Main Field of Study and progress level:
Law: First cycle, has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Grading scale: Three-grade scale
Responsible department: Department of Law
Established by: Head of Department of Law, 2007-12-12
Revised by: Head of Department of Law, 2008-12-03
Contents
The course provides a comparative introduction to the principal legal systems of the world (e.g. continental European civil law, common law, Chinese and East Asian Law, Islamic Law). The selection of systems will vary between years. The course will cover the historical development of the respective systems, as well as the basic institutional contrasts between them.
Expected learning outcomes
After having successfully completed the course the student will have basic knowledge of:
-the principal legal systems/families of the world
-their origins, historical development and current interaction
-the supporting institutional framework
-comparative legal methods
-their applications in practice, and
-their conceptual and practical limitations
Required Knowledge
Univ: University studies of at least 60 credits in law or political science or equivalent.
Form of instruction
The teaching will primarily consist of seminars. Foreign experts will be invited to discuss their respective systems and fields. Participating students are required to carefully study all distributed texts and cases before each seminar. Further instructions on the requirements for each seminar will be handed out as the course proceeds. All teaching will be in the English language.
Examination modes
Students are required to prepare and attend all seminars. Grades will be given on the basis of performance in the seminars and a paper prepared by the student. The examining teacher has the right to decide on another form of examination. Grades given are Fail (U), Pass (G) and Pass with Distinction (VG). When a student has failed an examination on two occasions, he or she has a right to have another grading teacher. A written request should be handed in to the director of undergraduate studies.
Transfers Students have the right to apply to have a previous education or experience evaluated for transfer of credits. For more information, see: www.umu.se/studentcentrum/regler_riktlinjer/index.html
Literature
Valid from:
2009 week 3
Introduction to comparative law Zweigert Konrad, Kötz Hein 3. rev. ed. : Oxford : Clarendon : cop. 1998 : xxvi, 714 s. : ISBN: 0198268602 Search the University Library catalogue
Additional readings will be posted at the course website in PDF-format
