The subject of Theory of Law provides a general and, therefore, introductory knowledge to the study of Law. It does not aim directly at the analysis of the content of a given society's legal norms or the constructions that each particular dogmatic develops on them. Instead, its objective is to characterize the Law as a social and normative phenomenon, showing, on the one hand, Law's meaning and function in society, and, on the other hand, its peculiar character as a coercive and institutionalized normative system. In this regard, Legal Theory studies two central notions to understand the Law: legal norm and legal system. The first explains the relations between Law and language and the variety of standards that make up legal systems. The latest describes the idea of ¿¿a system as a set of rules organized according to a particular structure. Having addressed the above questions, we will ask ourselves what the Law is and analyze how it has been and is being conceived by the main currents of legal thought and raise the problems related to its creation, organization, interpretation, and application. Finally, the syllabus introduces the student to the normative notions that allow analyzing the justice of Law. The relationship between "Legal Theory" and the other subjects extends to all those that make up the Law Degree since its objective is to provide the student with the possibility of knowing and critically analysing the specialized knowledge that is provided in them, from the general perspective of Law as an instrument of regulation of social relations. This critical analysis covers one of the specific objectives of the degree: "to train and develop legal professionals who understand the functioning of the legal system, with the ability to argue in Law."
| Course competences | |
|---|---|
| Code | Description |
| E01 | To become aware of the importance of law as a regulator of social relations. |
| E02 | To understand the systematic nature of the legal system and the interdisciplinary nature of legal problems. |
| E08 | Work on dialogue, debate, argumentation and the proposal of reasonable solutions in different contexts. |
| E13 | Solve problems arising from the application of general principles of law and legal norms to factual situations. |
| G09 | Develop critical and self-critical thinking. |
| G14 | Ability to apply knowledge to practice. |
| Course learning outcomes | |
|---|---|
| Description | |
| To characterise law in relation to other normative systems and to situate and link it to social reality. | |
| To carry out a critical analysis of law and models of the political organisation. | |
| To have an introductory knowledge of Law through the basic conceptual elements for the development of the rest of the legal studies. | |
| Additional outcomes | |
| Not established. |
-
Unit 1: Law and other normative systems. Law as a social phenomenon. Social goals of the Law.
-
Unit 2: Validity, efficacy, and justice. Conceptions of Law.
-
Unit 3: The legal norm.
-
Unit 4: Law as a system of norms. The production of Law.
-
Unit 5: Argumentation and interpretation.
-
Unit 6: Justice and Law.
The most detailed syllabus coincides with the book index Apuntes de Teoría del Derecho, by Luis Prieto, recommended in the bibliography section.
| Training Activity | Methodology | Related Competences (only degrees before RD 822/2021) | ECTS | Hours | As | Com | Description | |
| Class Attendance (theory) [ON-SITE] | Lectures | E01 E02 E08 G09 | 1.68 | 42 | N | N | xposure of the main program contents, with the next debate. Previously to classes, students should read the recommended material. | |
| Class Attendance (practical) [ON-SITE] | Practical or hands-on activities | E08 E13 G14 | 0.9 | 22.5 | N | N | Students will autonomously carry out multiple-choice questions, and theoretical-practical questions, similar to those they will have to do later in progress tests or final ones. | |
| Analysis of articles and reviews [OFF-SITE] | Assessment tests | E01 E02 E08 E13 G09 G14 | 0.06 | 1.5 | Y | N | Theoretical-practical test of one part of the program corresponding to contents of the first semester. | |
| Final test [ON-SITE] | E01 E02 E08 E13 G09 G14 | 0.06 | 1.5 | Y | Y | Ordinary exams will regard the two parts of the program. The students who had passed the first term test ("Progress test") will only have to give the the second part of the program (second term). | ||
| Study and Exam Preparation [OFF-SITE] | Combination of methods | E01 E02 G09 | 4.41 | 110.25 | N | N | The student will prepare the assessment of their theoretical and practical knowledge, through a comprehensive reading of the reference Handbook, as well as other academic texts that may be recommended. | |
| Other off-site activity [OFF-SITE] | Case Studies | E08 E13 G09 G14 | 1.89 | 47.25 | N | N | The students will have to solve cases and read legal, jurisprudential, and academic texts. In this way, they will be able to recognize the practical dimension of the theoretical contents. This learning pattern will be the best way to prepare theoretical-practical aspects of the assessment. | |
| Total: | 9 | 225 | ||||||
| Total credits of in-class work: 2.64 | Total class time hours: 66 | |||||||
| Total credits of out of class work: 6.36 | Total hours of out of class work: 159 | |||||||
As: Assessable training activity Com: Training activity of compulsory overcoming (It will be essential to overcome both continuous and non-continuous assessment).
| Evaluation System | Continuous assessment | Non-continuous evaluation * | Description |
| Mid-term tests | 35.00% | 0.00% | |
| Assessment of problem solving and/or case studies | 15.00% | 0.00% | |
| Final test | 0.00% | 100.00% | |
| Mid-term tests | 35.00% | 0.00% | Theoretical aspects will be assessed in both Progress tests and final tests. |
| Assessment of problem solving and/or case studies | 15.00% | 0.00% | Practical aspects will be assessed in both Progress tests and final tests. |
| Total: | 100.00% | 100.00% |
-
Continuous assessment:Students will choose to take one or more progress tests. We will explain the specific aspects of this assessment later, by Moodle-Campus Virtual.
Relationship between the progress test (s) and the final tests: to pass the progress tests and eliminate the related subject, there will be
to obtain a 5 out of 10. If the student passes this exam, the final examination (ordinary/extraordinary exam) will only examine
the second part of the program. Otherwise, the student must present themself to both parties. Moodle space is ready to explain the details about the evaluation.
Attendance and participation: following the Uclm Student Evaluation Regulations, profitable and active involvement in the
the teacher may positively value classes. -
Non-continuous evaluation:Evaluation criteria not defined
| Not related to the syllabus/contents | |
|---|---|
| Hours | hours |
| Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] | 42 |
| Class Attendance (practical) [PRESENCIAL][Practical or hands-on activities] | 23 |
| Analysis of articles and reviews [AUTÓNOMA][Assessment tests] | 2 |
| Final test [PRESENCIAL][] | 1 |
| Study and Exam Preparation [AUTÓNOMA][Combination of methods] | 110 |
| Other off-site activity [AUTÓNOMA][Case Studies] | 47 |
| Global activity | |
|---|---|
| Activities | hours |