Dr. Stephen Swann

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In Summer Semester 2026 I am offering the following courses: 

British Constitutional Law (254655)

Wed. 12:00 – 14:00 (SR 222)

This course explores fundamental elements of British constitutional law, starting with essential tenets including the doctrine of Parliamentary sovereignty and the rule of law. A particular focus will be on the legislative and executive institutions serving the UK as a whole. In considering controls on power in the UK’s modern constitutional structure, the course will illuminate contemporary strains in the edifice. Besides knowledge of Britain’s constitutional rules and practices and insight into relevant legal and political history, students on this course will profit from considering topical debate and controversy arising out of competing conceptions of how modern British democracy should function. The course will assist students in undertaking an informed critical appraisal of the extent to which constitutional rules and practices may protect human rights and prevent abuse of power.

Property in Law and Theory (254658)

Fr. 12:00 – 14:00 (SR 121)

In this course we analyse justifications for and criticism of property, exploring the legal concept from philosophical, socio-economic, and other theory-based standpoints. Without seeking to take in the field comprehensively, the course will touch upon traditional pillars of debate from across the topic, such as ‘liberal’ and utilitarian defences, public ‘takings’, and inter-generational issues. The emphasis of the teaching sessions is on student engagement in some of the core debates and controversies in this field with a view to developing skills of analysis, argument, and critique. Law students will also benefit from a deeper insight into the policy debates underpinning the detail of doctrinal or ‘black letter’ law.

Introduction to Property Law (254657)

Fr. 10:00 – 12:00 Uhr (SR 121)

This course introduces students to the general framework of rules governing property rights in goods, land and intangibles in English law. The first part of the course is concerned with fundamental questions: (a) what distinguishes a property right from other rights, (b) what may be the subject-matter of a property right, and (c) what are the permissible ‘packages’ of rights that constitute a property ‘interest’? In varying depth, the course looks at the terminology, doctrines, and rules of other core building blocks of English property law as regards (1) the acquisition of property rights, (2) priority of interests, and (3) co-ownership.

The course takes a comprehensive look at property law across the range of ‘things’, while leaving some of the detail which is specific to certain forms of property to be addressed elsewhere. Knowledge gained from this course thus provides a general underpinning for a number of other property-related courses, such as those on trusts, land law, and interests in goods. The course should help students to navigate safely through what at first may appear to be an arcane and complex conceptual jungle and to familiarise themselves with the distinctive tools of property law in the common law legal systems. The course highlights the surprising diversity of rules (in origin and in approach) within this field of private law, introduces students to the complications inherent in ‘rights in rights’, and illustrates how common law and equitable rules interact.

English Criminal Law (254656)

Thurs. 14:00 – 16:00 (SR 121)

This course reviews the core of the general principles of the criminal law of England and Wales and considers in depth the substantive law on some of its specific offences - in particular, offences against the person. Beginning with a consideration of the purposes and procedural framework of the criminal law, initial lectures will focus on the fundamental concepts and general principles of liability. These will be illustrated and reviewed in particular by study of the law on homicide and other fatal and non-fatal offences against the person. Later lectures will address other core offences: these may range from sexual offences to criminal damage, theft and kindred offences of taking and dishonesty, depending on student interest and available teaching time.

In Winter Semester 2026/27 I plan to offer the following courses:

• British Legal Systems
• Judges, Juries, and Lawyers
• English Land Law
• Corporations and Associations

Im Summer Semester 2027 I plan to offer the following courses:

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

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