37294 - Principles of Law

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Forli
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Economics and business (cod. 9202)

Learning outcomes

This course is designed to explore the legal foundations of the market, through the study in comparative perspective of a number of doctrines derived from different legal traditions. Particular emphasis will be placed on the law of obligations and business contracts, with a special focus on the European law of regulated markets. By the end of the course, students have acquired a general understanding of the working of the legal system and grasped the main peculiarities of the different legal traditions, by means of proper legal terminology.

Course contents

20 classes; 60 hours

  • Basic elements of the law of obligations, contracts and remedies

  • Predictability in legal relationships. The notion of ‘good faith’: pre-contractual liability, contract validity and exact performance
  • Contract Law and the Protection of the Weaker Party

  • The “social dimension” of business
  • Islamic Law & Finance
  • International Investments, Sustainable Development & Applicable Law

  • International Sale Contracts (CISG)

In addition to traditional classes, students will be engaged in a "moot court" competition, acting as legal counsels in defense of either the buyer or the seller in a trans-national dispute (based on real judicial/arbitral decisions).

Readings/Bibliography

Jan Smits. Contract Law. 2d edition, Edward Elgar Publishing Inc., 2017 *** (relevant chapters and sections will be specified by the instructor before each class)

*** Students are invited to wait until January 2022 before buying the book.Other materials will be handed out by the instructor

Teaching methods

Lectures, open debate on cases and articles.

"Moot court" competition

Assessment methods

Partial oral exam (March/April) + final oral exam (June/July/Sept). Active class participation will be considered favorably in the overall final grade.

Participation in the "moot court" competition will be graded on an individual basis, too.

Maximum grade: 30L (cum laude).

Minimum grade: 18.

Solid command of "legal English" is considered a "plus".

Teaching tools

Textbook and other materials (laws, conventions, journal articles, published court decisions) indicated by the instructor.

Power Point presentations.

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Quarta

SDGs

Quality education Decent work and economic growth Reduced inequalities Peace, justice and strong institutions

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.