Lex Mercatoria, 7.5 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master´s Programme in Commercial and Business Law with focus on Europe
• Master Programme in Commercial and Business Law

Entry requirements

For admission to the course, the general entry requirements apply. Apart from the general entry requirements, the student is required to have completed courses in commercial and business law comprising at least 60 HE credits, which should include the courses Theories and Methods of Law, Public and EU/EC Law, and Contract, Tort and Insurance Law (or the equivalent).

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to
- demonstrate knowledge of the background to the phenomenon Lex Mercatoria and critically review some of the fundamental features of its modern equivalents,
- account for and apply European contract law and contract law issues.

Course content

The course begins with an introduction of the historical background of Lex Mercatoria. Principles of European Contract Law has been suggested as generally applicable in the European Union. The course therefore includes study and analysis of both the conditions for said harmonisation of laws, and therein included principles of the law of obligations.

Teaching and working methods

The course is mainly organised as a seminar series with introductory lectures. The seminars are mainly carried out in small groups, where there are substantial demands on the student's activity. The student is to a great extent expected to apply self-study, based on the course material that is made available in preparation for the compulsory seminars. In the seminars, the knowledge acquired through self-study should be strengthened, developed and advanced through reviews and discussions.

Examination

The course is examined both through active participation in compulsory seminars, and through a written take-home examination in which the student should work with both general methodological questions and concrete material legal issues.

If special circumstances prevail, and if it is possible with consideration of the nature of the compulsory component, the examiner may decide to replace the compulsory component with another equivalent component.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it.

If the coordinator has recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

An examiner may also decide that an adapted examination or alternative form of examination if the examiner assessed that special circumstances prevail, and the examiner assesses that it is possible while maintaining the objectives of the course.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is conducted in such a way that there are equal opportunities with regard to sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation and age.

If special circumstances prevail, the vice-chancellor may in a special decision specify the preconditions for temporary deviations from this course syllabus, and delegate the right to take such decisions.

Department