Foundation Law,

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The main goal of this module is to provide the student with an understanding of basic legal concepts and specifically those related to an international business professional activity. In this course students will strengthen their understanding of the: - concept and structure of law - foundations of private law: contracts law, torts law, corporations law, employment law, business associations - foundations of public law: constitutional law, administrative law, regulatory law - foundations of criminal law - foundations of international law

1. Nature and Structure of Law 1.1. Legal regulations and other rules 1.2. Sources of Law (codified / non codified law) 1.3. Legal systems 1.4. Law and ethics 1.5. Classification of Law (private, public, penal, procedural) 1.6. Hierarchy of norms 1.7. Process of legislation 2. Private Law 2.1. Contract Law 2.2. Torts Law 2.3. Employment Law (including Social Insurance Law) 2.4. Business Associations 3. Public Law 3.1. Swiss Constitutional Law 3.2. Swiss Administrative Law 3.3. Regulatory Law in selected industries 4. Criminal Law 5. International Law 5.1. Sources 5.2. Organizations 5.3. European Union Law 5.4. Interaction national / international law

None

Literature for further reading (not required): - F. Dessemontet / T. Ansay, Introduction to Swiss Law, 3rd ed., Kluwer / Schulthess, 2004 (difficult: for lawyers, not for practical purposes) - V. Sims, English Law and Terminology. A Guide for Practitioners and Students, 2nd ed., Nomos, 2006 (the book that comes closest to the lecture - a concise and understandable introduction to UK law) - M. Chartrand / C. Millar / E. Wiltshire, English for Contract and Company Law, Thomson / Sweet & Maxwell 2003 (good book, but limited to contract and company law) - H. Gubby, English legal terminology. Legal Concepts in language., Boom Juridische Uitgevers, Den Haag, 2004 (similar as the two above, a bit broader). - R. Wörlen, Introduction to English Civil Law for German-Speaking Lawyers and Law Students, 2 vol., Alpmann und Schmidt, 2007 (good works, with translation of important terms into the German language). - Nick Brieger, Test your Professional English Law, Penguin English Guides, 2006 (good for language training) - Karin Linhard, Englische Rechtssprache - Ein Studien- und Arbeitsbuch, C.H. Beck / Helbing Lichtenhahn/Manz, 2008, (extensive language training)

Lectures taught in class and individual Study.

The exam will be of 60 minutes duration and will be graded 1-6. - A minimum grade of 3.1 must be reached in this course in order to pass the module.

Corporate Law