| Kommentar |
This course provides an introduction to the legal systems of the British Islands and most especially English law. Besides presenting some core English legal vocabulary in context, the lectures will highlight points of (perceived) difference between legal systems - within English-speaking jurisdictions as well as in the contrast of the common law legal family with codified civil law. A main focus of the course is on the sources of law, studied in the context of the norms, structures, and practices of the law-making institutions. In particular, the course aims to provide students with insight into the origin and development of the case law method, its practical operation in the modern law, and its impact on legislative law-making and legal discourse in legal systems shaped by English law. A selective look at some aspects of substantive law, including the law of remedies, will round off the course in illustrating points of contrast, drawing attention to distinctive legal terms and structures, and confirming the enduring legacy of a peculiar legal history. |
| Voraussetzungen |
This course requires sufficient passive English language skills to follow the lectures. (Supporting written material will be made available on Moodle.) The assessment requires the ability to read and understand questions and multiple-choice answers in English. To a limited extent the written exam requires some active ability to express oneself in English. Provided the meaning is clear, no marks depend on the correctness of grammar or the accuracy of spelling - except as regards legal terminology which is the focus of the course.
No prior knowledge of English law is required. |
| Leistungsnachweis |
The assessment for this course will consist of a two-hour written exam.
The exam paper will have three parts requiring exam candidates to demonstrate their knowledge
- by answering multiple-choice questions (in part 1)
- by writing very short answers to a number of specific questions (in parts 2 and 3)
Part 3 will require exam candidates to read a limited amount of (unseen) legal material. Generally questions in parts 2 and 3 will be such that they can be answered in a few sentences or even a single sentence.
Bound printed English-German/German-English dictionaries (or equivalent for other languages) may be used in the assessment, provided they are not legal dictionaries and provided they are not annotated or marked. |
