Course Details in 2025/26 Session

Module Title	LH Legal Systems of the World
School	Birmingham Law School
Department	Law
Module Code	08 29962
Module Lead	Sophie Boyron
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-30 hours Seminar-6 hours Guided independent study-164 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	This module will provide students with the key substantive and critical knowledge needed to understand the mechanisms and theories of comparative law and the various forms of legal system that exist around the world. The module will be framed by a critical history of comparative law and legal system classification, theories of comparative law and of comparison, and comparative law methodologies. Building on these critical knowledge bases, selected studies of legal systems around the world will be considered through the medium of ‘mythical juxtapositions about legal systems around the world’ such as civilian v. common law (introducing some legal history and Roman law), formal v. ‘non-law’ (introducing some regulatory theory as well as legal pluralism), dualist v monist (introducing Kelsenian approaches to internationalism in municipal systems), and secular v religious legal systems.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: demonstrate a critical understanding of the history of classification of and comparison between legal systems around the world. demonstrate a critical understanding of, and ability to apply, comparative legal methodologies. critically evaluate similarities and differences between families/categories of legal system, and between distinct legal systems relating to concrete topics.
Assessment	29962-01 : Essay : Coursework (100%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessments: One 3,500 words essay (100%) Reassessment: Resit failed component(s)
Other
Reading List