Course Overview

This course is a basic introduction to the law and legal system of the United States . It covers the basic characteristics of the common law system, the doctrine of stare decisis, sources of law in the United States, the U.S. court system (both state and federal), the jury system, parties to a lawsuit, basics of the adversary system of trial, pleadings and motions, pretrial discovery, the trial process, case briefs and citations.

Learning Achievement

Students get an overview of American laws and the legal system

Competence

Students get an overview of American laws and the legal system

Course prerequisites

none

Grading Philosophy

Obligatory Attendance and Written Exam

Course schedule

Week1: Introduction
Week 2: followed by Week 3 to the Final Week

Course type

lecture

Online Course Requirement

communication platform: moodle

Instructor

Dr. Judit Beke-Martos, LL.M.

Other information

This course is a core course in the Certificate Program of the Legal Faculty.

The course is though a lecture, some participation is expected.

Required reading: Einführung in die Anglo-Amerikanische Rechtssprache (Band I, 3. Auflage) – Introduction to Anglo-American Law & Language (Volume I, 3rd Edition) by B. Sharon Byrd, C.H.Beck, 2011.

More information and current course offer:
https://juraweb.zrs.rub.de/en/zfi-jura

Site for Inquiry