The course aims to introduce students to the major legal systems, with a special reference to the dichotomy between civil law and common law. The course will make use of the most typical of both traditions, namely the English and US experience for common law systems and the French, German and Italian experience for civil law systems. The various traditions will be studied in a historical/comparative light, in order to demonstrate in the first place the interaction between the different components (jurisprudence, case law and legislation) in generating law and the major private law classifications, and secondly the differences in the education system and training of lawyers, and the typical approach of common lawyers compared with civil lawyers. Particular attention will also be devoted to the current system of sources of private law in the different legal systems and the phenomenon of circulation of legal models.

The process of globalization is overcoming the legal systems of all nations, making an understanding of our differences and similarities a useful, if not essential, tool for working in this new global environment. Therefore the aim of comparative analysis is multipurpose. First, in our world of increasing global economic interdependency, it is important to step outside our insularity to gain an understanding of other nations and cultures, moreover considering that the contemporary reality is that it is increasingly difficult to identify countries with solely one legal tradition or the other. The cross-combination between these legal cultures has enriched both traditions, creating a global legal mosaic. Second, the increased internationalization of crime requires that we understand and appreciate the justice systems of other societies. Third, by examining crime and justice in other societies, we can better understand our own country’s vision of these problems and their potential solution. At last, The ongoing development of European Union Law and European Integration may well have an impact on the traditional classification.