Law and Justice

Language of Instruction

English.

Pre-requirements

Three years of university studies.

Learning Outcomes

Based on the course the student should be able to

- discuss central positions in international discourse of legal and political philosophy and relate the authors whose texts are the basis of the course to each other.

- distinguish and compare the differences between dominant positions in international discourse.

- analyse and evaluate the foundations of these dominant positions.

- identify, discuss and state opinions about central questions in current international discourse, such as the character of legal reasoning and the legitimacy of judicial review.

Contact Information

Course teacher: Professor Jan Fritdhjof Bernt

Administrative contact: Higher Executive Officer Nathalie S. L. Gaulier: Nathalie.Gaulier@jurfa.uib.no

Course offered (semester)

Spring

Combines successfully with JUS273-2-B, JUS273-2-A.

Language of Instruction

English.

Aim and Content

The course provides insight into international legal and political philosophy. A central theme is the justification of law. Different theories of political justice and theories of the legitimacy of law are confronted with each other and discussed, both in a legal and an even broader perspective. The implications of these different theories for the concept of law and legal thinking are also considered. The legitimacy of judicial review is a central question in the course. Basic knowledge of international legal philosophy, as presented in the course Legal philosophy, is recommended, but not required.

Learning Outcomes

Based on the course the student should be able to

- discuss central positions in international discourse of legal and political philosophy and relate the authors whose texts are the basis of the course to each other.

- distinguish and compare the differences between dominant positions in international discourse.

- analyse and evaluate the foundations of these dominant positions.

- identify, discuss and state opinions about central questions in current international discourse, such as the character of legal reasoning and the legitimacy of judicial review.

Pre-requirements

Three years of university studies.

Subject Overlap

Combined with JUS354 this course generates no new credits.

Teaching Methods

Lectures.

Compulsory Requirements

Paper must be approved before exam.

Assessment methods

Exams are held in teaching semesters only. A mandatory paper must be submitted and approved in the teaching semester before taking the final exam. For students who attended classes in the teaching semester, but who due to illness, pregnancy or other special circumstances were unable to submit the mandatory paper and sit the exam, the faculty may on application accept submission of mandatory paper and hold an exam the following semester. Students who completed the exam in the teaching semester, but did not achieve a pass grade, or who due to illness, pregnancy or other special circumstances were unable to sit the exam, are entitled to (re-)sit the exam the following semester.

Four hours school exam. A - E for passed, F for failed.

Exam language:

• Question paper: English
• Answer paper: English

Support materials allowed during exam:

See section 3-5 of the Supplementary Regulations for Studies at the Faculty of Law at the University of Bergen.

Special regulations about dictionaries:

• According to the Regulations for Studies, one dictionary is permitted support material during the examination. Bilingual dictionaries containing for example both Norwegian-English and English-Norwegian are considered as one dictionary.
• Bilingual dictionaries to/from the same two languages - for example Norwegian-English/English-Norwegian - in two different volumes are also considered as one dictionary (irrespective of publisher or edition).
• Dictionaries as described above cannot be combined with any other types of dictionaries.
• Any kind of combination which makes up more than two physical volumes is forbidden.
• In case a student has a special need for any other combination than the above mentioned, such combination has to be clarified with/approved by the course coordinator minimum two weeks before the exam. Students who have not been granted permission to have a special combination minimum two weeks before the exam will be subject to the usual regulations (Section 3-5) about examination support materials.

Course Unit Evaluation

According to administrative arrangements for evaluating courses at the Law Faculty

Contact Information

Course teacher: Professor Jan Fritdhjof Bernt

Administrative contact: Higher Executive Officer Nathalie S. L. Gaulier: Nathalie.Gaulier@jurfa.uib.no