JJUA55019U Great Trials in Western Legal History
The intention of this course is to explore some of the great
trials of Western history and to examine the way they shape and
inform our thinking about the law. We will also explore the
historical concept of the ‘trial’, how these trials reflect
differences in legal historical thinking across time and in the
different conceptions of justice, procedure, and evidence used in
different historical eras and times – and how these trials are
represented and still plays an important role in our modern legal
consciousnessand ideas as to law and justice.
In the course important trials over the course of Western history
will be analyzed and it will be examine how these trials reflect
differences in legal thinking across time. We will examine the
trials of Socrates and Jesus, one of Cicero’s trials, medieval
trials by ordeal, and the Salem witch trials as well as modern jury
trials and war crimes trials and how they have been understood both
legally, historically and fictionally. The course will enable
student to understand different systems of law, different styles of
legal reasoning, and different approaches to justice. They will
also have the opportunity to engage in critical thinking by
comparing case materail with classic works of law, history,
philosophy, literature, and film. The course will provide an
excellent supplement to other courses on legal history and an
opportunity to think about the law in a new way and to examine the
law from a legal historical, philosophical, and historical
perspective. The course will also offer students for whom English
is a second language an opportunity to improve their
English-language skills by engaging in challenging discussions on
topics to which they might not otherwise be
exposed.
Identify and explain legal issues raised by the course
texts and analyze them in their legal historical contexts;
Identify and explain legal advocacy issues raised by the
texts within their historical contexts;
Engage in critical thinking about legal issues through the
format of the course texts;
Become familiar with different kinds of legal documents,
evidence, and case law throughout Western legal history;
Analyze various notions related to law and legal advocacy,
such as the nature of law, the characteristics of justice, the
duties of the advocate, and the role of judges and juries;
Expand his/her knowledge and familiarity with different
legal systems and various modes of legal thinking in Europe and the
United States and at different times in Western history;
Become familiar with various views of the historical role
of law and advocacy through literature and film; and Improve
written and oral skills in English.
- Category
- Hours
- Preparation
- 241
- Seminar
- 34
- Total
- 275
Enrolling as a Single Master Level/ Credit Student:
For Single Master Level Courses – click here!
For Single-subject credit students - click here!
For further
information
- Credit
- 10 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral defence, 20 minOral exam based on synopsis, 20 minutes
- Exam registration requirements
In order to attend the oral examination, it is a prerequisite to hand in the synopsis before the specified deadline.
The deadline is agreed upon with the course lecturer.- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- External censorship
- Exam period
23. - 27. May 2016 (preliminary dates)
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- JJUA55019U
- Credit
- 10 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree MasterFull Degree Master choice
- Duration
- 1 semester
- Placement
- Spring
- Schedule
- A2
- Continuing and further education
- Price
DKK 10.000
- Study board
- Law
Contracting department
- Law
Course responsibles
- Ditlev Tamm (11-466b766e67783056636f6f426c7774306d7730666d)
Lecturers
Professor Ditlev Tamm and ekstern lektor Russell Dees