Legal methods

Abstract

Introduction Foundations Legal Education Legal Reasoning Interpretation of Statutes Interpretation of Contracts Role of Case Law and its Interpretation Gaps in Law Conflicts Between Legal Norms -- INTRODUCTION: Law, as an independent discipline, has its own sources and methods. This chapter will introduce basic knowledge about legal methods. It will teach students to engage with legal texts and methods of interpretation. It will familiarize students with how lawyers reason and with characteristics of legal education. Besides, the chapter will introduce students with the basic knowledge about methods of legal reasoning including judicial syllogism and analogy. The subject of interpretation of statutes and contracts will also be addressed. In so doing, canons of interpretation, i.e. textual, historical, systematic and teleological interpretation shall be introduced to the reader. Furthermore, students will be familiarized with canons of construction in common law tradition. Finally, the chapter will familiarize the students with the issues of gaps in law and conflicts between legal norms.