Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs from Coursera

By its nature, the law touches on many aspects of entrepreneurship, making it an applicable and versatile topic of study. For aspiring entrepreneurs, it's important to understand how to form the business and work with the initial customers. For active entrepreneurs, there are critical considerations on employment law and operating policies. For everyone, the role that the law plays in managing the company, and its associated risks, must be properly understood to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities.

With the aspiring and active entrepreneur in mind, this course focuses on the foundational elements of law. We'll begin with an introduction to the nature of law and modern legal systems and sources. Initial priorities, including what legal activities you may pursue on your own, versus when and how to select and work with an attorney, are explored. Business formation choices and considerations are also central points of discussion. Employments laws and liabilities are examined, with the closing topic being entering and existing your business.

"Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs" is one of three courses in the "Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship Specialization" by Coursera and the University of Maryland. This specialization explores the critical legal and business issues entrepreneurs face as they build and launch a new venture. Learners examine real-world scenarios and address legal and business issues from ideation to all of the important junctures along the path to success. Significant attention is placed on new venture formation, intellectual property management, and contracts and financing arrangements.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs

Get acquainted with the learning experience and course format, meet the faculty, and connect with classmates from across the globe.

Legal Fundamentals

Mechanics of Business Formation

Organizing Your Business

Employee Status

Employment Law and Liability

Entering and Exiting Your Business

Next Steps

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores law, which is standard in entrepreneurship

Taught by Dr. James V. Green and Wilson L. White, who are recognized for their work in law

Develops legal foundations for entrepreneurship, which is a core skill for entrepreneurs

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs with these activities:

Review Basic Legal Concepts Before Starting the Course

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Ensure that you have a strong foundation in legal terminology and concepts before starting the course.

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Review your notes from previous law courses or online resources.
Take practice quizzes or complete a refresher course on legal foundations.

Follow Online Tutorials on Business Law for Entrepreneurs

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Enhance your understanding of legal concepts and practical implications for entrepreneurs.

Browse courses on Business Law

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Search for online tutorials on business law for entrepreneurs.
Choose 2-3 tutorials that cover topics relevant to your business.
Follow the tutorials and complete the exercises.
Take notes and highlight key points.

Choose a Business Idea and Research Your Legal Obligations

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Develop an understanding of legal responsibilities and requirements associated with your chosen business idea.

Browse courses on Business Law

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Identify a business idea that you are passionate about.
Research the industry to understand legal requirements and regulations.
Consult with an attorney to get specific legal advice for your business.

Five other activities

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Compile a Glossary of Legal Terms for Entrepreneurs

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Create a resource that will help you understand and reference legal terminology used in business.

Browse courses on Business Law

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Create a new document or spreadsheet.
Go through your course materials and identify key legal terms.
Define each term in your own words, or find definitions from reliable sources.

Read 'Starting A Successful Business For Dummies' by Glenford Myers

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Introduce yourself to the basics of business formation and legal responsibilities for entrepreneurs.

View The Art of Software Testing on Amazon

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Read the book from beginning to end.
Take notes and highlight important points.
Complete the quizzes at the end of each chapter.

Participate in a Study Group to Review Legal Concepts

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Engage in active learning by collaborating with peers to reinforce your understanding of legal concepts.

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Find a study group or form one with classmates.
Meet regularly to discuss course materials and case studies.
Work together to summarize and explain legal concepts.

Attend Networking Events for Entrepreneurs and Legal Professionals

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Build connections with potential mentors, advisors, and resources in the legal and entrepreneurial community.

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Search online for networking events in your area.
Attend events that focus on legal issues for entrepreneurs.
Introduce yourself to people and share your business idea or legal questions.

Write a Business Plan That Includes a Legal Structure Outline

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Apply your knowledge of legal foundations to outline the legal structure and implications for your business plan.

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Review the business plan template provided in the course materials.
Research different legal structures and choose the one that best fits your business.
Draft an outline of your legal structure, including the type of entity, ownership structure, and key legal documents.
Review your outline with an attorney for feedback and guidance.

Career center

Learners who complete Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs identify opportunities and apply their knowledge and skills to build businesses. They face many challenges, and the law is an important tool they can use to protect themselves. This course in Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs provides a strong foundation for entrepreneurs who want to understand the legal aspects of starting and running a business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur

Lawyer

Lawyers advise and represent clients in legal matters. They may specialize in a particular area of law, such as business law or intellectual property law. This course in Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs provides lawyers with a strong foundation in the legal aspects of business, which can help them better serve their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lawyer

Business Consultant

Business Consultants help organizations improve their performance. They may specialize in a particular area, such as finance, marketing, or human resources. This course in Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs provides business consultants with a strong foundation in the legal aspects of business, which can help them better advise their clients.

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Human Resource Manager

Human Resource Managers plan, direct, and coordinate the human resource functions of an organization. They may specialize in a particular area, such as employee benefits or labor relations. This course in Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs provides Human Resource Managers with a strong foundation in the legal aspects of employment law, which can help them better manage their organizations' human resources.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers plan, direct, and coordinate the operations of an organization. They may specialize in a particular area, such as production or logistics. This course in Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs provides operations managers with a strong foundation in the legal aspects of business, which can help them better manage their organizations' operations.

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Financial Analyst

Financial analysts provide investment advice to individuals and organizations. They may specialize in a particular area, such as equity research or portfolio management. This course in Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs provides financial analysts with a strong foundation in the legal aspects of business, which can help them better understand the financial risks and opportunities facing their clients.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers plan and execute sales campaigns for products or services. They may specialize in a particular area, such as inside sales or outside sales. This course in Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs provides sales managers with a strong foundation in the legal aspects of sales, which can help them better protect their organizations from legal liability.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan, execute, and close out projects. They may specialize in a particular area, such as construction or software development. This course in Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs provides project managers with a strong foundation in the legal aspects of project management, which can help them better manage their projects and protect their organizations from legal liability.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers plan and execute marketing campaigns for products or services. They may specialize in a particular area, such as digital marketing or social media marketing. This course in Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs provides marketing managers with a strong foundation in the legal aspects of marketing, which can help them better protect their organizations from legal liability.

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Writer

Writers create written content for a variety of purposes, such as news articles, marketing materials, and website content. They may specialize in a particular area, such as technical writing or creative writing. This course in Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs may be useful for writers who want to learn more about the legal aspects of writing.

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Librarian

Librarians help people find and access information. They may specialize in a particular area, such as children's literature or reference services. This course in Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs may be useful for librarians who want to learn more about the legal aspects of librarianship.

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Editor

Editors review and edit written content for a variety of purposes, such as news articles, marketing materials, and website content. They may specialize in a particular area, such as technical editing or copyediting. This course in Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs may be useful for editors who want to learn more about the legal aspects of editing.

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Archivist

Archivists preserve and manage historical records. They may specialize in a particular area, such as government records or museum collections. This course in Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs may be useful for archivists who want to learn more about the legal aspects of archival work.

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Journalist

Journalists gather and report on news and current events. They may specialize in a particular area, such as politics or sports. This course in Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs may be useful for journalists who want to learn more about the legal aspects of journalism.

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Teacher

Teachers plan and deliver instruction to students in a variety of settings. They may specialize in a particular subject area, such as math or science. This course in Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs may be useful for teachers who want to learn more about the legal aspects of education.

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