INTRODUCTION TO LAW

The course aims to provide the tools to understand the essential elements of the international, European and Italian legal system

Knowledge and understanding of the fundamental institutions of Public and Private Law, including their general principles.
In particular:
- ability to rework the main principles and rules of Public and Private Law;
- ability to effectively communicate and discuss (in English) the main topics of European/Italian Public/Private Law.

There are no prerequisites

The course provides a wide introduction to the main features of the International, European and Italian Legal Systems. In particular, the course will consider the following specific topics:

A) General principles

Law's roots
Law's branches
Law and morality
Courts
Lawyers
Rule of Law
Civil Law and Common Law
Focus: Fundamental Rights


B) Overview of the European Legal system

Sources and scope of the EU Law
EU Institutions
Focus: Citizens rights before Public Authorities


C) Overview of the Italian Legal system

Italian private Law and its Roman Law roots
Basic feature of the Constitutional order
The supremacy of EU Law
Sources and principles of Private Law
Basic principles and features of Criminal Law
Basic principles of Administrative Law
Focus: Public procurement and services of general interest

The required texts, for both attending and non-attending students, are the following (both books):

- R. Wacks, Law: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford, second edition, 2015. In alternative, the free on line first edition text dated 2008 is available just for reading: https://www.academia.edu/35043188/Law_A_Very_Short_Introduction

- A. De Luca – A. Simone, Fundamentals of Italian Law, Giuffrè, 2014

Further materials will be available on the platform.

The exam will consist of Three intermediate Tests. In alternative, a Full Exam is available.

They are oral interviews aimed at ascertaining the student's knowledge of course topics, the understanding and acquisition of appropriate lexicon, and the ability to synthesize and rework general principles and rules. Connections between different parts of the program, debate skills, speaking ability and accuracy will be also valuated.

A) Intermediate Tests are reserved for those students who are actively attending lessons (it means regularly participating and interacting at class debates so that a good understanding of course contents is assessed) and consist as follows:
A1) First Third Test (21st March 2023): 5 mins oral exam on a particular topic chosen by the student from among those covered in the course;

A2) Second Third Test (4th April 2023): 5 mins oral exam on a particular topic chosen by the student from among those covered in the course;

A3) Third Third Test (18th April 2023): oral exam on course contents (candidates at their own convenience may begin the oral examination by discussing a paper - to be submitted at least 3 days in advance - in which they set out the main differences between the Italian legal system and those of the Country they come from).

The final mark is the average of the three third test marks.

B) Full Exam (for students who can not - or are not able - to pass the above mentioned First and Second Third Tests): oral exam consisting in 3 questions on course contents (candidates at their own convenience may begin the oral examination by discussing a paper - to be submitted at least 3 days in advance - in which they set out the main differences between the Italian legal system and those of the Country they come from).

The test/exam assessment grid will be as follows: <18 insufficient, 18-23 sufficient, 24-27 average/good, 28-30 very good, 30 cum laude excellent/outstanding. The minimum mark to pass is 18/30.

Tests/Exams will be conducted in English.

The course will be delivered in 35 hours of lessons. Lessons will be delivered in the classroom.

Students will be asked to actively participate.

Some of the lessons will be dedicated to the discussion of specific cases and legal documents.

Students are received at the beginning or end of each lecture by appointment via email

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "International cooperation" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development