2851.23 - Basic Course in Law


Course number
2851.23
Title
Basic Course in Law
ECTS
10
Prerequisites
Upper secondary education or the equivalent.
Purpose
The purpose of the course is to offer students a basic and methodological introduction to law and the purpose behind higher education, especially law, so the students can be prepared for studies on the law program.
Content
The course is a methodological course and an introduction to law that touches upon a wide range of basic features that are important, either directly or as a precondition, for the study of law. The course will cover i.a. these topics: - Different pedagogical approaches to (legal)studies. - Whether higher education is its own purpose or rather an instrument of particular ends. - The purpose of legal education as such, and the purpose of legal education for a small polity like the Faroese. - What the role of jurists is or ought to be. - Basic (legal)philosophical concepts. - Basic concepts and principles in the legal system. - Survey of laws and public institutions. - About the sources of law and about legal information seeking. - The nature of legal language compared to ordinary language. - How legal norms can be divided into different categories, and the importance of the divide. - Methodological challenges and questions connected with the interpretation of laws and other sources of law.
Learning and teaching approaches
The course consists of approx. 50 hours regular class teaching. Class teaching will mainly consist of presentations from teachers, student presentations, exercises and discussions.
Learning outcomes
The students shall be able to: - Explain the difference between different educational approaches, especially the traditional monologic lecture as opposed to a problem solving approach with the active student at the centre. - Explain the purpose of higher education both in general and with a special emphasis on law. - Reflect descriptively and normatively on the role of jurists in society. - Explain and understand the importance of the legal system being divided into public law and private law. - Explain and understand how the legal system is constituted of different types of legal norms and different types of institutions. - Find relevant sources of law on the most common cites and legal databases. - Get an overview of how the legal system is divided into specific legal fields. - Be able to solve interpretive problems related to the individual specific legal fields. - Present and formulate knowledge and arguments correctly and succinctly in eloquent and correct language.
Assessment method
Examination consists in three components. A written 48 hour home assignment, counting for 30%, is delivered approaching the middle of the course. A second also written 48 hour home assignment, counting 30%, is delivered in the latter half of the course. A final 4 hour written exam, counting for 40% of the grade, is held at the end of the course. It is a precondition for attending individual exam components that students have attended and passed prior exam components. It is a further a precondition for passing the overall course that all exam components are passed. One combined grade will be given for all three exam components.
Examination
Internal
Marking scale
7-
Bibliography
Materials for Basic Course in Law will be available on Moodle prior to teaching sessions.
Contact
Bárður Larsen