NOM111: Introduction to Law and Legal Method

The purpose of this Thematic Unit is to set, methodically, the students’ LAW on solid foundations, understanding fundamental concepts and acquiring the requisite relevant skills. Beginning, the students, utilising their knowledge background, will become familiar with fundamental concepts, such as the Law, differentiating them from (ostensibly) similar ones; and will be taught, always in relation to the Cypriot and Greek legal order, the sources of law, the legal systems and the ways they operate, as well as the Rule of Law and the principles it comprises. Continuing and proceeding to specifics, the basic characteristics and the operation of the branches and sub- branches of the law will be analysed, focusing particularly on the European Convention on Human Rights and the unique legal phenomenon that is the European Union. Ensuing, the different types and methods of legal interpretation, the application and implementation of legal rules by the Administration and the Courts, as well as the structuring of legal reasoning shall be explained, as they take place in Cyprus (primarily) and Greece (secondarily). Availing themselves of the above, the students will be called to develop legal skills, during the final third of the Module. Specifically, they will be taught initially how to locate resources, both electronic and print, relating to legislation, case law and legal literature; as well as how to evaluate them. Continuing and proceeding gradually from gaining legal knowledge to utilising and expressing it, we shall deal with writing legal documents.