Introduction to Law: Understanding the legal system, legal reasoning, and constitution.

Introduction to Law: Understanding the legal system, legal reasoning, and constitution.

Week 1: Legal systems around the world, common law vs civil law

1. Day 1: Introduction to law and legal systems
2. Day 2: Overview of civil law systems
3. Day 3: Overview of common law systems
4. Day 4: Differences between civil law and common law
5. Day 5: Other legal systems: Islamic law, customary law, mixed systems

Week 2: Introduction to legal reasoning and case law analysis

1. Day 1: Introduction to legal reasoning
2. Day 2: The structure of legal arguments: issue, rule, application, conclusion (IRAC)
3. Day 3: Introduction to case law and precedents
4. Day 4: Reading and briefing a case: facts, procedural history, issue, holding, reasoning
5. Day 5: Analysing and critiquing judicial reasoning

Week 3: Understanding the constitution, the three branches of government

1. Day 1: Introduction to constitutional law and principles
2. Day 2: Understanding the executive branch: powers and limitations
3. Day 3: Understanding the legislative branch: powers and limitations
4. Day 4: Understanding the judicial branch: powers and limitations
5. Day 5: The concept of separation of powers and checks and balances

Week 4: Constitutional law, civil rights, and civil liberties

1. Day 1: Fundamental rights and liberties under the constitution
2. Day 2: Freedom of speech, press, and religion
3. Day 3: Equal protection and due process of law
4. Day 4: Rights of the accused: search and seizure, self-incrimination, right to counsel
5. Day 5: Civil rights movements and landmark Supreme Court cases