Universität Wien

030282 SE Legal Methodology (2023W)

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 3 - Rechtswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 20 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 09.10. 09:00 - 11:00 Seminarraum SEM43 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, 4.OG (Kickoff Class)
  • Thursday 18.01. 09:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum SEM61 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
  • Friday 19.01. 09:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum SEM33 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, 3.OG

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The seminar will address problems of legal methodology specifically concerning International and European Law.

The participants can either choose a topic from the list below or a topic that is not on the list, given that it corresponds to the subject of the seminar

I. Basic Approaches:
1. Originalism in Legal Interpretation
Recommended starting literature:
• Lawrence B. Solum, Originalist Methodology, The University of Chicago Law Review 84 (2017), 269
2. Dynamic Interpretation
Recommended starting literature:
• William N. Eskridge, Dynamic Statutory Interpretation (1987)
3. Purposive Interpretation
Recommended starting literature:
• Aharon Barak, Purposive Interpretation (2005)
4. New Textualism
Recommended starting literature:
• Antonin Scalia/Bryan A. Garner, Reading Law: The Interpretation of Legal Texts (2012)
5. Law as Integrity
Recommended starting literature:
• Ronald Dworkin, Law’s Empire (1986)

II. Interpretation in International Law:
Recommended starting literature: Herdegen, Interpretation in International Law, in Wolfrum (Hrsg), Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law (March 2013) (online); Bianchi/Peat/Windsor, Interpretation in International Law (2015)

6. The ‘Will’ as an Object of Interpretation in International Law
7. Dynamic Interpretation in International Law
8. Subsequent Practice as a Rule of Interpretation
9. The ECHR as a ‘Living Instrument’
10. The Relevance of the ‘Travaux Preparatoires’

III. Interpretation in European Law:
Recommended starting literature: Riesenhuber, European Legal Methodology (2017)

11. Effet Utile as a Principle of Interpretation
12. Historical Interpretation in European Law
13. Interpretation of European Law in Line with International Law
14. ‘Multilingualism’ as a Problem of Interpretation in European Law
15. Legal Comparison as a Method of Interpretation in European Law

IV. Interpretation in Tax Law:
16. Art 31 and 32 VCLT and Tax Treaty Interpretation
Recommended starting literature:
• Lang/Brugger, The role of the OECD Commentary in Tax Treaty Interpretation, Australian Tax Forum 2008, 95 (97-105)
17. The Role of the OECD Commentary in Tax Treaty Interpretation
Recommended starting literature:
• Lang/Brugger, The The role of the OECD Commentary in Tax Treaty Interpretation, Australian Tax Forum 2008, 95 – 108.
18. Art 3(2) OECD Model Convention and Double Tax Treaty Interpretation
Recommended starting literature:
• Avery Jones et al, The Interpretation of Tax Treaties with particular reference to Article 3 (2) of the OECD Model – I and II, British Tax Review 1984, 14 and 90.
19. The Role of Consultation Agreements in the Interpretation of Tax Treaties
Recommended starting literature:
• Kerschner/Marchgraber, Die Verordnung zu Art 19 Abs 1 DBA Liechtenstein auf dem Prüfstand des VfGH, SWI 2015, 209
20. The Economic Approach as a Principle of Interpretation in Tax Law
Recommended starting literature:
• Lang/Pistone, Tax Treaties: Building Bridges between Law and Economics (2010)

Assessment and permitted materials

Each contribution will be assessed, any material is permitted

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

- seminar paper of 20-25 pages (if the paper is handed in as a 'DiplomandInnenseminararbeit' at the University of Vienna: at least 50.000 characters, excluding table of contents, list of abbreviations and bibliography)
- presentation of 15-20 minutes, with handout
- attendance during the whole seminar
- submission of the final version of the seminar paper by 28.02.2024

Participants are marked according to their oral (presentation, participation in class) and written (seminar paper) performance. The 'DiplomandInnenseminararbeit' will be separately assessed.

Examination topics

see "Minimum requirements and assessment criteria"

Reading list

Riesenhuber, European Legal Methodology, 2nd Edition (2021)
Herdegen, Interpretation in International Law, in Wolfrum (Hrsg), Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law (March 2013) (online)
Bianchi/Peat/Windsor, Interpretation in International Law (2018)
Potacs, Rechtstheorie, 2. Auflage (2019)
Eskridge/Brudney/Chaftez, Legislation and Statutory Interpretation, 3. Edition (2021)

Association in the course directory

Last modified: We 13.09.2023 11:06