Comparative Law as Marketing Tool

January 22, 2009 – 06:03 pm

Recently, several German associations of legal professionals presented their booklet Law – Made in Germany [the pdf is available here]. The booklet contains a survey of aspects of German law that are relevant for foreign companies and investors. By comparing German legal institutions with their counterparts in the United States and Great Britain, the brochure aims at convincing foreign entrepreneurs to invest in Germany. Read More »

By Anita Frohlich | Posted in Through the Lens of Comparative Law | Comments (1)

Comparative Law Methodology 101: Functionalism

January 22, 2009 – 06:01 pm

This post marks the beginning of a sequence that will present the major approaches to comparative analysis. Today, we will discuss the (still?) prevalent comparison method: the functional method. Read More »

By Anita Frohlich | Posted in Methods, Concepts and Theories in Comparative Law | Comments (4)

5 Reasons Why Comparative Law Should Be Taught

January 22, 2009 – 06:00 pm

Comparative law is still underrepresented in law school curricula – and this is unfortunately an international phenomenon. As a student, you probably try to optimize your class load and choose courses that best prepare you for the bar exam. Similarly, as a professor and/or dean of a law school, you are concerned about attracting many students by offering a compelling portfolio of courses that provide ideal professional training. This post will demonstrate how a comparative law course will address all of these important needs. Read More »

By Anita Frohlich | Posted in Teaching Comparative Law | Comments (1)

What Makes a Successful Study Abroad Experience?

January 22, 2009 – 05:47 pm

You have decided to study abroad. You want to get the most out of it. What can you do? This article gives you five recommendations that make your study abroad experience worthwhile: (1) choose a country with a legal culture that differs from your own, (2) know the language including some legal terms, (3) emancipate yourself from the group of other study-abroad colleagues, (4) take courses with natives, and (5) make foreign friends. Read More »

By Anita Frohlich | Posted in Comparative Law for You | Leave a Comment

How to Classify the Legal Systems of the World

January 22, 2009 – 05:45 pm

If you had to classify all the legal systems in the world, what would you do? Would you stress the singularity of each system or would you try to divide them into groups? And, in the latter case, how would you characterize such a group? These are some of the basic questions that a comparative lawyer faces. Well, there seems to be a general consensus that clustering legal systems is more practical. Different approaches, however, exist as to how a group of legal systems shall be defined. The challenge is to develop a classification method that merges similar legal systems in a most comprehensive way without being random or fragmented. This post will present five criteria for grouping the legal systems of the world: (1) sources of law, (2) ideology and legal technique, (3) substance of the legal system, (4) legal style, and (5) tradition. Read More »

By Anita Frohlich | Posted in Methods, Concepts and Theories in Comparative Law | Comments (3)