Principles of Common Law
Readings
New readings may be uploaded until the end of the semester. Please check for new readings until Friday 18 December 2020.
Seiteninhalt
General Information
The class will take place every Tuesday, 12:15-13:45, from 15 September 2020 until 15 December 2020.
It will be held as an online live stream Zoom meeting. Subsequently, it can be viewed online as a presentation.
Check this website for the link to the Zoom meetings.
Syllabus
Please check the syllabus regularly for updates.
Zoom Live Stream
Kern Alexander is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Principles of Common Law
Time: Sep 15, 2020 12:15 PM Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna
Every week on Tue, until Dec 15, 2020, 14 occurrence(s)
Sep 15, 2020 12:15 PM
Sep 22, 2020 12:15 PM
Sep 29, 2020 12:15 PM
Oct 6, 2020 12:15 PM
Oct 13, 2020 12:15 PM
Oct 20, 2020 12:15 PM
Oct 27, 2020 12:15 PM
Nov 3, 2020 12:15 PM
Nov 10, 2020 12:15 PM
Nov 17, 2020 12:15 PM
Nov 24, 2020 12:15 PM
Dec 1, 2020 12:15 PM
Dec 8, 2020 12:15 PM - postponed to Dec 10
New: Dec 10, 2020 12:15 PM
Dec 15, 2020 12:15 PM
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Weekly: https://uzh.zoom.us/meeting/tJMsc-Grrz8qG9KwcAWbvapz4XhAa29R9mDH/ics?icsToken=98tyKuCvrz8iGdWRsBiBRowEBY-gWenzmClfjfp2ixzENCJFYxPsYtpKE7MtSeqJ
Join Zoom Meeting
https://uzh.zoom.us/j/97148314016?pwd=bzhQVFplWnhnSkZCelFRVUo1Y2Zpdz09
Meeting ID: 971 4831 4016
Passcode: 579779
Podcast / Zoom Recordings
The podcasts / Zoom recordings can be watched here. Please note that due to technical difficulties individual lectures may not be recorded or only with disturbance. Students who forgo the attendance of a lecture or the writing of their own notes do so at their own risk. For technical reasons, the constant availability of records cannot be guaranteed. The loss of access to the recordings is not sufficient cause for an appeal against the examination. Scripts or other materials declared as examination relevant take priority over the podcasts / zoom recordings. In case of ambiguity contact the lecturer immediately. The recordings are for private use only. Redistribution in whatever form, in whole or in part, is not permitted without consent of the lecturer and may be punished by disciplinary measures or otherwise.
Zoom Recording - Lecture 1 (15 Sep 2020) (MP4, 143 MB)
Zoom Recording - Lecture 2 (22 Sep 2020) (MP4, 136 MB)
Zoom Recording - Lecture 3 (29 Sep 2020) Part 1 (MP4, 143 MB) & Part 2 (MP4, 99 MB) (Prof. Elisabetta Fiocchi Malaspina)
Zoom Recording - Lecture 4 (6 Oct 2020) Part 1 (MP4, 59 MB) & Part 2 (MP4, 65 MB)
Zoom Recording - Lecture 5 (13 Oct 2020) Part 1 (MP4, 68 MB) & Part 2 (MP4, 52 MB)
Zoom Recording - Lecture 6 (20 Oct 2020) (MP4, 91 MB)
Zoom Recording - Lecture 7 (27 Oct 2020) (MP4, 165 MB)
Zoom Recording - Lecture 8 (03 Nov 2020) (MP4, 146 MB)
Zoom Recording - Lecture 9 (10 Nov 2020) (MP4, 182 MB)
Zoom Recording - Lecture 10 (17 Nov 2020) (MP4, 177 MB)(Prof. Elisabetta Fiocchi Malaspina)
Zoom Recording - Lecture 11 (24 Nov 2020) Part 1 (MP4, 73 MB) & Part 2 (MP4, 128 MB) (Prof. Elisabetta Fiocchi Malaspina)
Zoom Recording - Lecture 12 (01 Dec 2020) (MP4, 165 MB)
Zoom Recording - Lecture 13 (08 Dec 2020) - lecture postponed to 10 Dec 2020, 12:15-13:45 - please note that due to technical issues, the second half of the lecture may be of poor sound quality for some users. Please find below the audio only version.
Zoom Recording - Lecture 13 (08/10 Dec 2020) - AUDIO ONLY (M4A, 43 MB)
Zoom Recording - Lecture 14 (15 Dec 2020) Part 1 (MP4, 140 MB) & Part 2 (MP4, 145 MB)
We do remind students that they are examined on lecture contents and readings, so this will not constitute any excuse for the examination.
Exam
Written examination (open book) - 24 hour essays exam
New (28.10.2020)
Starting time: Monday, 21 December 2020, 9:00am, CET (PDF of exam will be sent to students' UZH emails)
Ending time: Tuesday, 22 December 2020, 9:00am, CET (answers due to lst.alexander@rwi.uzh.ch no later than 9:00am)
Note: if this examination date is impossible for you, please get in touch with us at lst.alexander@rwi.uzh.ch as soon as possible.
Please be aware that the internal exam grading process will continue until mid February. Once this is reached, the University of Zurich will transfer all the marks into the online system, and the grades will be published in the module booking tool / student portal latest on 24 February. Your official transcripts will be available online latest on 26 February. At this point you will also be able to download the exam, the model answer, and the grade scale.
https://www.ius.uzh.ch/de/studies/general/exams/bachelor/HS20.html
For more information, please visit:
https://www.ius.uzh.ch/en/studies/general/exams.html
Module booking: https://www.students.uzh.ch/de/booking.html
Mock Exam Questions:
Mock Exam Questions_PCL (PDF, 52 KB)
Slides
Lecture 1 (15 Sept 2020) (PDF, 388 KB)
Lecture 2 (22 Sept 2020) (PDF, 232 KB)
Lecture 3 (29 Sept 2020) (PDF, 1 MB)
Lecture 4 (6 Oct 2020) (PDF, 1 MB)
Lecture 5 (13 Oct 2020) (PDF, 1 MB) (new)
Lecture 6 (20 Oct 2020) (PDF, 628 KB) (new)
Lecture 7 (27 Oct 2020) (PDF, 685 KB)
Lecture 8 (3 Nov 2020) (PDF, 233 KB) (new)
Lecture 9 (10 Nov 2020) (PDF, 236 KB)
Lecture 10 (17 Nov 2020) (PDF, 529 KB)
Lecture 11 (24 Nov 2020) (PDF, 222 KB)
Lecture 12 (01 Dec 2020): Please see lecture 9
Lecture 13 (08 Dec 2020) (PDF, 1 MB)
Lecture 14 (15 Dec 2020) (PDF, 78 KB)
Reading Materials
Lecture 1 - 15.09.2020 - Introduction, Admin, General Sources
G. Williams - The Division of the Law, Chapt. 1 (PDF, 4 MB)
W. Geldart - Introduction to English Law, Chapter 1 (PDF, 477 KB)
K. Llewellyn - The Bramble Bush, Chapt. 1 (PDF, 4 MB)
Optional reading:
O. W. Holmes Jr. - The Common Law, Chapt. 1 (PDF, 626 KB)
O. W. Holmes Jr. - The Common Law, Chapt. 2 (PDF, 696 KB)
Lecture 2 - 22.09.2020 - Case Law Method and Precedent, Role of Judges and Juries
K. Llewellyn - The Bramble Bush, Chapter 3 (PDF, 7 MB)
G. Williams - The Case Law Technique, Chapt. 6 (PDF, 5 MB)
Simon, A Slave v The State of Florida (PDF, 6 MB)
Video Financial Times: Brexit and Boris Johnson
Additional optional readings (useful for exam):
B. N. Cardozo - The Nature of the Judicial Process, Chapter 1 - Introduction (PDF, 638 KB)
Lecture 3 - 29.09.2020 - History and the Common Law (Public Law and / or private Law)
Lecture 4 - 06.10.2020 - Public Law, the Constitution and Statutory Interpretation
Introduction to Public Law 3p (PDF, 22 KB)
K. Llewellyn - The Bramble Bush - pp 70-81 (PDF, 2 MB)
K. Williams - The Interpretation of Statutes, Chapt. 7 (PDF, 3 MB)
Oxley - CityAM - 29-08-2019 (PDF, 1 MB)
Optional readings:
Lecture 5 - 13.10.2020 - Criminal Law I - Substantive Aspects
Adapted Lecture Handout (PDF, 755 KB)
Aaron Hernandez case summary (PDF, 358 KB)
HLA Hart - Liberty, Law, and Morality pp 6-24 (PDF, 2 MB)
Lecture 6 - 20.10.2020 - Criminal Law II - Procedural Aspects
idem
Lecture 7 - 27.10.2020 - Torts
Handout - Accident: in Tort and beyond (PDF, 531 KB)
W. Geldart - Chapter 7 (PDF, 512 KB)
O. W. Holmes Jr. - The Common Law, Chapter 3 (PDF, 950 KB)
O. W. Holmes Jr. - The Common Law, Chapter 4 (PDF, 635 KB)
North Broward Hospital District v Susan Kalitan case (Florida Supreme Court) (PDF, 306 KB)
Lecture 8 - 03.11.2020 - Contract Law I lecture begins 30 minutes later
O. W. Holmes Jr. - The Common Law, Chapter 7 (PDF, 263 KB)
O. W. Holmes Jr. - The Common Law, Chapter 8 (PDF, 351 KB)
K. Llewellyn - The Bramble Bush, pp 81-89 (PDF, 2 MB)
Lecture 9 - 10.11.2020 - Contract Law II
W. Geldart - Introduction to English Law, Chapter 6 (PDF, 512 KB)
J. Gordley - The Philosophical Origins of Modern Contract Law - Introduction (PDF, 332 KB)
K. Alexander, A Bank's Duty of Care, Chapter 9 (PDF, 4 MB)
Additional Readings
Goldman Sachs v LIA (2 page summary) (PDF, 231 KB)
Contract Law - case law update (14 pages) - very good update summary, pay particular attention to the way judges can change the law
Contract-Law-Case-Law-Update-September-2016 (PDF, 1004 KB)
Brief on good faith (5 pages) - note how there is no duty under English law
Good Contract Law summary (14 pages)
Lecture 10 - 17.11.2020 - Property
W. Geldart - Chapter 5 (PDF, 2 MB)
Lecture 11 - 24.11.2020 - Equity and Trusts
W. Geldart - Chapter 2 (PDF, 1011 KB)
D. Hayton - Chapter 1 (PDF, 2 MB)
Additional Intro to trusts (PDF, 329 KB)
Lecture 12 - 01.12.2020 - International law, European Dimension of UK Law and Brexit
Mandatory
G. Williams - The European Dimension, Chapt. 3 (PDF, 7 MB)
Optional (new)
R (Miller) v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (24 Jan 2017) (the "Brexit case")
BBC - The Brexit Supreme Court case ruling explained (24 January 2017)
House of Commons - Brexit timeline report (to download)
PM Theresa May's formal notification of withdrawal letter (29 march 2017)
Great Repeal Bill White Paper (30 March 2017) (to download)
Secretary of State for Exiting the EU speech to Parliament
BBC - Brexit: All you need to know about the UK leaving the EU
BBC report - Brexit deal: Theresa May's agreement with Brussels (8 December 2017)
Lecture 13 - 08.12.2020 - Business and Corporate Aspects & Exam review - Note: lecture 13 postponed until Thur, 10 December, 12:15-13:45 via Zoom
K. Llewellyn, The Bramble Bush, pp 119-129 (PDF, 650 KB)
* Baskind, Osborne, Roach, Commercial Law, pp. 1-17
Available at Google books (click on the cover): https://books.google.ch/books?id=Zd4dDAAAQBAJ&hl=de&source=gbs_navlinks_s
Optional reading:
* Hannigan, Company Law, chap. 1-3 = pp. 1-78
Available at Google books (click on the cover): https://books.google.ch/books?id=vsIyc8PSG-UC&dq=%22company+law%22&hl=de&source=gbs_navlinks_s
Lecture 14 - 15.12.2020 - Exam review week
- review session
- no new readings
Please also take a moment to fill out this online survey about the course. We are grateful for your feedback!