Aims

This course covers fundamental aspects of the law of obligations. It helps to train students in legal reasoning and the critical analysis of positive law.

Main themes

The law of obligations is the branch of law that covers the general theory of the relationship between creditors and debtors. The principal sources of the subject can be found in Articles 1101 to 1386a of the Civil Code. The main chapters of this general theory are as follows:
- introductory aspects: the notion of obligations, origins, position in the legal system, links with the economic system, evolution;
- contractual obligations: the notion of contract, formulation, effects, non-fulfilment regulations, evidence, interpretation, contract groups;
- torts and quasi-torts: foundations of civil liability, civil wrongs, causal relations, damage, causes of exemption, particular regulations, compensation for damage;
- unilateral quasi-contracts and commitments;
- general regulations of obligations: protection of the debtor, protection of the creditor, transfer of obligations, termination of agreements, negative prescription.

METHODS: This part of the course is taught in the form of lectures (while Law of Obligations Part II takes the form of discussion groups). Teaching makes regular use of references to numerous documents from legal practice. These can be found in a booklet, which is available, together with the syllabus, from the study programmes department (Office for courses).

Compulsory sessions of practical training (14 hours) provide the students with the opportunity to develop a practical approach of the subjects taught. These sessions are prepared by the students, whose performances are evaluated by an assistant.
Together with the head of the department, the teacher sees that the practical training and the lectures are coherent and well connected, including with respect to the evaluation.

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