COURSE SUMMARY The course starts with an introduction to the French Legal System (term one) followed by an introduction to French Public Law. AIMS of the COURSE The course is designed to introduce students to the basic principles of the French legal system. It presents the courts’ structure, the main sources of legal norms and a “French way” of approaching legal problems. In term 2, the course moves on to more substantive issues of public law. Students study the various modes of constitutional review, the review of compatibility of national norms with international Treaties, the role of the Constitutional Council, the balance of powers between Parliament, Government and the French President. Pedagogically, the course also aims to train students in the two main types of exercises on which they will be assessed in their main subjects in France: the case-note (commentaire d’arrêt) and the dissertation. While the fully pledged case-note (commentaire d’arrêt) will only be explained in year 2, students will from year one, learn how to compose case summaries (“fiches d’arrêt”) which will help them understand French cases and allow them to build up their written legal skills. A few sessions, through on-line personalised projects and class presentations, will also be dedicated to comparative legal research.