Saint-Louis University - Bruxelles
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DROI1231 - Law theory seminar: philosophical orientation



ECTS - Credits : 6

Lecturers :
Mode of delivery :
Face-to-face , second term, 30 hours of theory.

Timetable :
Language of instruction :
French.


Learning outcomes :
By the end of the seminar, the students should:
o have opened themselves to fundamental issues and a critical reflection on law and philosophy of law;
o have acquired the capability to understand texts of theory of law, to synthesise them and critique them in a group discussion;
o have thoroughly studied, in a critical perspective, through personal research, and by using aspects of both positive law and theory of law, an issue relating to social law in the broadest sense;
o have been able to write a text of about 20 pages on this topic, basing themselves on personal research and on a relatively extended bibliography, providing a critical analysis of the studied question;
o have been able to present in class in front of their fellow students, the results of their work in an oral presentation of 15 - 20 minutes.

Prerequisites and co-requisites / Recommended optional programme components :
The students should have followed the “Introduction to contemporary legal thinking” course given during the first semester.

Course contents :
The content of the seminar, of which the theme changes each year, is structured around the following approaches:

- first of all, we will proceed with the reading and discussion of texts on different topics of theory of law relating to legislative review (justification of the review? author(s) of the review? nomenclature ? etc.). Then, the readings will cover more specific themes related to social law in the broadest sense (housing, integration income, etc.). These subjects constitute the preferred material for the undertaking of a legislative review;

- After the introductory reading sessions, the students are invited to make further research on one of the specific topics that are proposed. For this work, they must make a legislative review essay on a subject of positive law of their choice, after having identified the most appropriate evaluative matrix for this exercise. At the end of the second semester of the third year, each student is invited to hand in this work of about twenty typed pages. Beforehand, the students will be asked to provide an outline of their work in order to review it with the seminar professor. During the second semester of the third year, the students will be asked to develop the results of their research in an oral presentation of about fifteen to twenty minutes.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
The texts that the students are required to read during the first part of the seminar will be available at the reprography service. Active attendance at every weekly session is compulsory as well as the handing in of a work outline and attendance at the presentations.
For the students who wish to meet the professor, he will be available to answer questions during scheduled duty hours or by appointment.

Assessment methods and criteria :
The assessment is based for 80 % on the quality of the written work. This evaluation is based on the criteria defined at the beginning of the seminar (outline, understanding of the subject, coherence, critical thinking, written expression, analytical mind, methodology and research). The remaining 20% are based on the students' participation in class and on their oral presentation. The correction of the work will be explained in writing and the students are invited to read of it.
The mark obtained is equivalent in regards to exemptions, to that of a course.

Recommended or required reading :
The bibliography will be provided with the reading file.
For the research on the chosen theme, the seminar professor will provide bibliographical information.


Other information :
A reading file will be available at the reprography service at the beginning of the seminar.