Case Studies
Legal case studies are an innovative teaching method which can be used in a variety of class room settings at all levels of studies. Case studies generally use a narrative of a legal dilemma to exemplify principles of law. Students are asked to put themselves in the position of a legal practitioner (e.g. a judge, a practicing lawyer, a notary etc.) and deliver a legal analysis and solution to the dilemma or argue and defend their advice for the protagonist. Case studies engage students in active learning. Hence, they offer a brilliant way for students to learn about the law and to apply legal knowledge that they have acquired.
If you want to integrate case studies of various forms into your teaching as an innovative, practical teaching method, this is the right place for you.
1. General GuideBOok on case studies
We have prepared a guide with general information in which you will find basic information as well as explanations of the individual forms of case studies.
You can find the individual chapters here:
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 2: General guidelines on creating and teaching case studies
- Chapter 3: Contributions
- Chapter 4: Micro case studies to facilitate the understanding of the theory
- Chapter 5: Using cases for improving legal reasoning skills
- Chapter 6: Gamification as a booster in the learning process
- Chapter 7: Analysing case-law
- Chapter 8: How to draft legal documents as simulations of professional situations
- Chapter 9: Interdisciplinary: How to design case studies covering different egal subjects or disciplines
- Chapter 10: Problem solving case study (Harvard Law School Method)
- Chapter 11: Conclusion and general remarks
2. Samples
We have also created sample case studies that you can use either in the same way or in modified versions adapted to your personal needs.
You can find them here:
Chapter 1: Micro Case Studies
Case 1 (Cassis de Dijon)
Case 2 (Francovich): Case Summary
Case 2 (Francovich): Power Point Presentation
Chapter 2: Legal argumentation competences
Case 3
Chapter 3: Competition & Gamification
Case 4 (Guarani Aquifer)
Chapter 6: Interdisciplinary
Case 10 (López Ribalda)
Case 11 (Ukraine)