The programme consists of an introduction of ten hours, four compulsory courses, two optional courses, comprising 280 classroom hours spread over twenty weeks.

Course Content

Compulsory Courses

- Law of Obligations (50 hours)

a) Contract law : general theory and principles of special contracts (sale, construction contracts).

b) Law of torts and contractual liability: general rules and special rules of liability (product liability, road accidents, nuisance etc).

- Company and Commercial Law (50 hours)

Business law : company law (the legal framework of companies, different types of companies) ; restructuring companies and groups of companies ; dealings in quoted companies (operations, shareholders' agreements) ; company tax law ; distribution agreements ; French and European Community competition law: international trade law.

- Public Law and Administrative Law (50 hours)

a) General public law : the administrative and constitutional organisation of France ; sources of law ; judicial review of legislation.

b) Administrative law : the administrative law courts ; judicial review of the acts of the administration ; review for ultra vires and general litigation.

c) Public law of the economy ; the principal outlines ; administrative contracts ; regulating competition ; controlling public intervention

- European Union Law (30 hours)

a) The institutions of the European Union : history of the Communities and the European Union ; the court system of the European Union.

b) Substantive Law : free movement of goods ; free movement of persons ; freedom of establishment ; free movement of capital.

c) Competition Law.

Optional Courses

Each participant is required to choose two options from the following :

- European Private International Law (20 hours)

a) Conflict of laws : a study of the fundamental principles of the conflict of laws and the main rules of conflict particularly in contract and torts

b) Conflict of jurisdiction : a study of the French system and the Brussels 1968 Convention, incorporated in a European regulation.

- Human rights (20 hours)

The protection of human rights in France is guaranteed by the French constitution as well as the European Convention on Human Rights and other international conventions. The course presents these mechanisms illustrated by the case law of the French courts, through a study of diverse private and public law themes.

- Employment Law (20 hours)

Themes include : contracts of employment with and without fixed terms; breaches of contracts of employment, dismissal for economic reasons, employment law in the context of restructuring the undertaking ; modifying the contract of employment ; trade-union law ; representation of the personnel in the undertaking ; negotiating ; collective agreements ; strikes.

- Intellectual Property Law (20 hours)
Studied rights concern patents, trademarks, copyrights and design rights, principally at European level with reference to the French national system.

Practical Training

At the conclusion of their coursework, students will have full-time internships in law firms for three months.

Introduction

Academic Program

Admission Requirements

Practical Information

Language Course