Insegnamento a.a. 2024-2025

50217 - LEGAL ARGUMENTATION AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF LAW

Department of Law

Course taught in English

Class timetable
Exam timetable
Go to class group/s: 19 - 20
CLMG (8 credits - I sem. - OB  |  IUS/20)
Course Director:
GIOVANNI TUZET

Classes: 19 (I sem.) - 20 (I sem.)
Instructors:
Class 19: GIOVANNI TUZET, Class 20: GIOVANNI TUZET


Suggested background knowledge

Remembering what was discussed in the "Critical Thinking" seminar will help students orientate here.

Mission & Content Summary

MISSION

How to argue in legal contexts? What are the main arguments used in judicial decisions? What is the place of economic arguments in law? The course aims at fostering students’ skills in legal argument and economic analysis. The first part of the course presents the main argumentative and interpretive techniques used in legal practice, and some models of justification of judicial decisions. Judicial opinions will be analyzed in those respects. The second part of the course presents the main tools and claims of the economic analysis of law. It discusses, in particular, the economic approach to property law, tort law, and contracts. Overall, the mission of the course is to teach students to “think like a lawyer” and provide an understanding of the economic issues in law.

CONTENT SUMMARY

FIRST PART

  • Argumentation and Reasoning
  • The Contexts of Legal Argumentation
  • The Justification of Judicial Decisions
  • The Syllogism Model
  • The Double Justification Model
  • Interpretive Arguments
  • Arguments on Facts
  • Evidence and Probability

 

SECOND PART

  • Positive and Normative Economics
  • Efficiency Concepts
  • Coase Theorem
  • Economic Analysis of Torts
  • Economic Analysis of Contracts
  • The Efficient Breach Model
  • Economic Analysis of Property Law

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Distinguish the main interpretive and argumentative techniques in law
  • Understand the main tools, merits and limits of the economic approach to law
  • Think and write like a lawyer

    .

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Analyze and critically assess judicial reasoning and economic claims about law
  • Apply the notions presented in the course to concrete cases and discuss critical issues

Teaching methods

  • Lectures
  • Practical Exercises

DETAILS

  • Exercises on tests simulating the exam
  • Traditional case studies on legal and economic issues

Assessment methods

  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Written individual exam (traditional/online)
   x x
  • Active class participation (virtual, attendance)
 x    

ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

Points for the open answers will be attributed in the following respects (of equal weight):

  • problem identification
  • reconstruction of the theoretical framework
  • solution to the problem
  • relevant comments.

The exam aims to assess students' knowledge of the relevant notions and the ability to apply them to concrete cases.

The partial exams will be on the program (in English) of the current academic year.

Students enrolled in the past who have not yet passed the exam must prepare it according to the contents and rules of the current a.y.

Last change 24/05/2024 11:36