Topics in Comparative Law

Pedriza Luis (Graduate School of Law)

Cource Objective
   Although Comparative Law traces its origins to the 19th century, the interest toward this academic discipline has considerable increased over the last decades due to so called Globalization process. Thus, the acquisition of comparative perspectives is unavoidably required to both, legal practitioners and legal scholars in order to be called 'global jurists'. The chief objective of this lecture is to map the Globe out so as to identify the main legal families and traditions which coexist nowadays. Furthermore, the students will be compelled to think about the role to be played by Japanese Law within the unstoppable advance of Globalization.

Requirement / Prerequisite
   There are no requisites for this course. The course is open to both, graduate and undergraduate students.

Course Content
   The course will be divided into three parts: I/ General introduction, II/ Topics on Public Law and III/ Topics on Private Law. The topics scheduled for this course are as follows. However, some adjustments may be made if necessary.

1. Introduction I: What is Law? ; What is Comparative Law?
2. Introduction II: legal families of the World.
3. ntroduction III: Comparative Law and Japanese Law
4. Introduction IV: legal professionals.
5. Democracy and democracies I: theory of the State and Constitutional Law.
6. Democracy and democracies II: electoral systems of the World.
7. Human Rights Law
8. Criminal Law
9. Obligations I:Contract Law
10. Obligations II: Tort Law
11. Commercial Law
12. Marriage and Family Law
13. Criminal and civil procedure
14. International Law
15. Review

Textbooks
   Materials will be provided

Grading Policy
   Assignments 20%, class participation 20%, final exam 60%. Attendance is mandatory unless excused.

Comment
   Whether it is the discussing of a bill in a parliament, the cross-examination of a witness during a trial, or the quotidian lecturing at any Law faculty, the 'legal process' is always an interactive one. Therefore, lively participation over the classes will be strongly encouraged.