Golden Gate University Syllabus: Accounting 351B: Business Law, Professional Responsibility and Ethics for Accountants Summer 2015: April 28 June 9, 2015 (San Francisco: Tuesday: 11:00 5:30) Jeffrey H. Karlin, JD, LLM, CPA (inactive) ation Required Course Materials: Business Law Legal Environment, Online Commerce, Business Ethics and International Issues (8th Edition: Pearson Prentice Hall 2013, Henry Cheeseman) ISBN: 0-13-289041-0. Learning Objectives: The overall learning objective of the course is to guide Masters in Accountancy through the complex legal environment embodied by United States laws. Consistent with the highest standards of learning business law, the course focuses on a wide variety of legal subjects and their importance to accountants serving as public and private practitioners, corporate officers, directors and other business decision makers. Each substantive law chapter of our text spells out our specific learning objectives and goals. For each weekly set of legal topics we actively discuss actual lawsuits, court holdings and the reasoning offered for legal resolutions. One of the important learning objectives of the course is that students understand and focus on the difficult questions that confront business decision makers in the areas where law, ethics and morality intersect. Among other things, the course will consider cases that are centered on ethical issues that may give rise to legal liability of accountants. Students will achieve learning objectives through rigorous studies and interactive discussions. 1 Course Syllabus: ACCTG 351B: Business Law Golden Gate University
Our web-based learning platform makes use of the power of online learning through a variety of films, slide shows, summaries, and other materials directly on point with each week s materials. The Course: This business law course focuses on a variety of highly interesting legal topics-accountants' legal and ethical responsibilities, intellectual property rights, Internet law and E-Commerce, contracts, torts, warranties and product liability, wills and trusts, real estate and environmental protection, secured transactions and negotiable instruments, employment and labor law, corporate, partnership and securities laws, and more. We spend a considerable amount of time and energy focusing on legal topics worthy of graduate-level study. Many of these topics are also covered on the regulation portion of the uniform CPA exam, even though the course is not per se a CPA exam review course. Academic Standards and Integrity: This course adheres to the University s highest standards and expectations regarding integrity and academic honesty. Students shall demonstrate the highest levels of integrity and honesty. Consistent with University standards, each student shall be required to do all of his or her work alone. Student submissions must be solely prepared by the student and be free from plagiarism and deception. Students should understand that one of the most serious failures can result from the loss of trust when a student engages in a dishonest manner. The University s Policy on Student Academic Integrity is in effect at all of its teaching locations, including regional classroom sites, corporate sites, and distance courses delivered in any medium. This policy applies to all accounting, business, and taxation students at Golden Gate University. Academic integrity means doing academic work in a manner that strives to achieve the learning objectives your courses have set out for you. It means that you follow the rules and procedures prescribed by your instructors so that you acquire the skills and knowledge your courses are designed to give you. It means that you engage in ethical practices in taking tests and doing assignments and that you respect intellectual property rights by fully disclosing sources of information that appear in your papers and presentations. Students should read the University s Policy on Student Academic Integrity. Grade Rubric and Grade Components: A grading rubric is provided in the course website. The rubric provides details as to specific grade awards. Specific participation guidelines are provided in the course website. Grading will be based upon a raw percentile score basis. Total course points are 1,000 points. Grades will be awarded based on total course points as follows: A+: 951-1,000 B+: 860 899 C: 700-750 A: 930 950 B: 801-859 D+: 650-699 A-: 900-929 C+: 751-799 F: <650 The grades awarded and grading policies are consistent with the University grading policies. 2 Course Syllabus: ACCTG 351B: Business Law Golden Gate University
Grade Component Course Points Individual Assigned Case Studies (2 ACSs @20 Points each) 40 points 4 Quizzes (160 questions @ 1 point each) 160 points Online, In-class, proctored essay type Midterm Exam 250 points In Class Advocacy & Group Presentations (8-10 @ 25 Points each) 250 points In Class, Closed Book & Closed Notes Essay type Final Exam 300 points Total Course Points 1,000 points Grade Components: Assigned Case Studies: Each student will be assigned 2 case studies to be presented to the class in a short 5-10 minutes presentation. Assigned Case Studies are based on short case summaries in the required text. Students will be asked to review a summary and make a small class presentation that conveys his or her well-reasoned analysis of applicable law applied to the facts of a particular dispute. Quizzes: There are 4 quizzes that cover designated chapters of the text. These quizzes are multiple-choice, autograded tests. Midterm Exam: The midterm exam is a proctored, in-class, online closed book exam covering chapters included within Sessions 1 3. The Final Exam: The Final Exam is an in-class, closed book, closed notes, non-cumulative exam covering chapters included within Sessions 4 6. Office Hours: Feel free to send me an e-mail at jkarlin@ggu.edu. I have an office in the School of Accounting located on the 5 th floor of the main campus, but no designated office hours. On request, I am glad to meet with students at a mutually convenient time. The website contains an online Office available to all of us to discuss course administrative issues. Learning Sessions & Group Work: There are three basic components to each class session Group Work & Advocacy, short lectures and discussion & individual assigned case study presentations. 1. Group Work and Advocacy: Sessions will be primarily based on group case studies. The purpose of group case study work is to emulate the type of work lawyers encounter in real life when confronted with contemporary business conflicts. Students will form into advocacy groups (i.e. plaintiff and defendant groups) and will be presented with cases involving disputes requiring review and group advocacy. A package of relevant authority that considers similar, but not necessarily identical facts will be made available. Students will review the facts of a case and the legal authority presented for review. Students will then frame their case via an outline and presentation to the court for review. The outline will be uploaded to the course website for presentation purposes. A student within each group will be an assigned advocate who, like an attorney, will advocate his or her client s position seeking relief through monetary damages or 3 Course Syllabus: ACCTG 351B: Business Law Golden Gate University
other remedy. Professor Karlin will serve as judge, jury and, if need be, executioner. Group grades (up to 2o points) will be awarded based on the quality of the outline and identification of precise issues and legal conclusions. Individual grades (up to 10 points) will be awarded to the presenter. The Group that is deemed the best advocate will receive extra credit of an additional 10 points. 2. Lectures: Time devoted to straight lectures will be minimal. In addition to the case study work, a portion of each session will be devoted to discussions based on our assigned textbook readings and case materials. These discussions may take the form of short lectures on assigned readings. Short videos may also be used to illustrate legal conflicts. 3. Assigned Case Studies: As noted above, each student will be assigned 2 case studies to be presented to the class in a short 5-10 minutes presentation. Assigned Case Studies are based on short case summaries in the required text. Students are expected to prepare a powerpoint slide show or other summary of the assigned case in order to enhance the presentation. References to chapters refer to select chapters in the required text. Additional readings and videos will also be available online in our website and may be utilized in order to enhance learning in class. A tentative schedule of course topics and required exams is provided below. The deadlines for quizzes are listed below and online in the class web site. Assigned cases and participation deadlines for student case study presentations will also be available online. In Class Advocacy and Group Presentation work will be based on ad hoc groups formed in class. April 28: Session 1 The Course Sessions and Topics: Chapter 2: Court and Jurisdiction Chapter 3: Judicial, Alternative, and E-Dispute Resolution Chapter 5: Intentional Torts and Negligence Chapter 6: Product and Strict Liability Chapter 7: Intellectual Property and Cyber Piracy May 5: Session 2 Chapter 9: Nature of Traditional and E-Contracts Chapter 10: Agreement Chapter 11: Consideration and Promissory Estoppel Chapter 12: Capacity and Legality Chapter 13: Genuineness of Assent and Undue Influence Chapter 14: Statute of Frauds and Equitable Exceptions May 12: Session 3 Quiz #1: (covers Chapters 2 11) Chapter 15: Third-Party Rights and Discharge Chapter 16: Remedies for Breach of Traditional and E-Contracts Chapter 18: Formation of Sales and Lease Contracts Chapter 19: Title to Goods and Risk of Loss Chapter 20: Remedies for Breach of Sales and Lease Contracts Chapter 21: Sales and Lease Warranties 4 Course Syllabus: ACCTG 351B: Business Law Golden Gate University
May 19: Session 4 Quiz #2: (covers Chapters 12-16, 18-21) Midterm Exam: May 19 (Covers Sessions 1 3) Chapter 26: Credit, Mortgages and Debtor's Rights Chapter 28: Bankruptcy and Reorganization Chapter 29: Agency Formation and Termination Chapter 30: Liabilities of Principals, Agents and Independent Contractors Chapter 33: Equal Opportunity in Employment May 26: Session 5 Chapter 34: Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs, and General Partnerships Chapter 35: Limited Partnerships and Special Partnerships Chapter 36: Corporate Formation and Financing Chapter 37: Corporate Governance and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Chapter 38: Corporate Acquisitions and Multinational Corporations Chapter 39: Limited Liability Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships Quiz #3: (covers Chapters 26, 28-30, 33-37) June 2: Session 6 Chapter 41: Investor Protection, E-Securities and Wall Street Reform Chapter 46: Antitrust Laws and Unfair Trade Practices Chapter 48: Real Property Chapter 49: Landlord-Tenant and Land Use Regulation Chapter 50: Insurance Chapter 51: Accountants' Duties and Liability Quiz #4: (covers Chapters 38-39, 41, 46, 48-51) June 9: Final Exam (In Class, Closed Book, Closed Notes-- Covers Sessions 4 6) Instructor Background: Jeffrey H. Karlin is an Associate Professor in the Braden School of Tax. Prior to joining the faculty full-time in 2011, Professor Karlin was an adjunct faculty member for over 30 years. He is a Martindale-Hubbell AV-1 rated transactional business lawyer. Professor Karlin's practice primarily focused on negotiating, drafting and structuring complex business transactions. He has significant experience in matters concerning federal income taxation, securities' laws, corporate and partnership laws, investments and mergers and acquisitions. Professor Karlin earned a Juris Doctorate at Hastings College of the Law and a Masters of Law in Taxation (LL.M. Tax) at Golden Gate University School of Law. He is a member of the California Bar, and a licensed California CPA (inactive). During his career he has been a tax accountant, a partner in two law firms and an executive corporate officer charged with the responsibility for dozens of publicly traded companies. 5 Course Syllabus: ACCTG 351B: Business Law Golden Gate University
Since 1982, Professor Karlin has taught over 200 classes at the University on various subjects, mostly in the School of Tax and School of Accounting. In 1986, he was selected the "Outstanding Adjunct Faculty of the Year" in the School of Taxation. He is co-author of "Tax Exempt investments in United States Realty." Syllabus Amendments: This syllabus may be changed to make corrections or better achieve desired learning outcomes. 6 Course Syllabus: ACCTG 351B: Business Law Golden Gate University