Our taught postgraduate programme, designed to serve outstanding law students from common-law backgrounds

The course consists of a comparative study of major areas of the company laws of the UK, continental Europe (in particular, Germany) and the United States as well as an assessment of the work done by the European Union in the field of company law.

The three areas or jurisdictions selected for comparative study have, collectively, had a very significant impact on the development of company law throughout the world. An understanding of these thus assists students in understanding both the content of, and influences upon, many others. The approach taken is both functional and comparative, looking at a series of core problems with which any system of corporate law must deal, and analysing, from a functional perspective, the solutions adopted by the systems in question. The course seeks to situate these solutions in the underlying concepts and assumptions of the chosen systems, as these often provide an explanation for divergences. To this end, the course begins with a contextual overview of ‘systems’ of corporate governance, which material is then applied in the following seminars on more substantive topics. Such a comparative study is intended to enable students to see their own system of company law in a new and more meaningful light, and to be able to form new views about its future development. Finally, a study of the ways in which the European Union is developing company law within its boundaries is also important, not only as illustrating, by a review of the harmonisation programme, the benefits to be derived from a comparative study in practice, but also because it shows new ways in which corporate vehicles can be developed to meet particular policy objectives.

 The course assumes students have knowledge of the basic structure of corporate laws, such as would be gained from an undergraduate course (regardless of jurisdiction). MJur students who have previously studied company law in another jurisdiction may find it helpful to take Company Law at the same time.

The teaching group comprises Professor J Armour, Dr WG Ringe and Ms J Payne. Teaching consists of a combination of lectures, seminars, and tutorials. Guest lectures by visiting academics may also be given at various points.

Our taught postgraduate programme, designed to serve outstanding law students from civil law backgrounds.

The course consists of a comparative study of major areas of the company laws of the UK, continental Europe (in particular, Germany) and the United States as well as an assessment of the work done by the European Union in the field of company law.

The three areas or jurisdictions selected for comparative study have, collectively, had a very significant impact on the development of company law throughout the world. An understanding of these thus assists students in understanding both the content of, and influences upon, many others. The approach taken is both functional and comparative, looking at a series of core problems with which any system of corporate law must deal, and analysing, from a functional perspective, the solutions adopted by the systems in question. The course seeks to situate these solutions in the underlying concepts and assumptions of the chosen systems, as these often provide an explanation for divergences. To this end, the course begins with a contextual overview of ‘systems’ of corporate governance, which material is then applied in the following seminars on more substantive topics. Such a comparative study is intended to enable students to see their own system of company law in a new and more meaningful light, and to be able to form new views about its future development. Finally, a study of the ways in which the European Union is developing company law within its boundaries is also important, not only as illustrating, by a review of the harmonisation programme, the benefits to be derived from a comparative study in practice, but also because it shows new ways in which corporate vehicles can be developed to meet particular policy objectives.

 The course assumes students have knowledge of the basic structure of corporate laws, such as would be gained from an undergraduate course (regardless of jurisdiction). MJur students who have previously studied company law in another jurisdiction may find it helpful to take Company Law at the same time.

The teaching group comprises Professor J Armour, Dr WG Ringe and Ms J Payne. Teaching consists of a combination of lectures, seminars, and tutorials. Guest lectures by visiting academics may also be given at various points.

The course consists of a comparative study of major areas of the company laws of the UK, continental Europe (in particular, Germany) and the United States as well as an assessment of the work done by the European Union in the field of company law.

The three areas or jurisdictions selected for comparative study have, collectively, had a very significant impact on the development of company law throughout the world. An understanding of these thus assists students in understanding both the content of, and influences upon, many others. The approach taken is both functional and comparative, looking at a series of core problems with which any system of corporate law must deal, and analysing, from a functional perspective, the solutions adopted by the systems in question. The course seeks to situate these solutions in the underlying concepts and assumptions of the chosen systems, as these often provide an explanation for divergences. To this end, the course begins with a contextual overview of ‘systems’ of corporate governance, which material is then applied in the following seminars on more substantive topics. Such a comparative study is intended to enable students to see their own system of company law in a new and more meaningful light, and to be able to form new views about its future development. Finally, a study of the ways in which the European Union is developing company law within its boundaries is also important, not only as illustrating, by a review of the harmonisation programme, the benefits to be derived from a comparative study in practice, but also because it shows new ways in which corporate vehicles can be developed to meet particular policy objectives.

 The course assumes students have knowledge of the basic structure of corporate laws, such as would be gained from an undergraduate course (regardless of jurisdiction). MJur students who have previously studied company law in another jurisdiction may find it helpful to take Company Law at the same time.

The teaching group comprises Professor J Armour, Dr WG Ringe and Ms J Payne. Teaching consists of a combination of lectures, seminars, and tutorials. Guest lectures by visiting academics may also be given at various points.

The degree is awarded on the basis of nine final examinations at the end of the three-year course (or four years in the case of Law with Law Studies in Europe) and (for students who began the course in October 2011 or later) an essay in Jurisprudence written over the summer vacation at the end of the second year. Note: the Jurisprudence exam at the end of the third year is correspondingly shorter. This phase of the Final Honour School includes the first and second term of the final year; the Final Examinations are taken in the third term of the final year.

This course centres on a comparison of the general principles governing the law of contract in French and in English law, choosing this topic both because of its substantive interest and because it is a good place from which to embark on comparative legal studies. For this reason, the course is arranged in two parts. The first introductory part (representing one tutorial week) looks at very general features of the French legal system, especially as regards the sources of the law, and it invites comparisons with the apparently very different approaches of English law. The second part of the course (representing six tutorial weeks) looks at the French and English general laws of contract both from the point of view of their own substantive principles and as the context for the illustration and elucidation of the more general questions addressed in the first part. While the material itself is necessarily restricted, the provisions of the Code civil and examples of the case-law and juristic writing (la doctrine) are studied. Comparisons may include those drawn at the level of principle, underlying values, legal technique or practical result.

Students taking this course may come from either a common law or a civil law background, but the reading set for the course focuses on (though is not limited to) the French materials, it being assumed that the students taking the course have already undertaken studies in English general contract law. The French sources are studied in French, though there are a number of introductory works on French law and French contract law in English (including Bell, Boyron and Whittaker, Principles of French Law and Nicholas, The French Law of Contract) and articles in English comparing aspects of French and English contract law. Overall, however, the course requires a good reading knowledge of French.

The pattern of teaching will be as follows. Lectures on French contract law will be given in Michaelmas and Hilary Terms by Professor John Cartwright and Dr Solène Rowan respectively. There are seven tutorials, which will be given by Professor John Cartwright and Professor Simon Whittaker, and will normally be spread across Michaelmas and Hilary Terms. However, students taking this paper within the Diploma in Legal Studies will normally take all the tutorials in Hilary Term, since they must first take tutorials in English Contract Law in Michaelmas Term.

A one-year sample of courses from our BA programmes, aimed only at students visiting from our partner universities.

This course centres on a comparison of the general principles governing the law of contract in French and in English law, choosing this topic both because of its substantive interest and because it is a good place from which to embark on comparative legal studies. For this reason, the course is arranged in two parts. The first introductory part (representing one tutorial week) looks at very general features of the French legal system, especially as regards the sources of the law, and it invites comparisons with the apparently very different approaches of English law. The second part of the course (representing six tutorial weeks) looks at the French and English general laws of contract both from the point of view of their own substantive principles and as the context for the illustration and elucidation of the more general questions addressed in the first part. While the material itself is necessarily restricted, the provisions of the Code civil and examples of the case-law and juristic writing (la doctrine) are studied. Comparisons may include those drawn at the level of principle, underlying values, legal technique or practical result.

Students taking this course may come from either a common law or a civil law background, but the reading set for the course focuses on (though is not limited to) the French materials, it being assumed that the students taking the course have already undertaken studies in English general contract law. The French sources are studied in French, though there are a number of introductory works on French law and French contract law in English (including Bell, Boyron and Whittaker, Principles of French Law and Nicholas, The French Law of Contract) and articles in English comparing aspects of French and English contract law. Overall, however, the course requires a good reading knowledge of French.

The pattern of teaching will be as follows. Lectures on French contract law will be given in Michaelmas and Hilary Terms by Professor John Cartwright and Dr Solène Rowan respectively. There are seven tutorials, which will be given by Professor John Cartwright and Professor Simon Whittaker, and will normally be spread across Michaelmas and Hilary Terms. However, students taking this paper within the Diploma in Legal Studies will normally take all the tutorials in Hilary Term, since they must first take tutorials in English Contract Law in Michaelmas Term.

Our taught postgraduate programme, designed to serve outstanding law students from common-law backgrounds

European Private Law is an emerging and dynamic subject. It concerns the gradual approximation and harmonisation of the national private laws of the European Union's Member States, one of the most fascinating contemporary developments in the law. The Europeanisation of private law has two dimensions. One is fairly imminent and extremely relevant to legal practice. It concerns the implications of existing legislation and case-law emanating from the organs of the EU for national private laws. The other is more forward-looking and rather of a scholarly nature. It relates to a number of academic proposals for common European rules and principles in the area of private law, based on thorough comparative research. Thus European Private Law combines issues from at least three branches of legal scholarship, ie European Law, (national) Private Law and Comparative Law.

The course attempts to combine these disciplines, constantly approaching particular problems from a European point of view as well as from the perspective of various national private laws, thus necessarily adopting a comparative approach. The course first considers fundamental questions relating to the desirability, the constitutional legitimacy and the feasibility of the harmonisation of Private Law in Europe. An overview of the existing state of European Private Law, the imminent developments and the long-term proposals by various groups of academics is provided. The main part of the course consists in the study of a limited number of specific substantive issues taken from one of the core areas of private law, the law of contract. These are studied, as far as possible, with reference to primary materials, ie legislation and case law, and are likely to include topics such as pre-contractual liability, formation of contract, third parties in contract, mistake, good faith, standard terms, supervening events, breach of contract and remedies. Examples from national legal systems will mainly be drawn from English, French and German law. If, however, another legal system offers an interesting and original solution this will also be taken into account.

This approach already indicates that the course does not aspire to cover the whole of contract law with all its, say, constitutional and procedural implications, in all or even the most important European legal systems, but is rather of a more topical nature. The search is for – common or diverging – solutions to legal problems arising in all legal systems (including EU law and recent proposals for further harmonisation). These are looked at both from a rather technical point of view and with respect to the underlying principles so that a balance between ‘black letter’ law and general policy issues is struck. Participants will thus be in a position to evaluate the status quo of European contract law(s), the potential for further harmonisation and the methodological implications of this process. The principal objective of the course is to enable students to acquire knowledge and understanding in the area of European Private Law and to discuss and assess critically at an advanced level the legal and policy issues arising therefrom. Participants may expect to gain a deeper understanding of the nature of contract law, basic knowledge of the major European traditions in this area of the law and the ability to master a wide range of strongly heterogeneous sources – all of which are competences and skills of increasing importance in a Europe growing together.

Our taught postgraduate programme, designed to serve outstanding law students from civil law backgrounds.

This course centres on a comparison of the general principles governing the law of contract in French and in English law, choosing this topic both because of its substantive interest and because it is a good place from which to embark on comparative legal studies. For this reason, the course is arranged in two parts. The first introductory part (representing one tutorial week) looks at very general features of the French legal system, especially as regards the sources of the law, and it invites comparisons with the apparently very different approaches of English law. The second part of the course (representing six tutorial weeks) looks at the French and English general laws of contract both from the point of view of their own substantive principles and as the context for the illustration and elucidation of the more general questions addressed in the first part. While the material itself is necessarily restricted, the provisions of the Code civil and examples of the case-law and juristic writing (la doctrine) are studied. Comparisons may include those drawn at the level of principle, underlying values, legal technique or practical result.

Students taking this course may come from either a common law or a civil law background, but the reading set for the course focuses on (though is not limited to) the French materials, it being assumed that the students taking the course have already undertaken studies in English general contract law. The French sources are studied in French, though there are a number of introductory works on French law and French contract law in English (including Bell, Boyron and Whittaker, Principles of French Law and Nicholas, The French Law of Contract) and articles in English comparing aspects of French and English contract law. Overall, however, the course requires a good reading knowledge of French.

The pattern of teaching will be as follows. Lectures on French contract law will be given in Michaelmas and Hilary Terms by Professor John Cartwright and Dr Solène Rowan respectively. There are seven tutorials, which will be given by Professor John Cartwright and Professor Simon Whittaker, and will normally be spread across Michaelmas and Hilary Terms. However, students taking this paper within the Diploma in Legal Studies will normally take all the tutorials in Hilary Term, since they must first take tutorials in English Contract Law in Michaelmas Term.

European Private Law is an emerging and dynamic subject. It concerns the gradual approximation and harmonisation of the national private laws of the European Union's Member States, one of the most fascinating contemporary developments in the law. The Europeanisation of private law has two dimensions. One is fairly imminent and extremely relevant to legal practice. It concerns the implications of existing legislation and case-law emanating from the organs of the EU for national private laws. The other is more forward-looking and rather of a scholarly nature. It relates to a number of academic proposals for common European rules and principles in the area of private law, based on thorough comparative research. Thus European Private Law combines issues from at least three branches of legal scholarship, ie European Law, (national) Private Law and Comparative Law.

The course attempts to combine these disciplines, constantly approaching particular problems from a European point of view as well as from the perspective of various national private laws, thus necessarily adopting a comparative approach. The course first considers fundamental questions relating to the desirability, the constitutional legitimacy and the feasibility of the harmonisation of Private Law in Europe. An overview of the existing state of European Private Law, the imminent developments and the long-term proposals by various groups of academics is provided. The main part of the course consists in the study of a limited number of specific substantive issues taken from one of the core areas of private law, the law of contract. These are studied, as far as possible, with reference to primary materials, ie legislation and case law, and are likely to include topics such as pre-contractual liability, formation of contract, third parties in contract, mistake, good faith, standard terms, supervening events, breach of contract and remedies. Examples from national legal systems will mainly be drawn from English, French and German law. If, however, another legal system offers an interesting and original solution this will also be taken into account.

This approach already indicates that the course does not aspire to cover the whole of contract law with all its, say, constitutional and procedural implications, in all or even the most important European legal systems, but is rather of a more topical nature. The search is for – common or diverging – solutions to legal problems arising in all legal systems (including EU law and recent proposals for further harmonisation). These are looked at both from a rather technical point of view and with respect to the underlying principles so that a balance between ‘black letter’ law and general policy issues is struck. Participants will thus be in a position to evaluate the status quo of European contract law(s), the potential for further harmonisation and the methodological implications of this process. The principal objective of the course is to enable students to acquire knowledge and understanding in the area of European Private Law and to discuss and assess critically at an advanced level the legal and policy issues arising therefrom. Participants may expect to gain a deeper understanding of the nature of contract law, basic knowledge of the major European traditions in this area of the law and the ability to master a wide range of strongly heterogeneous sources – all of which are competences and skills of increasing importance in a Europe growing together.

Our taught postgraduate programme, designed to serve outstanding law students from common-law backgrounds

Judicial protection against unlawful (and sometimes lawful) legislative and administrative acts or rules is of concern to individuals and companies in a variety of contexts. This course covers the central aspects of procedural and substantive judicial review under the public law of England, France and the European Union. The course will consider these issues against the constitutional framework which exists in the three systems. Throughout the course the emphasis will be on making comparisons between the different systems. To facilitate this each of the topics studied will be analysed within the same week's work.

The principal course objective is to enable students to acquire knowledge and understanding of the law in this area, and to be able to discuss at an advanced level elements of public law as they are evolving in England, France, and in the EU.

It is possible to undertake the course exclusively on the basis of English language materials, but the ability to read French is an advantage, since some of the secondary sources on French law are only available in the French language. There are, however, translations of the French case law used in the course.

Advice on this and other aspects of the course is available from the course convenor, Professor P P Craig (St. Johns College). The course is taught by Professor P P Craig, S. Boyron and Dr A Young.

Teaching is primarily through lectures and seminars in Michaelmas and Hilary terms. Tutorials will be available in Trinity Term. The structure of the course is as follows. In Michaelmas Term there will be lectures which deal with the central aspects of procedural and substantive review in the three systems. The lectures are designed to lay the foundations for eminar discussion that will take place in Hilary Term, and the first half of Trinity Term. The lectures and seminars will cover the following topics: the constitutional foundations of the three systems; procedural review; review for jurisdictional error; improper purposes; irrationality; proportionality; legitimate expectations; equality; and fundamental rights; damages ctions, including damages for losses caused by lawful governmental action.

Our taught postgraduate programme, designed to serve outstanding law students from civil law backgrounds.

Judicial protection against unlawful (and sometimes lawful) legislative and administrative acts or rules is of concern to individuals and companies in a variety of contexts. This course covers the central aspects of procedural and substantive judicial review under the public law of England, France and the European Union. The course will consider these issues against the constitutional framework which exists in the three systems. Throughout the course the emphasis will be on making comparisons between the different systems. To facilitate this each of the topics studied will be analysed within the same week's work.

The principal course objective is to enable students to acquire knowledge and understanding of the law in this area, and to be able to discuss at an advanced level elements of public law as they are evolving in England, France, and in the EU.

It is possible to undertake the course exclusively on the basis of English language materials, but the ability to read French is an advantage, since some of the secondary sources on French law are only available in the French language. There are, however, translations of the French case law used in the course.

Advice on this and other aspects of the course is available from the course convenor, Professor P P Craig (St. Johns College). The course is taught by Professor P P Craig, S. Boyron and Dr A Young.

Teaching is primarily through lectures and seminars in Michaelmas and Hilary terms. Tutorials will be available in Trinity Term. The structure of the course is as follows. In Michaelmas Term there will be lectures which deal with the central aspects of procedural and substantive review in the three systems. The lectures are designed to lay the foundations for eminar discussion that will take place in Hilary Term, and the first half of Trinity Term. The lectures and seminars will cover the following topics: the constitutional foundations of the three systems; procedural review; review for jurisdictional error; improper purposes; irrationality; proportionality; legitimate expectations; equality; and fundamental rights; damages ctions, including damages for losses caused by lawful governmental action.