Commercial Law Syllabus

Chapter 1

Nature, purpose and classification of law-

• Meaning, nature and purpose of law-
•  Classification of law-
•   Law and morality

Chapter 2

Sources of law-

·         The Constitution-

·         Legislation-

·         Substance of common law and doctrines of equity

·         -African customary law

·         -Islamic law-

·         Judicial precedent-

·         General rules of international law and ratified treaties

Chapter 3

Administrative law

·         -Meaning-

·         Doctrine of separation of powers-

·         Natural justice-

·         Judicial control of the  Executive

Chapter 4

The court system-

• Structure, composition and jurisdiction of courts –
•  Magistrate courts-
•  Courts martial-
•   Kadhis courts-
•   Tribunals
• The High Court-
• ·Environment and Land Court- 
•  Industrial Court-Court of Appeal- 
•  Supreme Court

Chapter 5

Law of persons-

·         Types of persons: natural person, artificial person-

·         Nationality, citizenship and domicile-

·         Unincorporated associations-

·         Corporations-

·         Co-operative societies

Chapter 6

Law of tort-

•  Nature of tort-
•  Vicarious liability-
•  Strict Liability-
• Negligence-
• Nuisance-
• Trespass-
•   Defamation-
• Occupiers liability-
• General defences in the law of tort-
• Limitation of actions

Chapter  7

Law of contract-

·         Definition and nature of a contract-

·         Classification of contracts-

·         Formation of a contract

·         -Terms of a contract-

·         Vitiating factors

·         -Illegal contracts-

·         Discharge of contract-

·         Remedies for breach of a contract-

·         Limitation of actions

Chapter 8

Sale of goods-

·         Nature of the contract

·         -Formation of the contract-

·         Terms of the contract –

·         Transfer of property and title in goods-

·         Rights and duties of the parties-

·         Auction sales

·         International contracts of sale: FAS, FOB, CIF, FCA, CPT, CIP, DAT, DAP, DDP, CFR, DAF, DES, DDU, Ex-works and Ex-ship

Chapter 9

General principles of consumer credit-

·         Nature of the hire purchase contract-

·         Difference between hire purchase and conditional sale/credit sale-

·         Formation of the hire purchase contract-

·         Terms of the hire purchase contract-

·         Rights and duties of the parties-

·         Termination and completion of the hire purchase contract

Chapter 10

Indemnity and Guarantees-

·         Nature of the contracts-

·         Rights and duties of the parties-

·         Advantages and disadvantages of guarantee as security-

·         Termination of contract of guarantee

Chapter 11

Partnership-

·         Nature of partnership-

·         Relations of partners to persons dealing with them-

·         Relations of partners to one another-

·         Rights, duties and liabilities of existing, incoming, outgoing and minor partners-

·         Dissolution of partnership and its consequences

Chapter 12

Insurance-

·         Nature of the contract-

·         Formation of the contract-

·         Principles of insurance-

·         Types of insurance

Chapter 13

Agency-

·         Meaning, nature and creation of agency-

·         Types of agents-

·         Rights and duties of the parties-

·         Authority of an agent-

·         Termination of agency

Chapter 14

Negotiable instruments-

·         Nature and characteristics-

·         Negotiability and transferability-

·         Types: cheques, promissory notes, bills of exchange-

·         Rights and obligations of the parties

Chapter 15

The law of property-

·         Definition of property-

·         Classification of property (real and personal, movable and immovable, tangible and intangible)-

·         Property in land: Private, Public and Community land-Interests in land: estates, servitudes and encumbrances-Intellectual property:plant breeder’s patents, trademarks, copyrights and industrial designs

Chapter 16

Resolving commercial disputes-

·         Nature and problems associated with commercial litigation-

·         Arbitration-

·         Mediation-

·         Negotiation

Chapter 17

Emerging issues and trends