Legal Studies

This course studies some of the foundational doctrines of contemporary international law, while also equipping students with the tools to critique and question these foundational doctrines. While expounding upon some of the foundational doctrines and facets of international law such as sources, sovereignty, Law of Treaties, state responsibility, jurisdiction, international organizations, use of force, International Humanitarian Law, and International Criminal Law, this course also critically examines the complex and reciprocal relationship between international law and empire. It explores how empire was instrumental in the making of international law, shaping its foundational doctrines, institutions, and practices. Conversely, it also interrogates how international law itself became a powerful tool in the making and maintenance of empire, facilitating processes of domination, extraction, and governance across the globe. Drawing on critical perspectives—especially those advanced by Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL) - the course challenges students to question conventional narratives and dominant frameworks. Through engagement with TWAIL scholarship and other critical schools, students analyze the extent to which international law continues to serve imperial interests and consider the question of whether international law, by itself, is now an empire.

The course provides knowledge of the fundamental legal standards related to the contemporary Public Law under the national and European legal frameworks. Students build skills on the following: legal systems; common and civil law; national and supranational sources of law; interpreting legal standards; national and supranational institutions; state's powers and bodies; law-making and rule-making; soft law and intangible standards; public power; government, agencies, and authorities (NRAs, etc.); adjudication; orders and sanctions; and judiciary and remedies. Case-law methodology drives the discussion over the course's subjects and issues.

Course content is divided as follows: State; Political Form (Form of State) and Political Regime (Form of Government); National and supra-national legal systems; Sources of law; Freedoms, fundamental Rights, Human Rights, Organization of the State and constitutional powers; The Constitutional Justice

This course brings together a range of academic disciplines and literature to give students a broad understanding of drug policy, both international and national. While drug use and policy may be discussed as part of other courses, this is the only course that focuses specifically on drug policy, and the impact it has on society today. Drug policy is becoming increasingly visible as an important component of both health and legal policy. Around the world there are shifts which see drug policy moving to a health matter, and the contradictions that can have in the development and delivery of criminal justice and public health frameworks. The course explores both criminal justice and public health approaches to drug policy, and introduces students to the broader concept of a "public good" approach.

This course offers an introduction to US Constitutional law. It provides a solid foundation in the constitutional law of the US both for commercial lawyers, and for lawyers interested in public law and human rights. In addition to examining questions of interpretive method, the course focuses on the powers of the federal government and the allocation of decision-making authority among government institutions, including federalism and separation of powers. 

This course is part of the Laurea Magistrale degree program and is intended for advanced level students. Enrollment is by permission of the instructor. This course focuses on the nature and peculiar aspects of law, in particular its relationship with history; the traditional areas of private law, as well as the system, the founding categories and the historical evolution of Roman private law (VIII century BC - VI century AD). Students will be capable to understand the main issues and effects concerning the interpretation of ancient legal sources. The course is divided into two parts. The first part takes into consideration the principle stages of Roman legal history from the Law of the Twelve Tablets to the epoch of Justinian. The second part takes into consideration the fundamental institutions of Roman private law.

This course focuses on the institutions of the European Union. At the same time, this course provides an opportunity for students to be exposed to legal thinking. Law is central to the process of European integration, and it plays a greater role in European affairs than it does at national or international level. It is accordingly essential for students to become familiar with the ways of legal thought and legal reasoning, if they want to understand fully the European integration process, and European matters more generally.  Prerequisites: SSC1007 Introduction to Law and Legal Reasoning and at least one of the following courses: SSC2060 Comparative Constitutional Law (SSC2012 Comparative Government) or SSC2024 International Law.

This course examines the character, role, and function of international law in the context of the existing system of international relations. 

This course focuses on the areas of property law obligations (part of contract law), using primarily a comparative as well as historic perspective. In addition, the course explores the fundamental (human) rights perspective, specifically, but not only, of property rights. A selection of jurisdictions within (The Netherlands, Germany, France, England, Scotland) as well as outside the European Union (United States, South Africa) are explored, as well as the European Union itself. At least one of the following course modules must be completed: [UCSSCLAW11] Law, Society and Justice or [UCSSCLAW12] Introduction to Law

This course provides an in-depth treatment of selected issues of contemporary international law. It provides an understanding of specialized areas of international law including the use of force and dispute resolution, acquisition of territory, state succession, law of the sea, and international human rights law by focusing on specific issues relevant to the Middle East.

The course tackles philosophical questions about legal systems and criminal justice. The first half of the course typically discusses big picture questions about the purpose of law and what, if anything, the criminal justice system achieves. For example, students might consider the moral obligation to obey the law, the viability of political anarchism, the justification of punishment, dispute-resolution without the state, and the moral status of civil or violent disobedience. The second half of the course usually takes a closer, critical look at how criminal justice works in practice. For example, students might discuss questions like: What is the fairest way to evaluate allegations of sexual criminality? Should we use algorithms to make decisions about parole or punishment severity? Should we defer to juries or instead use professional judges? Does it make sense to treat a corporation as morally responsible? What alternatives are there to prisons?