Corsi in lingua inglese

LAW COURSES IN ENGLISH

Al fine di potenziare la dimensione internazionale dell'offerta formativa, la Facoltà propone, nel quadro del Corso di laurea Magistrale in Giurisprudenza, alcuni insegnamenti giuridici interamente o parzialmente in una lingua inglese.

Sono interamente in inglese i corsi di International Law, Comparative Legal Systems e Comparative Labour Law; è parzialmente in inglese il corso di Comparative Criminal Law.

La Facoltà organizza anche un corso di Introduction to Italian Legal Culture. In ragione dei contenuti, tale corso è destinato esclusivamente agli studenti stranieri in mobilità Erasmus o di scambio bilaterale, anche di altre Facoltà, ovvero a partecipanti esterni all'Ateneo che abbiano formalizzato l'iscrizione presso la Segreteria studenti della Facoltà.

Al fine di facilitare la consultazione da parte degli studenti stranieri, si riportano qui di seguito, in inglese, indicazioni generali e programmi relativi ai corsi in lingua straniera impartiti nell'anno accademico 2009/2010.

In order to enhance the international dimension of its educational programmes and to facilitate student exchanges with Universities abroad, the Faculty of Law of the University of Florence has recently introduced an English language component in its law curriculum.

During the academic year 2009/2010, the Faculty will offer:

• Four courses entirely taught in English

1. International Law (60 hours)
2. Comparative Legal Systems (40 hours)
3. Comparative Labour Law (40 hours)
4. Introduction to the Italian legal culture (40 hours)

• One course partially taught in English

1. Comparative Criminal Law (6 hours of teaching in English). The course will include a significant component of teaching in English. Although not entirely held in English, this course is suitable for the participation of students with only limited skills in the Italian language, since it is based on the direct analysis and discussion of foreign legal materials, with ample possibilities of interaction in English with the teacher. The course partially in English is:

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Knowledge

To understand how international relations among States and other international actors are governed in fields of peace and security, human rights, economic and environmental matters.

Abilities

General comprehension of the way in which rules of international law are formed and applied, with particular reference to the means for enforcing rights and obligations arising thereunder.

Results to be obtained

Capacity to assess the existence of rules of international law and their meaning, with particular reference to the legal effects of treaties. Acquisition of the basic elements that are required in competitions which include a test of knowledge of international law.

PROGRAMME

The course will mainly cover the following subjects:

• Organization of international society. States and other territorial entities. Self-determination. International organizations. Individuals and other subjects of international law
• The sources of international law. General international law and its codification. General principles of law. The law of treaties. Relations between international law and national legal systems.
• International responsibility of States.
• The United Nations and the attempt to centralize the use of force. The peaceful settlement of disputes. The functions of the International Court of Justice.
• Diplomatic protection. The international protection of human rights. Remedies available to individuals in case of infringements of their human rights.
• International criminal law. The role of the International Criminal Court.
• International Economic Law and the World Trade Organization. The protection of the environment.

TEACHING MATERIALS

The students may use their notes from the lectures together with the reference and reading materials to be distributed during the course.

PRE-REQUISITES

The programme is taught in English. Therefore all students should have an adequate knowledge of the English language.

Students must have passed: Private Law (Diritto privato I) and Constitutional Law (Diritto costituzionale generale). This requirement does not apply to Erasmus and individual course students.

The course is alternative to the other courses of "Diritto internazionale" taught in the Faculty. Attendance is compulsory.  

TEACHING METHODS

The course will consist of 60 hours of lectures with plenty of opportunities for discussion of cases and relevant materials.

EXAMINATION

There will be a written test and/or an oral examination at the end of the course.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Knowledge

General knowledge of comparative labour law methodology; an introduction to European Social policies and employment policies. National legislation implementing Directives and Framework Directives.

Abilities

Skills in adopting a comparative legal approach. Knowledge of the relevant legal sources both in primary and secondary European law, with particular emphasis on social policies Directives.

Results to be obtained

Students should know:

• how to search for relevant legislation and case law; how to prepare a bibliography;
• how to frame a legal question and put it in a comparative perspective; how to approach case law and comment critically on it
• how to link EC law with national developments in specialised fields of law.

PROGRAMME

The course is devoted to the comparative study of labour market reforms adopted within the general framework of European employment policies. Attention will be paid to the debate on ‘modernisation of labour law' launched by the European Commission and on recent documents issued by European institutions on related matters. Special attention will be paid to the reform of part-time and fixed-term contracts; agency work; economically dependent work.

Attendance to classes is compulsory. No more than three classes should be missed. Teaching will be interactive and may imply presentations of written essays and discussions in seminars.

TEACHING MATERIALS

Recent case law of the European Court of Justice, recent European sources and selected articles from legal journals will be made available well in advance before the beginning of classes.

Announcements on reading materials will be posted both on the web and in the Department of private law. As far as possible reading materials will be available in electronic version.

PRE-REQUISITES

Knowledge of European Law and Labour Law is recommended.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures: 40 hours.

EXAMINATION

A final oral exam, preceded by a written essay, when necessary. Written essays will be assigned and agreed with students on an individual basis.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Knowledge

Introduction to the comparative method and its role in contemporary legal education. Analysis of the civil law and the common law traditions, mainly through the study of the sources of law.

Abilities

Skills in researching legislative, decisional and bibliographical materials, in order to frame and solve legal problems in the light of the comparative method.

Results to be obtained

Capacity to understand the differences and similarities characterizing the two Western legal traditions. Awareness of the importance of culture in the shaping of the traditions. Acquisition of familiarity with different languages and legal concepts.                        

PROGRAMME

The course is open to foreign and Italian students fluent in spoken and written English.

The course aims at offering to the students an introduction to legal comparison, to its nature and goals, to the role of comparative law in the education of lawyers intended to operate in a global context. In particular, through this course the students will be exposed to the historical evolution and the main features of the civil law and the common law tradition. In this connection, the analysis will touch upon some issues, which show how the two great Western legal traditions are gradually converging. Besides their formative period, the course will deal in some detail with such topics as legal education, the legal professions, courts and procedure, constitutions and judicial review of legislation, the role of legislation, case law and doctrine as sources of law. Reference will also be made to the making of a European law.

TEACHING MATERIALS

The textbooks which will be used is: M. A. GLENDON, P. G. CAROZZA & C. B. PICKER, Comparative Legal Traditions in a Nutshell, Thomson/West, 2008; T. FINE, An Introduction to the Anglo-American Legal System, Thomson/Aranzadi, 2007

PRE-REQUISITES

Students must have passed the exams in: Private Law (Diritto Privato I), Constitutional Law (Diritto costituzionale generale). This requirement does not apply to Erasmus and individual course students.

TEACHING METHODS

Students are strongly recommended to attend the classes regularly, and participate actively in the discussions, and consequently to register with any of the instructors within the second week of classes.

The course will consist of 40 hours of lectures with plenty of opportunities for discussing in class the materials assigned on a weekly basis.

EXAMINATION

There will be an oral examination at the end of the course based on the teaching materials indicated above.

Students attending regularly the course may ask to be evaluated on their class participation and on a written paper on a subject agreed upon with the instructors, to be submitted within three months from the end of the course.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Knowledge

To have a first contact with the fundamental notions of the different branches of the Italian legal system, as well as with the main lines of their development.

Abilities

Easier understanding of the legal implications of Italian political and social debates, and facilitated further study of specific areas of the Italian legal system.

Results to be obtained

Capacity to understand the main peculiarities of the Italian legal tradition, vis-à-vis other legal systems, also in the case of students who do not yet have the linguistic skills for directly using legal materials in the Italian language.

PROGRAMME - Details

The course will cover the following subjects:

• Roman law and Italian law
• Development and structure of the Italian constitutional system
• Fundamental rights
• History of Italian private law
• Contracts and torts
• Civil procedure and the machinery of justice
• Commercial law
• Criminal justice
• Administrative law
• EU law and Italian law
• Sociological traits of the Italian legal system

Notions on the research and interpretation of Italian legal materials will be also provided.

TEACHING MATERIALS

Materials will be distributed during the course to integrate the notes taken by students.

PRE-REQUISITES

Given its experimental nature, the course is presently addressed only to English-speaking law students attending the University of Florence within exchange programmes. The course is also open -after proper registration- to other foreign students attending educational institutions in Firenze and interested in deepening their knowledge of the Italian legal tradition.

In order to attend the course, students must register at the Service of International Relations of the Faculty of Law. Further information can be obtained also at the Service or writing to alessandro.simoni@unifi.it

Registered students must attend at least 80% of the teaching units.

TEACHING METHODS

The course will consist of around 40 hours of lectures.

EXAMINATION

There will be a written examination at the end of the course.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Knowledge

Knowledge, in a comparative perspective, about the fundamental features of Civil law and Common law Criminal justice systems. Knowledge about recent developments in the Substantive Criminal law of Western societies, with a particular focus on the codification and/or re-codification process. Basic notions about the evolution of Crimes against property in Anglo-American legal tradition and knowledge of the fundamental definitions and rules concerning these crimes in the contemporary English system with some reference to the US Model penal code.

Abilities

Ability to search and retrieve legal materials concerning Civil and Common Law systems and to use such materials to solve legal problems. Capacity to analyse legal problems in a comparative perspective, understanding the role of legal rules and of all other factors (also informal, like the different mentality of jurists) that shape the law in action.

Results to be obtained

Capacity to perceive and elaborate differences and similarities between the Common Law and Civil Law approach to the Criminal Law. Awareness about the complexity of the Criminal law reform process in western societies.

PROGRAMME

The course will develop a comparative analysis of the main Civil Law and Common Law Criminal Justice systems, with a particular focus on legal systems which have gone trough codification (concluded or attempted) and/or recodification (concluded or attempted) of the Substantive Criminal Law.

• The first part of the course will cover some preliminary methodological issues, that will make clear what is peculiar about comparing in the field of Criminal Law. After this introduction, the course will focus on the reforms which are emerging in selected Western Criminal justice systems. The developments in the law will be analysed in the particular mirror of the codification/recodification process.
• The second part of the course will focus on Crimes against property in England, with some reference also to the US Model penal Code.

The course will include a 6 hours module, that will be taught entirely in English

TEACHING MATERIALS

For the first part of the course:

• F. Palazzo - M. Papa, Lezioni di diritto penale comparato, 2° ed., Giappichelli, Torino 2005, pp. 1-222 (A new edition of the book will be published in spring 2010). Students that will regularly attend the class are entitled to exclude from the programme the part concerning the German Criminal Justice system (pp. 59-87)    

For the second part of the course:

• M. Papa, Crimes against property. La tutela penale del patrimonio nel diritto angloamericano, UTET, Torino, in printing. Until this book is available, students may prepare this part of the program on M. Papa, Patrimonio (reati contro il) (in diritto anglo americano), in Digesto discipline penalistiche, IX, Torino, 1995, 306 ss. ;

or

• A. Ashworth, Principles of Criminal Law, 5th ed., Oxford University Press, Oxford 2006, pp. 361-408.

PRE-REQUISITES

Students must have passed: Private Law (Diritto privato I), Constitutional Law (Diritto costituzionale generale) and Criminal Law I (the general part). This condition does not apply to Socrates students who have already acquired in their home countries some knowledge of the general principles of Criminal Law.

In order to attend the course, student must register at the Segreteria didattica of the Department of comparative criminal law, or directly via e-mail (michele.papa@unifi.it) before the end of the first week of classes.

Registered students should attend at least 80% of the teaching units and the entire (100%) module in English.

TEACHING METHODS

Lessons: a total of 40 hours, including the 6 hours of the module in English, are scheduled

Teaching module in English

The course includes a 6 hours module that will be taught entirely in English.

EXAMINATION

Considering the number of registered and attending students, one or more mid-term written tests could be scheduled. The final exam will be oral.