Legal French I: Introduction to Law

Content

Objective

This course aims to consolidate the language skills required to progress through the Bachelor’s degree programme in Law, in both French and Turkish, whilst introducing students to the methodological exercises specific to the discipline (syllogism, essay writing, case studies).

Course Content

This course builds on the introductory course in legal French taken during the foundation year. It deepens students’ command of legal French — in terms of methodology, terminology and grammar — through the study of French public law (constitutional law, administrative law) and public international law.

Course Learning Outcomes

Legal terminology and content
• become familiar with the vocabulary of constitutional law, administrative law and public international law
• identify the main French and international public institutions and understand how they relate to one another

Legal methodology
• recognise the structure of a simple legal syllogism and practise reproducing it orally and in writing
• explore the logic behind practical case studies and legal essays

Language skills
• recognise and begin to replicate the syntax of normative texts (passive voice, nominalisations, argumentative connectors)
• produce a short, guided argumentative piece of writing
• speak about a simple legal concept, with guidance

Teaching and Learning Methods

This course continues the communicative and comparative approach begun in the preparatory year: students are encouraged to draw on their knowledge of Turkish to build bridges to legal French. It gradually introduces methodological exercises specific to legal reasoning without aiming for complete mastery of these, which will be developed throughout the FJ I–IV programme. The two legal film sessions (S6, S14) extend this approach through visual media and encourage a critical analysis of the law and its historical and contemporary applications.

References

Textbooks
• J.-L. Penfornis, Le français du droit, CLE International
• É. Damette et F. Dargirolle, Méthode de français juridique, Dalloz

Podcasts
• Le Droit en 3 Minutes — niveau A2-B1
• Besoin de rien, envie de droit (Binge Audio) — niveau B1-B2
• Esprit de Justice (France Culture) — niveau B2+ • Juste un droit (20 Minutes) — vulgarisation courte et accessible

Online resources
• Vie-publique.fr — fiches pédagogiques sur les institutions françaises
• Dictionnaire-juridique.com
• conseil-constitutionnel.fr — décisions commentées et actualités (utile pour S9)
• conseil-etat.fr — décisions et actualité du droit administratif (utile pour S10-S13)
• Dalloz Actu Étudiant — actualité juridique reformulée pour un public étudiant

Assessment System