Objectives of Programme's Learning Outcomes

• Acquire the basic knowledge to understand the legal mechanisms in order to understand the concepts, techniques and terminology to express a rigorous legal thought
• Have foundation of legal knowledge in order to work with more refined knowledge and legally consider increasingly complex situations
• Develop appropriate strategies to systematically update their legal knowledge
• Use language as a tool of legal thinking to understand the concepts, techniques and terminology to express a rigorous legal thought
• Choose appropriate and accurate legal terminology according to the context
• Express thoughts constructively and rigorously
• Transform a legal issue in order to apply a pragmatic approach of the law to resolve specific issues
• Understand legal research tools and techniques for effective reading
• Combine different sources of national and international law
• Apply the rules of positive law in solving a case study
• Implement the various techniques of interpretation and argumentation in order to apply a pragmatic approach of the law to solve specific issues
• Weigh up the importance given to each source
• Think critically about legal interpretations proposed in legal literature and case law
• Defend a point of view in order to apply a pragmatic approach of the law to resolve specific issues
• Consolidate legal positions by formulating arguments and reasoned conclusions
• Link law to issues of justice and social purpose in order to activate knowledge to reflect critically and constructively on positive law
• Learn the different concepts of justice
• Understand the development and application of the law in a critical manner in order to activate knowledge to reflect critically and constructively on positive law
• Identify social and political issues of legal phenomena
• Introduce interdisciplinarity in their analysis and perception of the law in order to activate knowledge to reflect critically and constructively on positive law
• Develop critical thinking skills based on this introduction to humanities

Learning Outcomes of UE

Among the general objectives of this course, 2 particular objectives will be central to the practical work seances. These objectives are: - To develop research and study methodology for the doctrines and jurisprudence relevant to Droits et Libertés - To identify and understand the main sources of fundamental law, essentially the articles that make up title II of the Belgian Constitution (as well as certain laws adopted after this) and the European Convention which protects human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Content of UE

The practical work associated with the Droit Constitutionnel II course will be done in 4 seances of 2 hours each. Seance 1 has 2 main objectives. The first objective is to revisit how to use the main legal search engines as these are not only essential to you passing the course, but are also essential for your legal training. The second objective of the first seance is for you to present the 2 methodology tools by way of an paper on doctrines and one on jurisprudence. Between seance 1 and seance 2: You must produce an paper on doctrines by meticulously following the template and advice that will be provided. You must use the doctrines search engines (for example, Jurisquare) or consult paper versions of legal journals, in the UMONS Law School Library, to find a relevant article, both from a qualitative and quantitative perspective. Seance 2: One week after having submitted the article selected and the paper you have produced, you will be called for an private meeting with your supervisor during which your marks will be given (10 minutes maximum per meeting). This meeting is designed to draw your attention to the positive and negative aspects of your paper. This advice should be taken on board as it will be of great value to you when you have to produce your jurisprudence paper, as while the exercises are different, the objectives are quite similar. Between seance 2 and seance 3: You must produce an paper on jurisprudence by meticulously following the template and advice that will be provided. This time you will be given a judgement to summarise chosen at random from a set list of judgements (which are essentially taken from the Constitutional Court or the European Court of Human Rights. These judgements are all related to the idea of private life and to the laws associated with this. Seance 3: This seance is for the oral presentation of the papers you have submitted. Through your presentation, with the help of your paper and the judgements you have to summarise, you have to revise the material covered in the lectures on aspects of private life. Seance 4: This seance will be dedicated to the simulated exam, which will be based on the material taught during the lectures. The objective is to for you to familiarise yourself with the type of questions that will be posed and also to ensure that you are on the right path to achieving the learning objectives.

Prior Experience

Mastery of the French language and passive knowledge of English.

Type of Assessment for UE in Q2

• Graded tests

Q2 UE Assessment Comments

See the information sheet related to jurisprudence paper. The marks given for this work will be out of 50, which is worth 50% of the marks given for practical exercises.

Type of Assessment for UE in Q3

• Graded tests

Q3 UE Assessment Comments

See the advice related to simulated exams. The marks given for this simulated exam will be out of 25, which is worth 25% of the marks given for practical exercises.