Duration
25h Th
Number of credits
| Bachelor in law | 3 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French 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
While the classes on positive law mainly aim to teach students about the rules of law, legal methodology focuses on the process of elaborating and implementing these rules. The purpose of legal methodology is to study the development of legal reasoning in its search for a solution to a legal problem using a legal rule. One of the steps in the development of legal reasoning consists of looking for the law in force. In our legal system, this can mainly be found in legal documents. The lawyer has to find the meaning of it or, in other words, interpret it. And it is precisely the methodology of legal interpretation that deals with the reasoned steps that must be taken to find the meaning of the texts.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The objective of the course in the Methodology of Legal Interpretation is to teach students about the process, the principles and the technique involved in rigorous legal reasoning in the interpretation of rules of law. Besides this immediate objective, given the essential competences needed to do the work required in later study programmes, this course helps to develop the analytical and investigative abilities of students [formulating questions (defining a subject of research/reference in a branch of law), positioning in relation to a typology (legal or documentary: what type of sources /documents to look for), the logical and complete sequence of a series of operations]. It stimulates formal rigour in the presentation of the results. It allows students to employ the notions they have already encountered in the positive law classes and puts these notions into context.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
For the Methodology of Legal Interpretation course, students are required to master French. They should also have a keen interest in reading texts and analysing them, and appreciate the rigour of scientific reasoning.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
The Methodology of Legal Interpretation course is taught during the second term. It focuses on theory accompanied by relevant examples. During lectures, students must bring their collection of texts.
Learning assistance:
At the end of every class, M. P. MOREAU is available to provide students with any further explanations.
Someone will be on duty to provide assistance if students so wish. The day, time and location will be posted on MyULiège.
A test will be organised. Students will get an extra point of 0.5 for the exam (out of 20) if they get 10 or 11 out of 20, 1 extra point if they get 12 or 13 out of 20, 1.25 if they get 14 or 15 out of 20, and 1.5 if they get 16 or more out of 20.
This bonus will be valid for both sessions.
Recommended or required readings
For the Legal Methodology course, students will be able to obtain :
- P. DELNOY, Eléments de méthodologie juridique. 1. Méthodologie de l'interprétation juridique. 2. Méthodologie de l'application du droit, 3eédition, Bruxelles, Larcier, 2008 (tirage 2009), 447 p.;
- P. DELNOY et P. MOREAU, Eléments de méthodologie juridique. Recueil de textes, 2020 (to be published in January or February 2020);
- P. MOREAU, Méthodologie de l'interprétation juridique. Complément, Syllabus, Presses Universitaires de Liège, année académique 2019-2020 (available on MyULiège).
Assessment methods and criteria
During the Methodology of Legal Interpretation exam, students may bring their collection of texts (see section: Recommended or required reading and Course notes). The collection of texts mustn't contain any annotations.
The exam will be written in the first session and oral in the second session.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Contacts
Pierre MOREAU, Faculty of Law, Quartier Agora - Place des Orateurs, 3 (Bât. B31), 4000 Liège, Phone number :0032/4/366.30.86, email : pmoreau@uliege.be
Florence BODSON, Faculty of Law, Quartier Agora - Place des Orateurs, 3 (Bât. B31), 4000 Liège, tél. : 0032/43665763, email : florence.bodson@uliege.be
Victoria PALM, Faculty of Law, Quartier Agora - Place des Orateurs, 3 (Bât. B31), 4000 Liège, Phone number : 0032/43663084, email : victoria.palm@uliege.be
Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session
Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning
During the week of 20 April 2020, a slide show commented verbally will be posted on MyULiège.
Assessment subjects
The examination will cover pages 21 to 204 of the précis de méthodologie juridique, with the exception of pages 32 to 44, and on the 8-page legal interpretation methodology supplement (published in the Presses universitaires de Liège).
Assessment methods
The exam, which will be conducted remotely via e-campus, will include a MCQ and one open question.
Contacts
Pierre MOREAU, Faculty of Law, email : pmoreau@uliege.be
Victoria PALM, Faculty of Law, email : victoria.palm@uliege.be
Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the Aug-Sept 2020 session
Assessment subjects
The examination will cover pages 21 to 204 of the précis de méthodologie juridique, with the exception of pages 32 to 44, and on the 8-page legal interpretation methodology supplement (published in the Presses universitaires de Liège).
Assessment methods
The exam, which will be conducted remotely via e-campus, will include a MCQ and one open question.
Contacts
Pierre MOREAU, Faculty of Law, Quartier Agora - Place des Orateurs, 3 (Bât. B31), 4000 Liège, Phone number :0032/4/366.30.86, email : pmoreau@uliege.be
Victoria PALM, Faculty of Law, Quartier Agora - Place des Orateurs, 3 (Bât. B31), 4000 Liège, Phone number : 0032/43663084, email : victoria.palm@uliege.be
Florence BODSON, Faculty of Law, Quartier Agora - Place des Orateurs, 3 (Bât. B31), 4000 Liège, tél. : 0032/43665763, email : florence.bodson@uliege.be