JUS2007 Western Legal Culture & Comparative History and Theory of Legal Methods

    • Course code
      JUS2007
    • Number of credits
      15
    • Teaching semester
      2024 Spring
    • Language of instruction
      English
    • Campus
      Lillehammer
    • Required prerequisite knowledge

      No.

Course content
  • Legal methods regulate how the law evolves and how we apply the law. Legal methods are embedded in legal culture. The course will analyze the evolution of legal methods in the two main western legal cultures, the (continental) civil law and the (English and American) common law tradition, and will examine how Norwegian law relates to these legal cultures.
  • The course will explain how the civil law tradition created the private law – public law division, its function in today’s society and asks whether common law follows similar concepts.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge
  • Students understand the different types of legal methods and their function within legal sources like the constitution, statutes, court cases and contracts.
  • Students understand the basic elements of the research methods of comparative law, legal history and legal theory.
  • Students understand how the social context influences legal systems and its methods.
Skills
  • Students are able to reflect on the main differences of the civil law and common law tradition and how it affects legal reasoning in Norwegian law today.
  • Students are able to analyze the function of the public law – private law division and its effects on legal methods. They are able to reflect on the impact of public and individual interests in the law.
General competence
  • Students have an improved ability to discuss how the Norwegian legal culture is influenced by different western legal traditions and historical and societal contexts. In light of this, they are able to evaluate and reflect on – and discuss – today’s legal methods in Norwegian law.
Teaching and working methods
  • Legal texts and textbooks – research relevant sources and literature
  • Lectures
  • Group tutorials
  • Individual assignments
  • Academic supervision
Required coursework

Deliver a written individual assignment, which must be approved by the supervisor.

Assessments
Form of assessmentGrading scaleGroupingDuration of assessmentSupport materialsProportionComment
Home exam
ECTS - A-F
Individual
1 Week(s)
Form of assessment
  • Individual written home examination
  • Duration: One week
  • Grading scale: Letters A-F
  • Language: English

Reading list

Course name in Norwegian Nynorsk: 
Western Legal Culture & Comparative History and Theory of Legal Methods
Course name in Norwegian Bokmål: 
Western Legal Culture & Comparative History and Theory of Legal Methods
Faculty
Inland School of Business and Social Sciences
Department
Department of Law, Philosophy and International studies with history
Area of study
Samfunnsvitenskapelige fag
Programme of study
Bachelor of law
Course level
Intermediate course, level II (200-LN)