Dr. Stephen Swann

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In Winter Semester 2026/27 I am offering the following courses: 

British Legal Systems (261919)

Wed. 12:00 – 14:00 (HS 8)

This course provides an introduction to the legal systems of the British Islands and most especially English law. Besides presenting some core English legal vocabulary in context, the lectures will highlight points of (perceived) difference between legal systems - within English-speaking jurisdictions as well as in the contrast of the common law legal family with codified civil law.

A main focus of the course is on the legal institutions, taking in their historical development, structures and current practice. The course aims to provide students with insight into the origin and development of the case law method, its practical operation in the modern law, and its impact on legislative law-making and legal discourse in legal systems shaped by English law.

Time permitting, a selective look at some aspects of substantive law, such as the law of remedies, will round off the course in illustrating points of contrast, drawing attention to distinctive legal terms and structures, and confirming the enduring legacy of a peculiar legal history.

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Corporations and Associations (261923)

Fri. 10:00 – 12:00 (SR 114)

This course considers how English law resolves some of the central questions of legal personality and governance concerning profit-making and not-for-profit entities in private and public law.

Initial sessions will provide a broad overview of the forms of legal persons in English law as well as an historical introduction to English company law. In this context a first focus will be questions of limitation of liability and the ramifications of legal personality (such as the permissibility of ‘piercing the corporate veil’).

Further select topics will touch on the regulation of (i) the capacity and powers of the body, (ii) its representation, management, and governance, and (as time permits) (iii) distributions of its assets. While the contemporary black letter rules will be the focus of study, aspects of legal history, comparative legal material from other common law jurisdictions, and legal theory will be introduced by way of context. Besides providing a commercially useful grounding in some of the fundamentals of business structures in England and Wales, the course will probe the goals and values underpinned by rules on legal forms and on agency and liability in the context of group enterprise.

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English Land Law (261921)

Wed. 14:00 - 16:00 (SR 307)

This module examines special rules of English property law relating to land. The first half of the course considers title to land with a focus on (i) the problems of unregistered title and the scheme of registration of title and (ii) acquisition of title by adverse possession. The remainder of the course is devoted to a detailed consideration in turn of the main types of property right, such as those of tenants and the more limited (positive and negative) rights of use or control typically granted to neighbouring landowners. The module aims to foster critical analysis of legal development in this field in its historical and socio-economic context. There will be opportunity in revision sessions to assess understanding by applying the law to problem scenarios.

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Judges, Juries and Lawyers (261920)

Thurs. 14:00 - 16:00 Uhr (SR 120)

In this course participants will study a variety of policy issues concerned with essential machinery for the administration of justice in England and Wales, namely the decision-makers who determine the outcomes of cases and the providers of legal services. With its emphasis on active participation, this course provides an opportunity to engage in debates concerning matters such as the policing of judicial impartiality, the role of the jury, and the 'cab rank' principle of the bar. Besides 'headline' issues, the course will address policy problems inherent in superficially more mundane issues of management and regulation in the judicial and legal services sectors and so assist students in building their ability to undertake detailed analysis in legal fields. Students will also profit from this course in receiving support in (further) developing their skills in reasoning and argument.

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In Summer Semester 2027 I intend to offer the following courses:

• British Constitutional Law
• Introduction to the Law of Obligations
• English Trust Law
• Drafting Legislation

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In Winter Semester 2027/28 I intend to offer the following courses:

• British Legal Systems
• Common Law Legal Sources
• Interests in Goods
• Transactions in English Private Law

English_law mailing list

Information about academic legal events in English is distributed from to time via the Listserv mailing list "english_law". Interested students can enrol themselves on the mailing list via the infomation page for the mailing list.

For the information page for "english_law"  >>External link