37294 - Principles of Law

Learning outcomes

The course is divided into two parts: the first, general and introductory part is devoted to the sources of private law and to general institutions of private law (such as property law, law of contract, basic notions and structure of international contracts, law of legal bodies, law of obligation). The second part is specifically dedicated to the analysis of new phenomena, such as IoT, A.I., GDPR and smart contract and their impacts in business and society. This course will help student to acquire ability with the use of basic legal principles necessary to business operators acting at the national and international level and the ability to understand the rules of private law and to apply them to resolve legal problems.

Course contents

The course will provide, in the first and general part, an overview of the principles governing Italian and EU private law in international context. In this respect, it will provide insights into:

• the difference between civil law and common law legal systems;
• domestic and EU sources of law;
• law of persons;
• law of obligations and contracts;
  
• digital regulation under a private law perspective (e.g., data protection, e-commerce);
• tourism regulation;
• law of property.

Readings/Bibliography

Iudica - Zatti, Language and Rules of Italian Private Law, Wolters Kluwer, CEDAM, Milan, 2026.

The textbook is to be studied in its entirety, except for chapters from 24 to 28

Suggested: Sirena, Introduction to Private Law, Il Mulino, 2021;

Learning material uploaded to the virtual platform will form an integral part of the exam.

Teaching methods

The class format will combine a short lecture-style introduction and subsequent discussion. A Socratic method will primarily be adopted and Students are thus expected to prepare for and to participate in individual or group class discussions on a regular basis.

The course is also based on a case law method.

Assessment methods

Attending students grades will be based on participation to class discussion with a mandatory case presentation during the course, as well as on a final exam.

Attending students: case presentation in class and final closed book written exam. The closed book written exam will consist of:

15 multiple choice questions.

Every correct answer counts 2 points, every missing or wrong answer counts 0 points.

The final score will consist on the average between the score of the presentations and the score of the final written exam.

Attendance will be checked randomly during the lessons.

Non attending students’s grades will be based on a written exam.

The closed book written exam (20 min.) will consist of 15 multiple choice questions.

Every correct answer counts 2 points, every missing or wrong answer counts 0 points.
Only the students that correctly answer at least 9/15 questions will pass the exam.

Grade rejection:

Students can reject the grade obtained at the exam. To this end, he/she must email a request to the instructor within the date set for registration.

Teaching tools

Excerpts, handouts, slides, contracts, case law, papers to be found on the online materials accessible via the Professor website.

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Davide Maria Locatello