KWALITEIT, KLEINSCHALIGHEID, KENBAARHEID WWW.VOORTS.COM

Common Law Systems and Legal Eng l i sh

Content of the course

The importance of the common l aw i s unden i ab l e . Many jurisdictions around the world, including the United States, India, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and, of course, the United Kingdom, are based on this system.

This introductory course aims to provide students with a sound basis of the knowledge and skills needed to fully comprehend these systems. In doing so attention will be paid to the following aspects:

- the importance of case law and the notion of precedent;- reading cases from common law countries;- an introduction to the trias politica in the UK and the USA;- a short introduction to sources and hierarchy of laws in

the UK and the USA; and- a brief introduction in four main substantive areas of law.

Didactical ModelThe course consists of four meetings of three hours. Each meeting is split into 2 one and a half hour sessions, which take place from 09.00-10.30 and 11.00-12.30. (The course is also offered from 13.30-17.00 if preferred).

The groups will be interactive with students having to undertake set reading prior to each session. Each session will be build upon cases of major importance, whilst dealing with current and important themes. Major differences between the civil and common law systems will be h igh l i ghted at the r e l e v a n t m o m e n t s throughout the course.

Furthermore, each week will include language skills test designed to improve the students’ legal English.

INVESTOR NEWSLETTER ISSUE N°3 FALL 2009

LOCATIONG. Borgesiuslaan 773515 ET Utrecht

TIMES09.00-12.30 or13.30-17.00

COURSEFour weekly meetings3 hours teaching per meeting

PARTICIPANTSMaximum 10

COST€100 per student

ENROLLMENTwww.voorts.com

COMMON LAW SYSTEMS AND LEGAL ENGLISH VOORTS JURIDISCHE DIENSTEN

KWALITEIT, KLEINSCHALIGHEID, KENBAARHEID WWW.VOORTS.COM

Teaching Aims• Improvement of legal English terminology• Knowledge of the origins of the common

law system• Ability to apply the basic rules of

precedent• Ability to identify the ratio and obiter in

any given case• Knowledge o f the governmenta l

structures of the UK and the USA• Basic knowledge of four areas of English

law, namely o criminal law, o contract law, o tort law, and o property law.

Certificate of attendance Every student who has attended all four sessions will receive a certificate of attendance.

Optional grading componentIf this course is provided for an educational facility, an optional grading component may also be added to the course either in the form of the written essay (maximum 2,500 words) or a written exam. We also have a number of innovative assessment options available (including writing English legislation, debate modules, judicial decision writing etc).

LEGAL ENGLISHA FULLY INTEGRATED COMPONENT

A course on common law systems presupposes an a certain level of understanding of the English language. However, in the same way that a Dutch law degree does not have a separate course entitled Juridisch Nederlands, the legal language is a crucial component of understanding the core legal concepts.

At Voorts Juridische Diensten we believe that these two components (namely the content, on the one hand, and the language, on the other) must be fully integrated in order to fully appreciate both. Consequently, the course provides content related language instruction, as well as in-depth legal knowledge concerning English law. Ample attention will, therefore, also be paid to the difference between American and British English.

INTRODUCTION TO COMMON LAW SYSTEMS VOORTS JURIDISCHE DIENSTEN

KWALITEIT, KLEINSCHALIGHEID, KENBAARHEID WWW.VOORTS.COM

Session 1: 09.00-12.30

09.00-10.30History of the common law• 1066 and William the Conqueror• King Henry II and the start of uniformity• Rise of equity and fall of common law• Rise and fall of British colonialism • The common law in the US

11.00-12.30Parliamentary, governmental and judicial systems:• In the United Kingdom• In the USAo Federal systemo State system

Session 2: 09.00-12.30

09.00-10.30Case law and the rules of precedent:• Using Westlaw and other search engines• How to read common law cases• Identifying the ratio decidendi

11.00-12.30Becoming a lawyer in a common law system:• Becoming a lawyer in England• Becoming a lawyer in the USA

Session 3: 09.00-12.30

09.00-10.30Criminal law:• Actus reus and mens rea• Variations of intention• Murder and manslaughter• Sentencing

11.00-12.30Contract law:• Principles of offer and acceptance• Doctrine Consideration• Remedies

Session 4: 09.00-12.30

09.00-10.30Tort law:• Different torts• Negligence: o Duty of careo Breach of dutyo Damage

11.00-12.30Property law:• Distinctions between moveable and

immovable• Equity and common law• Trusts

STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE

The course consists of four individual meetings of three hours (divided into two sessions of one and a half hours). The course is offered:

- once per year on a subscription basis (tickets available via www.voorts.com). This course is open to all students without restriction.

- on an individual basis to be arranged for individual organisations, for example universities, in-house, law firms etc. In this case, the course can be bought en bloc . In this case, please contact us at info@voorts.com for an quote.

INVESTOR NEWSLETTER ISSUE N°3 FALL 2009INTRODUCTION TO COMMON LAW SYSTEMS VOORTS JURIDISCHE DIENSTEN