The programme is designed to enable students to develop the skills and knowledge of a good lawyer (see ‘skills and knowledge’ tab).
As regards general courses:
the lecturers concerned present the rules, principles and concepts governing their branch of law in a clear and structured manner. These rules are also commented on (depending on the subject concerned) in terms of their economic and social implications and their international implications;
the reduced number of face-to-face hours means that the lecturers concentrate on the essentials and the students are able to explore certain points in greater depth on their own;
the presentations are also rooted in practice and the students' participation is solicited in order to resolve concrete problems;
the integration of students into the professional world makes it possible to draw on their experience in the corresponding courses, as well as their maturity and ability to grasp practical problems with a view to tackling legal issues (identifying the nature of the problem, considering the tools, asking appropriate questions about their implementation, devising solutions).
In-depth courses:
Students also have access to final units (specific to the staggered timetable) and optional courses (chosen from the daytime timetable). These in-depth courses are based on a variety of teaching processes. They make it possible to:
link up with the basic subjects by building on what has already been learnt and presenting advanced topics;
work on reading portfolios in different languages, which develops an independent approach to the subject, a sense of work organisation and knowledge (at least passive) of the legal terminology of the languages used; encourage students to take part in sessions, to learn how to position themselves within a legal discussion;
carry out personal or group work; develop critical reflection on bodies of law.
Tutorials :
During the practical work sessions, the teachers place the students in a situation where they have to solve concrete problems relating to different subjects. Together, they solve practical cases, which not only allows them to get to grips with the subject concerned, but also to develop the ability to analyse legal problems (identify the nature of the problem, consider the tools, ask the right questions about their implementation, work out solutions). A collaborative approach is encouraged.
Students are generally invited to produce a personal piece of writing, which they then present and discuss with the teacher. This exercise enables students to develop their mastery of the canons of legal writing, to move from the facts to the law and to develop a complete legal reasoning, as well as to learn how to present their point of view.
Thesis:
Writing a thesis is an opportunity to develop a personal reflective approach to a cutting-edge subject.
Students are expected to master the written word and legal research methods. They write a scientific paper with a view to convincing an expert of a personal and well-founded legal point of view. The student then debates his/her point of view with the teacher and, if necessary, the other members of the jury. They receive individual support throughout the process, in the form of regular meetings with their sponsor and, at the start of the process, group sessions to prepare them for the research method, identifying a cutting-edge subject and communicating on such issues.
General characteristics of the programme:
Because of the constraints that are inherent to it, the success of the Master's in Law with a staggered timetable presupposes a collaborative and supportive approach between students, who are thus put in a position to develop their ability to work in groups, to share tasks, and to plan and organise work.
The teachers use the students' pre-existing professional skills to approach the subjects and encourage partially autonomous learning. As this is a mature group, a critical approach is encouraged.