Education

The Center plays an important role in law school: it organizes three methodological courses in the model track of the bachelor's degree. Together, the courses ensure that students become familiar with the ontological, epistemological and methodological core of the legal discipline, so that they can critically study and practice 'law'.

Jurisprudence I (Algemene rechtsleer) (4 ECTS)

This course constitutes a first step in this regard. This course provides a legal theoretical context and background within which students can place other courses, such as 'basic concepts' and 'introduction to international and European law'. In this way, it helps students realize that concepts such as 'law' and 'justice' can be viewed in different ways and that, moreover, these views vary over time. This insight forms the first part of the course.

In a second part the various functions and finality of law are discussed. Attention is given to the broader historical, sociological, and anthropological context.

A third part, finally, zooms in on the norms themselves. This is not done from a positive approach (where the content of those norms are studied), but rather by looking at the building blocks from which norms consist, how they relate to each other and to what extent they can be considered together as a system.

Throughout the semester, students are given the opportunity to make concrete applications of material offered via additional questions.

Jurisprudence II (Rechtsvinding) (3 ECTS)

The Jurisprudence course builds on the theoretical framework provided by ‘Jurisprudence I’ (Algemene rechtsleer). The central question is how jurists determine the content of the law. The concept of 'interpretation' is therefore central.

Because the way in which someone looks at interpretation cannot be separated from their political-philosophical views, the three pillars 'democracy', 'rule of law' and 'human rights' form a red thread through this course.

Next, this courses discusses the construction of both legal facts and legal rules, against the background of the tension between (autonomous) law creation and (heteronomous) law finding. Thus, ‘Jurisprudence II’ forms the second step.

Legal Research Methods (3 ECTS)

Finally, the Center organizes the course Legal Research Methods for students in the third bachelor year. This third stage provides students with knowledge of research methodology (both classical legal and social scientific) and supports them in setting up their own research for their master's thesis.

The support consists of a thorough explanation of the research design, with attention to stumbling blocks and specific tips, and several guest lectures.