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Introduction to Law (2025/2026: Semester 1 – Fall)
Cursusdoel
After completing this course students are able to:
Relationship between assessment and learning goals:
Test 1 – written test (30%, goal 1, 2 and 3)
In the first test the student’s general knowledge about the Western legal traditions is tested, with particular emphasis on the history of the traditions, the institutions of dispute resolution, and the legal sources produced by these institutions.
Test 2 – written test (30%, goal 1, 2 and 4)
In the final test the student’s basic knowledge of criminal and private law within jurisdictions from the two traditions is tested, with particular emphasis on tort and contract law.
Paper (30%, goal 2, 3 and 4)
The essay is comparative: a comparison should be made to the legal answers given to a legal question in English law and in French, German or Dutch law. The question should be taken from an English case in the field of criminal law or tort law, which ought to be chosen from the list of cases in the textbook by Slapper and Kelly (with the obvious exception of those already discussed in class).
Participation (10%, goals 1-4)
The grade will be based on participation in class and the preparation and discussion of the cases.
- Explain fundamental legal concepts, sources, and principles, and apply them to concrete situations in Western legal traditions.
- Distinguish and compare different branches of law and different jurisdictions and articulate their respective purposes, principles, and interrelations.
- Write and present legal arguments in different Western jurisdictions clearly, coherently, and persuasively using appropriate terminology.
- Analyse and understand legal problems, such as legal disputes and personal and commercial interactions, by identifying relevant sources of law and applying appropriate reasoning methods and solutions to simple cases.
Relationship between assessment and learning goals:
Test 1 – written test (30%, goal 1, 2 and 3)
In the first test the student’s general knowledge about the Western legal traditions is tested, with particular emphasis on the history of the traditions, the institutions of dispute resolution, and the legal sources produced by these institutions.
Test 2 – written test (30%, goal 1, 2 and 4)
In the final test the student’s basic knowledge of criminal and private law within jurisdictions from the two traditions is tested, with particular emphasis on tort and contract law.
Paper (30%, goal 2, 3 and 4)
The essay is comparative: a comparison should be made to the legal answers given to a legal question in English law and in French, German or Dutch law. The question should be taken from an English case in the field of criminal law or tort law, which ought to be chosen from the list of cases in the textbook by Slapper and Kelly (with the obvious exception of those already discussed in class).
Participation (10%, goals 1-4)
The grade will be based on participation in class and the preparation and discussion of the cases.
Vakinhoudelijk
The course provides students with an introduction to the law and the legal system, and the role of law in society.
This course offers:
- A concise overview of legal concepts, procedures, terminology, and current issues in law. To achieve that, students will be introduced to different Western jurisdictions in order to become familiar with different legal concepts and procedures. The focus will also be on English law, which lies at the core of the Common law tradition, as well as legal orders from the Civil law tradition, which often employ different terminology. These topics are discussed in connection with current issues in law, such as climate change, Big Tech, intellectual property, and reproductive rights, as well as enduring issues in law, including discrimination, criminal justice, and migration.
- A survey of major branches of law, including international law, European Union law, and constitutional and administrative law, combined with human rights. Students will familiarize themselves with international and supranational (European) legal standards whose functioning will be explained against the background of the constitutional law and broader administrative structures, showing how they interact with domestic systems. Where appropriate, comparisons will be made between at least the US, UK, Dutch, French, and German laws.
- An overview of specific disciplines, criminal, contract, tort, family, labor, social security, and law and technology. Students will familiarize themselves with substantive and procedural criminal law, with attention to dispute resolution. Private law, covering contract, tort, and family law, will address the relationships between citizens in their social and commercial interactions. Additional areas, such as labor law, social security law, and law and technology, will be introduced to demonstrate the breadth of modern legal regulation. As much as possible, comparative perspectives will highlight differences and similarities between different Western jurisdictions.
Format
The course requires a good level of preparation. In each session, the main aspects of the scheduled topic are discussed using the assigned literature as the base. Students are expected to participate actively; they will have to discuss and/or present a court decision, followed by a general discussion in class on the topic.
This course offers:
- A concise overview of legal concepts, procedures, terminology, and current issues in law. To achieve that, students will be introduced to different Western jurisdictions in order to become familiar with different legal concepts and procedures. The focus will also be on English law, which lies at the core of the Common law tradition, as well as legal orders from the Civil law tradition, which often employ different terminology. These topics are discussed in connection with current issues in law, such as climate change, Big Tech, intellectual property, and reproductive rights, as well as enduring issues in law, including discrimination, criminal justice, and migration.
- A survey of major branches of law, including international law, European Union law, and constitutional and administrative law, combined with human rights. Students will familiarize themselves with international and supranational (European) legal standards whose functioning will be explained against the background of the constitutional law and broader administrative structures, showing how they interact with domestic systems. Where appropriate, comparisons will be made between at least the US, UK, Dutch, French, and German laws.
- An overview of specific disciplines, criminal, contract, tort, family, labor, social security, and law and technology. Students will familiarize themselves with substantive and procedural criminal law, with attention to dispute resolution. Private law, covering contract, tort, and family law, will address the relationships between citizens in their social and commercial interactions. Additional areas, such as labor law, social security law, and law and technology, will be introduced to demonstrate the breadth of modern legal regulation. As much as possible, comparative perspectives will highlight differences and similarities between different Western jurisdictions.
Format
The course requires a good level of preparation. In each session, the main aspects of the scheduled topic are discussed using the assigned literature as the base. Students are expected to participate actively; they will have to discuss and/or present a court decision, followed by a general discussion in class on the topic.
Werkvormen
UCU ssc 1 course
Toetsing
Participation
Verplicht | Weging 10% | ECTS 0,75
Test 1 – written test
Verplicht | Weging 30% | ECTS 2,25
Paper
Verplicht | Weging 30% | ECTS 2,25
*midterm FEEDBACK*
Niet verplicht
Test 2 – written test
Verplicht | Weging 30% | ECTS 2,25
Ingangseisen en voorkennis
Ingangseisen
Er is geen informatie over verplichte ingangseisen bekend.
Voorkennis
Er is geen informatie over benodigde voorkennis bekend.
Voertalen
- Engels
Cursusmomenten
Gerelateerde studies
Tentamens
Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus
Verplicht materiaal
-
BOEKJ. Hage, A. Waltermann, and B. Akkermans (eds.), Introduction to Law (2nd ed.), Cham: Springer, 2017.
-
READERReader in Brightspace
Aanbevolen materiaal
Er is geen informatie over de aanbevolen literatuur bekend
Coördinator
| dr. D.I. Odier-Contreras Garduno | d.i.odier-contrerasgarduno@uu.nl |
Docenten
| mr. dr. M. Sahadžić | m.sahadzic@uu.nl |
Inschrijving
Let op: deze cursus is niet toegankelijk voor studenten van andere faculteiten, bijvakkers mogen zich dus niet inschrijven.
Naar OSIRIS-inschrijvingen
Permanente link naar de cursuspagina
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