest payable should only have
been £100. Charmian doesn’t realise this and pays the
£250 demanded.

7. 7
Rule of Law exercise
http://www.worldjusticeproject.org/what-rule-law
http://www.un.org/en/ruleoflaw/ }
http://www.unrol.org/article.aspx?article_id=3}
http://www.justice.org.uk
http://www.ruleoflaw.org.au/principles/

8. Rule of Law Exercise
1. What is the organisation behind the website, what do
they do and what kind of organisation are they?
2. How do they define the rule of law?
3. Compare their definition to those given by Dicey and
Lord Justice Bingham – what are the similarities and
differences?
4. Do you agree with their definition? If not, why not?
5. Which aspects of the rule of law do you think are most
relevant to business and why?
6. Come up with some examples of behaviour which
breaches some aspects of the definition of rule of law.
Why is that kind of behaviour undesirable?

9. Rule of Law Exercise
Report back

10. Summary

11. Next session

12. End of Seminar
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© Pearson College 2013