Introduction to Law and Legal Reasoning
Full course description
The course Introduction to Law and Legal Reasoning is the first part of the European Law School (ELS) bachelor programme Skills Development and Legal Challenge track. The primary aim of Introduction to Law and Legal Reasoning is to teach new students the skills they need in order to study successfully in the ELS bachelor programme. This course focuses on the abilities which are expected of a first-year undergraduate law student at Maastricht University: study skills; problem-based learning (PBL); and the fundamentals of legal research and reasoning. Students will learn how to approach the writing of essays in legal studies and how to work with legal provisions and cases, analysing and applying them to practical case studies on the basis of the IRAC method. Training in case briefing as well as in the use of library resources and PBL will also be provided during the course. Finally, the course will culminate in a Legal Challenge, whereby students will work in small groups on a contract-drafting challenge or constitution-drafting challenge, depending on their preferences.
Course objectives
Following successful completion of this course, students will:
- be able to find, evaluate and use legal resources.
- be able to write and structure essays appropriately in the context of legal studies.
- understand and be able to employ the basics of legal reasoning.
- be able to understand and apply legal provisions and precedent to case studies using the IRAC method.
- be able to understand and brief legal case reports.
- be familiar with the philosophy of PBL and foundational skills to succeed in their undergraduate studies.
- gain experience in legal drafting techniques by means of teamwork.
Prerequisites
None, other than that students were admitted to the bachelor European Law School
Recommended reading
See Canvas for more information
- W.A. Bull