Comparative Law

Catalog description

This course is an introduction to the comparative study of different legal systems. It will focus on comparing and contrasting the United States' legal system to those of France and Germany. There will also be some attention to non-Western legal traditions, such as those of China, Japan, and Islam. The emphasis throughout will be on 1) the purposes and methods of comparative legal inquiry, 2) differences between the common law and civil law traditions and their contemporary relevance, and 3) the ways in which differences in legal doctrines, practices, and institutions reflect larger differences in social structure, culture, and historical development. Particular topics for comparative study may include: conceptions of human dignity, equality, and citizenship; civil and criminal procedure; the definition and punishment of criminal acts; welfare, employment, and consumer protection law; contracts; the structure and regulation of business enterprises; legal education and the legal profession; the administrative state; separation of church and state; and intellectual property.