Syllabus
Business Law
2006-2007

Instructor—Pat O’Hara
329-3852, pohara@pausd.org

Overview
The first semester of the course includes the following topics--the origin of our legal system, law enforcement and the courts, crimes and torts, laws for minors consumer law, contracts, buying and selling goods, and product liability.

Topics studied during the second semester include the use of credit, bankruptcy, employment law, unions, insurance, wills, estate planning, and forms of business organization.

The text we will be using is Law For Business and Personal Use; John E. Adamson; Thomson Publishing; 2006

In addition, guest speakers will be invited from various aspects of the legal community to talk about their involvement in law and its application in business. Your active, involved and respectful participation in class as well as in activities that will be assigned are critical components of your learning as well. Notes taken during class are to be kept in a journal to be reviewed periodically

Two projects will be assigned during the semester. The first, a mock trial, will take place mid-term and will involve your selection of a role and preparation for and participation in the trial. The second, due at semester end, will be a final project on the topic of your choosing.

Finally, we will have a short quiz following the completion of each chapter and a brief test following the completion of each unit. You should have no trouble successfully completing these if you keep up with the in-class assignments.

Assessment
Grading will be based on the following components-
Homework Assignments 10 percent
Classroom Trials 10 percent
Class Participation 10 percent
In-class Activities 25 percent
Projects 25 percent
Chapter Quizzes and Other Tests 20 percent

Letter grades will be as follows-

90+percent= A 60+percent= I don’t even want to talk about it
80+percent= B <60 percent= Don’t go there!
70+percent= C

Ground Rules for Successful Learning
1. Get and keep a journal for notes from lectures, guest speakers and projects-
2. Be present and participate in class. You will be dropped from the class when you have incurred 8 tardies or 5 cuts.

Expectations
Have respectful dialogue with each other
If you are absent on the day of a quiz or test, you must make it up by the end of the day on which you return.
If you are absent on the due date for an assignment that was assigned before your absence, it must be turned in by the end of the day on which you return.
If you are absent on a day on which I assign and collect an assignment, you have two days to turn it in.
Food is not allowed in the classroom—even when class immediately follows brunch.


How to Reach Me
I am on campus from 7:30 to 4:30 every day. My office phone number is (650) 329-3852. My email address is: pohara@pausd.org