Duration
24h Th
Number of credits
Extra courses intended for exchange students (Erasmus, ...) (Faculty of Law, Political Science and Criminology) | 4 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The aim of the Legal English course is to introduce law students to a broad range of legal texts that will assist them in their academic and professional undertakings. The method of the course goes beyond mere translation and the memorizing of lists of vocabulary. It is meant to provide an introductory understanding of the legal culture of the English-speaking world (Common Law) so that students may convey their understanding in a non-English speaking context. In order to achieve this objective, students are invited to read a vast array of texts taken from the Common Law (and specifically the English and American legal environments). Besides judicial decisions and statutory instruments, the material comprises academic writings as well as law reports taken from leading English newspapers. In addition to a hard-copy, reading material will be accessible on-line (E-reading).
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
1). convey the meaning of a Common Law judgment in their native language;
2). write a short note in Legal English;
3). command the structure of the court system in the United States and the United Kingdom, in addition to understanding the main features of Civil Procedure in both countries;
4). discuss and analyze several key areas of contemporary legal debate (current and developing trends) in the English-speaking world.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Students are kindly requested to have a "reasonable" command of the English language. Those students who feel they have a "below average" command of English are kindly invited to make this known at the outset of the course.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
In the main, the course involves reading a significant number of legal texts in English. All texts will be made available online (E-reading). Exercises will also be given (some of which may involve writing in English).
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Additional information:
Given during the first semester, classes take place on Tuesday evenings, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm (02 - Noppius - Opéra).
The first class will take place on Tuesday, September 19, 2023.
Recommended or required readings
The texts will be made available through a case-book (accessible online as well: E-reading).
Besides the texts themselves, the entire course is based on extensive usage of a Powerpoint presentation, available on the website of the course.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( open-ended questions )
Additional information:
The form of the exam is a two-hour written examination comprising:
- four comprehension questions (answers in French)
- a commentary ("case brief") of a judgment in English, analyzed in class (answer in English);
- the translation and commentary ("case brief") of a judgment in English, that was not analyzed in class (translation from the English into French, case brief in French);
No document, course related material or dictionaries are allowed in the examination room. Electronic devices (cellphones, electronic dictionaries, etc.) are strictly prohibited.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
See above, Mode of delivery.
Contacts
fvdmensbrugghe@uliege.be
Professor van der Mensbrugghe occupies a shared office at the Law School (R75). Due to his rare presence in his office, students are kindly requested to contact him by e-mail.
Association of one or more MOOCs
Items online
Introduction (+ English Contract Law)
An introduction to the coures with additional developments on the English law of contract.
Supporting Material on the English Law of Contract
Two cases on the English law of contract:
- Carlill v. Carbolic Smoke Ball Company;
- Chandler v. Webster.