This learning unit is not open to incoming exchange students!
Teacher(s)
Language
French
Main themes
Legal methodology is the discipline concerned with studying and learning techniques for researching, understanding and referencing sources of law, and then, on the basis of these sources, drafting a legal study.
The first step is to identify and distinguish between the sources of law – legislation, case law and doctrine – and to understand the multiple and complex relationships between them.
Students will then become familiar with the methods used to research and find legislation, case law and doctrine relating to a given legal issue, using – in particular, but not exclusively – the powerful IT tools now available.
In order to be used appropriately, sources of law must be properly understood: emphasis will therefore be placed on highlighting the principles governing the reading and analysis of legislative texts, court and tribunal decisions, and contributions from legal doctrine. It will also be necessary, of course, to learn the many rules governing how to cite sources of law in a legal study, without which the fundamental objectives of scientific rigour and intellectual honesty cannot be met.
Finally, students will be provided with a wide range of guidelines and advice on how to produce a rigorous legal study that is likely to be well received by the legal community.
In addition to these traditional aspects of legal methodology, the course also raises students' awareness of the transformations brought about by the emergence and development of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Part of the course focuses on how AI systems work, their possibilities and their limitations.
It also covers how AI can potentially be used, from the very beginning of legal training, to support research and understanding of sources and/or as a learning support tool. In this context, students will be able to familiarise themselves with AI tools specifically developed by the University.
The first step is to identify and distinguish between the sources of law – legislation, case law and doctrine – and to understand the multiple and complex relationships between them.
Students will then become familiar with the methods used to research and find legislation, case law and doctrine relating to a given legal issue, using – in particular, but not exclusively – the powerful IT tools now available.
In order to be used appropriately, sources of law must be properly understood: emphasis will therefore be placed on highlighting the principles governing the reading and analysis of legislative texts, court and tribunal decisions, and contributions from legal doctrine. It will also be necessary, of course, to learn the many rules governing how to cite sources of law in a legal study, without which the fundamental objectives of scientific rigour and intellectual honesty cannot be met.
Finally, students will be provided with a wide range of guidelines and advice on how to produce a rigorous legal study that is likely to be well received by the legal community.
In addition to these traditional aspects of legal methodology, the course also raises students' awareness of the transformations brought about by the emergence and development of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Part of the course focuses on how AI systems work, their possibilities and their limitations.
It also covers how AI can potentially be used, from the very beginning of legal training, to support research and understanding of sources and/or as a learning support tool. In this context, students will be able to familiarise themselves with AI tools specifically developed by the University.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
| 1 | Know/understand Know and understand the role of standards, the principles governing their development and application, the key stages in the evolution of law, the content of the main rules of Belgian positive law, the impact of European and international standards on Belgian law, and the key features of certain foreign legal systems. 1.1. Master the language of law, i.e. legal vocabulary, legal concepts and institutions, and the principles and methods governing its development, hierarchy, interpretation, application, control and repeal. 1.4. Mastering the techniques for researching, referencing, reading, understanding, comparing, using and critiquing sources of law (legislation, case law, doctrine). 1.6. Knowing and understanding the influence that certain European and international standards and institutions have on these different branches of law. |
| 3 | Communicate Communicate the results of legal research and analysis in a clear, precise and structured manner, in full compliance with the rules governing scientific production. 3.2. Develop, orally and in writing, a structured summary of an idea, institution, rule, analysis, thesis or legal controversy, and be able to support the subject with relevant illustrations. 3.4. Comply with the rules governing scientific production (direct quotations, references, bibliography, etc.) in all forms of communication. |
| 4 | Questioning and getting involved Questioning the choices conveyed by standards, getting involved in promoting the founding values of law. 4.2. Identifying and promoting the ethical and social values that underpin law and justice, and refraining from any form of exploitation. |
| 5 | Getting organised 5 5. Getting organised, planning your work and meeting deadlines. |
Content
Chapter 1: General introduction
Chapter 2: Researching, understanding and citing legislation
Chapter 3: Researching, understanding and citing case law
Chapter 4: Researching, understanding and citing legal doctrine
Chapter 5: Legal writing
Chapter 6: The progressive, critical and ethical use of artificial intelligence
Chapter 2: Researching, understanding and citing legislation
Chapter 3: Researching, understanding and citing case law
Chapter 4: Researching, understanding and citing legal doctrine
Chapter 5: Legal writing
Chapter 6: The progressive, critical and ethical use of artificial intelligence
Teaching methods
At UCLouvain, the teaching of legal methodology is divided into two closely complementary components:
A 30-hour “lecture” course :
The first component (20 hours) focuses on legal methodology as such: researching, citing and understanding sources of law, and using these sources as a basis for engaging in legal writing;
The second component (10 hours) provides an introduction to the critical and responsible use of generative AI, particularly in the legal field.
Four practical exercise sessions :
These sessions are compulsory and take place in small groups. They focus on the fundamental skills involved in researching, citing and understanding sources of law.
They provide an opportunity to illustrate and apply, through a range of individual and group exercises, the rules and methods taught in the lectures.
A 30-hour “lecture” course :
The first component (20 hours) focuses on legal methodology as such: researching, citing and understanding sources of law, and using these sources as a basis for engaging in legal writing;
The second component (10 hours) provides an introduction to the critical and responsible use of generative AI, particularly in the legal field.
Four practical exercise sessions :
These sessions are compulsory and take place in small groups. They focus on the fundamental skills involved in researching, citing and understanding sources of law.
They provide an opportunity to illustrate and apply, through a range of individual and group exercises, the rules and methods taught in the lectures.
Evaluation methods
The course is assessed through three distinct components:
A written assessment held before the examination session as part of the practical exercises (5th session), focusing on skills relating to the research and citation of sources of law. This written assessment accounts for 9 points out of 20 in the final grade.
An oral examination held before the examination session in December, focusing on skills relating to the understanding of sources of law and on the elements of fundamental legal knowledge covered in the course. This oral examination accounts for 9 points out of 20 in the final grade.
The assessment of the part of the course devoted to the use of AI takes the form of a written multiple-choice examination, held at the end of the semester, on the same day as the oral examination covering the general part of the course. This written examination accounts for 2 points out of 20 in the final grade.
A written assessment held before the examination session as part of the practical exercises (5th session), focusing on skills relating to the research and citation of sources of law. This written assessment accounts for 9 points out of 20 in the final grade.
An oral examination held before the examination session in December, focusing on skills relating to the understanding of sources of law and on the elements of fundamental legal knowledge covered in the course. This oral examination accounts for 9 points out of 20 in the final grade.
The assessment of the part of the course devoted to the use of AI takes the form of a written multiple-choice examination, held at the end of the semester, on the same day as the oral examination covering the general part of the course. This written examination accounts for 2 points out of 20 in the final grade.
Online resources
To achieve the course objectives and successfully complete the assessment tests, students have the following teaching tools at their disposal:
- the Moodle page for the legal methodology course: here, students will find the course and assessment requirements;
- PowerPoint presentations made available to students on the Moodle page and used to support the courses;
Students are also encouraged to purchase the 3rd edition of the book Leçons de méthodologie juridique (Lessons in Legal Methodology) published by Larcier.
- the Moodle page for the legal methodology course: here, students will find the course and assessment requirements;
- PowerPoint presentations made available to students on the Moodle page and used to support the courses;
Students are also encouraged to purchase the 3rd edition of the book Leçons de méthodologie juridique (Lessons in Legal Methodology) published by Larcier.
Teaching materials
- G. Willems, S. Wattier, E. Ceci, M. Spitaels et A. Toussaint, Leçons de méthodologie juridique, 3ème éd., Précis de la faculté de droit et de criminologie de l'UCLouvain, Bruxelles, Larcier, 2024.
Faculty or entity
