Duration
Introduction to the Laws of War : 15h Th
English support module (Semester 2) : 15h AUTR
Number of credits
| Bachelor in law | 3 crédits |
Lecturer
Introduction to the Laws of War : Christophe Deprez
English support module (Semester 2) : Frédéric Depas, Pierre Geron, Caroline Hougardy, Victoria Purchon
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The course is taught in English and is organized in two parts :
- in the first part, the course will focus on the legal discipline; it will be taught by a law professor, in English
- in the second part, language support is offered by a linguist (operating with the ISLV), in close contact with the relevant law professor
Introduction to the Laws of War
Although, at first glance, war and law may be viewed as distinct or even contradictory phenomena, on a closer look it appears that many fields of international law contribute to governing situations of armed conflict. This course aims to map out these fields, and to give students an overview of the main principles under each of them. Of particular interest will be the key mechanisms of the prohibition of the use of force (jus ad bellum), of international humanitarian law (jus in bello), of international human rights law, of international refugee law, of the law of international responsibility, and of international criminal law.
English support module (Semester 2)
This supplementary English module aims at making it easier for students to deal with the language of law classes taught in English.
It focuses mainly on active skills such as speaking and writing in areas covered by law classes taught in English, and on vocabulary relevant to those classes.
Students will also study various language functions that are typical in a legal and academic context in order to improve oral interactions in the classroom, oral presentations, summing up texts, expressing the opinion of another or expressing one's opinion, or drafting and presenting case briefs.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Introduction to the Laws of War
Upon completion of this course, students should be familiar with the role of the law (and, in particular, of international law) before, during, and after an armed conflict.
English support module (Semester 2)
At the end of this class, students will have improved their legal English skills in an academic environment.
Students will be better at using English during law classes. They will be better prepared to deal with the language of law classes taught in English.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Corequis : Legal Terminology in Dutch
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
English support module (Semester 2)
This language module is not optional and regular attendance as well as active participation is strictly necessary.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
Introduction to the Laws of War
Lectures will be the basis of this course (although active student participation will be encouraged). Each lecture will come with a Powerpoint presentation. Furthermore, e-learning material will be made available to help students fully understand the course (this material may take the form of online quizzes for students to assess their own command of the several topics).
English support module (Semester 2)
This course exclusively consists of in-class sessions.
Recommended or required readings
Introduction to the Laws of War
A reader with key pieces of doctrinal literature will be made available. Students will be strongly encouraged to read the relevant portions of the reader in advance. This is to help them be familiar with the topic and relevant English terminology before each class.
English support module (Semester 2)
The textbook is available on e-campus.
Assessment methods and criteria
Each student will obtain a global mark for the course, which consists of two separate grades, one for each section of the course, as follows :
- 3/4 of the global markt for the legal part;
- 1/4 of the global markt for the language support part.
A student who obtain a grade equal or lower than 8/20 for one of the two components, is not entitled to obtain more dans 9/20 for the global markt
An exemption for the language support part can be obtained for the second examination session. No partial exaemptions can be obtained for onte or the other section of the course, from one year to the next.
Option Langues et mobilité :
Students who have completed one of the language course in bloc 2 under the "language and mobility option" and who are taking a second course in the same language in bloc 3 are exempted from the language supplement for the second course.
Introduction to the Laws of War
The evaluation method will be twofold:
- A very short essay will be requested during the course of the semester. This short paper (1,000 words maximum) will determine 20 % of the final mark.
- An oral exam will determine the remaining 80 % of the mark.
English support module (Semester 2)
The assessment will consist of an oral exam with preparation. It will take place during the June exam session.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Students registered for the bachelor in laws at the University of Liège and taking up this course, are required to sign up as well for an additional training in English. This additional training is not compulsory for Erasmus students and other students signing up for the course.
Contacts
Introduction to the Laws of War
Christophe DEPREZ (christophe.deprez@ulg.ac.be)
English support module (Semester 2)
Coordination: Caroline Hougardy(C.Hougardy@ulg.ac.be
)
1er quadrimestre
Kevin Heyeres (Q1) - k.heyeres@ulg.ac.be
Victoria Lemaire (Q1) - vlemaire@ulg.ac.be
Estelle Oger (Q1) - estelle.oger@ulg.ac.be (estelle.oger@ulg.ac.ve
)
2e quadrimestre
Frédéric Depas - F.Depas@ulg.ac.be
Pierre Geron - pierre.geron@ulg.ac.be
Caroline Hougardy - C.Hougardy@ulg.ac.be
Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session
Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning
Introduction to the Laws of War
Due to the Covid-19 situation, the last four classes (week 7 to week 10) take the form of a series of four videos available in the podcast section of the course tab on MyULiège.
English support module (Semester 2)
The following alternative teaching methods have been implemented:
- distance classes (live)
- distance Q/A sessions (live)
- keys to exercises posted on E-Campus
Assessment subjects
Introduction to the Laws of War
The content of all lectures and online podcasts will be the basis for the oral exam.
English support module (Semester 2)
Case briefing skills.
Assessment methods
Introduction to the Laws of War
The following adjustments have been made on the assessment system:
1° The deadline to submit essays has been extended to Wednesday, April 15;
2° Students now have the possibility to have their final grade for the course determined based on their essay result only (i.e. 100 % of the final grade may be determined based on the essay);
3° The oral exam becomes optional: students who would not be satisfied with their essay result still have the opportunity to take the oral exam. In that case, the initial grading distribution will be applied: 20 % of the final mark will be determined by the essay and the oral exam will determine the remaining 80 %; however, the initial essay result will, in any case, be kept as a minimum.
4° After the essay results will be published, students will be kindly requested to inform the instructor - by Tuesday, May 5th at latest - whether they wish to keep their essay result as a final mark or to take the oral exam in supplement.
5° The optional) oral exam will be organized online in May/June.
For the rest, all other instructions that have been previously shared remain applicable.
English support module (Semester 2)
The oral exam has been cancelled. Instead, students will be asked to send their teacher a video of a case brief.
Students are requested to record a 3-minute video presentation of a court decision of their own choice and to send it is as an mp4 file via E-Campus (tab "Final assignment April 2020").
The deadline is the 11th of May 2020. Students who have not sent in a video by that date will be marked as absent.
Contacts
Introduction to the Laws of War
Christophe.Deprez@uliege.be
English support module (Semester 2)
Group 5: P. Geron/C. Hougardy C.Hougardy@uliege.be (coordinator)
Group 6: F. Depas F.Depas@uliege.be
Group 7: F. Depas F.Depas@uliege.be
Group 8: MR. Orodo mr.orodo@uliege.be
Group 9: V. Lemaire Purchon vlemaire@uliege.be
Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the Aug-Sept 2020 session
Assessment subjects
Introduction to the Laws of War
The content of all lectures and online podcasts will be the basis for the oral exam.
English support module (Semester 2)
Case briefing skills.
Assessment methods
Introduction to the Laws of War
An oral exam will be organized in August/September, that will normally determine 100 % of the final grade. However, students will also have the possibility to request that 20 % of their final grade be determined by the essay they submitted during the semester. In that case, 20 % of the final mark will be determined by the essay and the oral exam will determine the remaining 80 %.
English support module (Semester 2)
The oral exam has been cancelled. Instead, students will be asked to send their teacher a video of a case brief.
Students are requested to record a 3-minute video presentation of a court decision of their own choice and to send it is as an mp4 file via E-Campus (tab "Final assignment April 2020").
The deadline is the 25th of May 2020. Students who have not sent in a video by that date will be marked as absent.
Contacts
Introduction to the Laws of War
Christophe.Deprez@uliege.be
English support module (Semester 2)
Group 5: P. Geron Pierre.Geron@uliege.be
Group 6: F. Depas F.Depas@uliege.be
Group 7: F. Depas F.Depas@uliege.be
Group 8: C. Hougardy C.Hougardy@uliege.be (coordinator)
Group 9: V. Lemaire Purchon vlemaire@uliege.be