Study Programmes 2015-2016
GTFE0018-1  
Seminar on methodology
Duration :
Number of credits :
Master in management, professional focus in law2
Lecturer :
François Desseilles
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
The methodology seminar is comprised of four 2-hour sessions.
The first part is theoretical. We deal with three major questions:
1) What are we looking for when carrying out a in law? The distinction between legislation, doctrine and jurisprudence is explained (again) here.
2) What does the search process involve? What tools are available? Students are given demonstrations of how to use the library catalogue (http://lib.ulg.ac.be) and the legal databases. They are also given several basic book references which they will find useful.
3) How do you make correct references to the legal sources used when studying law?
The second part is more focused on practice and students' practical issues. Together, we examine the problems they are faced with and we endeavour to solve them with method and rigour. This second part also involves visits to the library and the library's shelves.
Learning outcomes of the course :
At the end of the seminar, students will be able to:
- find a legal document based on a known reference;
- identify the type of legal source (legislation, jurisprudence, doctrine published in a periodical or a monograph) from a reference;
- look for relevant scientific documentation, on a given legal subject, by using the main search tools in law.
Students will also be made aware of the (special and often unknown to them) way of quoting and referencing their sources in law. They will be required to use some of the "reference and quotation guides" for this purpose, especially in their final year work.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
There are no prerequisites.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
Student attendance is compulsory (attendance is taken each day).
The seminar is interactive and is taught in one of the computer rooms. The students are required to interact and ask questions, especially during the second part which is based on their search experiences and the difficulties they have encountered.
During the first part, students are asked not to use the computers available to them and to focus their attention on the presentation and demonstrations that will be given on the use of computer tools.
During the second part, the students will be able to use the computers, especially to illustrate their questions and anything they might not have understood. In order to use the computers, the students must have their ULg login and password on them so they can connect to the internet.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
Face-to-face seminar (see above: "Planned learning activities and teaching methods").
Recommended or required readings :
There are no course notes.
The lecturer will use a electronic presentation during the first part of the seminar. These slides aren't essential to the students but they can ask to have access to them if they so wish.
As a complement to the seminar and, in particular, to make correct references, students will find it helpful to consult:
- C. NISSEN, A.-L. SIBONY, E. GEERKENS et A. ZIANS, Méthodologie juridique ; méthodologie de la recherche documentaire, 5ème éd., Bruxelles, Larcier, 2014. This book is available at the Léon Graulich Library and on-line (on campus): http://primo.lib.ulg.ac.be/32ULG_VU1:blended:32ULG_ALMA2176597100002321
- P. VANDERNOOT (dir.), Guide des citations, références et abréviations juridiques, 5ème éd., Waterloo, Kluwer, 2010.  Downloadable for free at :http://www.legalworld.be/legalworld/uploadedFiles/TOCS/fr/Guide_des_citations_et_r%C3%A9f%C3%A9rences/GUIAB_VB_9010_final.pdf?LangType=2060
Assessment methods and criteria :
An assessment is organised at the end of the term.
Students are given a mark at the end of the seminar which is mainly based on their attendance, participation and contribution.
The mark given at the end of the seminar and after the assessment also takes into account the attendance of students in seminar sessions, involvement and commitment.
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
The seminar is held during the second term, at Sart-Tilman, in the Constant room in the Léon Graulich library (B31, http://lib.ulg.ac.be/fr/libraries/graulich).
Location and access road: http://www.ulg.ac.be/cms/c_1824964/fr/b31-faculte-de-droit-ecole-de-crimonologie-jean-constant-et-faculte-des-sciences-sociales
The sessions are spaced out to give students the time to assimilate the subject studied during the theoretical part and to make a few legal searches by themselves.
 
Students can ask their questions during the sessions, via e-mail (see Contacts under) or directly at the office of the scientific supervisors within the Léon Graulich Library.
Contacts :
Mr François Desseilles - fdesseilles@ulg.ac.be