Introduction to the Study of Law

Fundamental objectives of the course:
a) teach the student to thinking the law, giving students the necessary theoretical
skills;
b) apply it in solving legal cases.

I – PRELIMINARIES.
1 – Concept of law.
II- Rule of Law.
1 – Structure
2 – Characteristics ofrule of law
– Classification of legal standards.
III – MEANS OF PROTECTION
1 – Self-protection and hetero-responsibility.
2 – The judiciary protection:
2.1. The Independence of the judiciary and courts
2.2. The judicial organization
2.3. Arbitral tribunals.
3. The means of self-protection
IV – SOURCES OF LAW AND EFFECTIVENESS OF RULES
1 – The Law
2 – Community law: the principle of primacy and direct effect of Community rules
3 – Custom
4 – The doctrine and jurisprudence
5 – The hierarchy of norms
6 – Entry into force of the law
7 – Termination of the law
V – INTERPRETATION AND INTEGRATION OF LEGAL STANDARD
1 – The interpretation of the standard: identifying the problem
2 – The integration of the legal rule
VI – THE LEGAL RELATIONSHIP
1 – Definition of legal relationship
2 – Elements of the legal relationship
3 – The principle of contractual freedom

NAO

– TELES, Miguel Galvão, Introdução ao Estado do Direito, Coimbra Editora, Coimbra,
vol I e II, 2010
– JUSTO, A. Santos, Introdução ao Estudo do Direito, 6.ª ed., Coimbra Editora,
Coimbra, 2012
– AMARAL, Diogo Freitas, Manual de Introdução ao Direito, Vol. I, Almedina, 2004.
– MACHADO, J. Baptista; Introdução ao Direito e ao Discurso Legitimador, 17ª
reimpressão, Almedina, 2008.
SOUSA, Miguel Teixeira, Introdução ao Estudo do Direito, Almedina: Coimbra, 2013
– SILVA, Germano Marques, Introdução ao Estudo do Direito, Universidade Católica,
Porto, 2009