Overview of Categories of Law: - Lehrstuhl Prof. Dr. Tietje

Kevin Koh Wintersemster 2003/2004
Lehrstuhl Prof. Dr. Tietje
Martin-Luther-Universität
Structure and Content for “Introduction to Common Law Legal System”
Module
Tuesday, 12.15-13.45 hst, Hörsaal XV Melanchtonianum
1. Overview of Categories of Law:
- Common Law v. Civil Law
- Common Law v. Equity
- Common Law v. Statute Law
- Private Law v. Public Law
- Civil Law v. Criminal Law
2. Historical Background to the Common Law Legal System
3. The Separation of Powers
- Overview of Parliamentary Sovereignty (To be examined in detail later)
- Judicial Independence
4. Sources of Law in the Common law Legal System
- Custom
- Legislation
- Case Law
- European law
5. Basic Concepts on ‘Rule of Law’ in the Common Law context
6. Interpretation of Legislation in Practice
- Canons of Interpretation
- Principles of Construction
7. The Doctrine of Precedent and Concept of Case Law
- Stare Decisis
- Operation of Precedent in the hierarchy of the courts
- Binding Precedent
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Case Law
- Distinguishing Case Law
8. The Criminal Court Structure
- Structural Aspects
- Arrest, Search and Seizure and Interrogation
- Criminal Procedure
9. The Civil Court Structure
- Structural aspects
- Civil Procedure

2
10. Overview on General Concepts of
- Tort Law
- Contract Law
- Property Law
11. The Legislative Supremacy of Parliament
- Sovereignty of Parliament
- Legislative Supremacy in the Context of the EC
- Legislative Supremacy and Devolution
- Legislative Supremacy and the ECHR
12. Personnel Aspects of the Legal System in the British Common Law Context
- The Judiciary
- The Jury System
- The Legal Profession
13. Concluding Notes and Quick Comparison of British v. American Common Law
System