Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE LAS3011

 
TITLE Aspects of Civil Law and Practice

 
UM LEVEL H - Higher Level

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Centre for the Liberal Arts and Sciences

 
DESCRIPTION This Unit is intended for employees/financial representatives who in their line of work have to deal with legal issues related to Identity such as Citizenship, marriages, birth and immigration and the relevant processes arising from these Acts such as registrations, permits. A lacuna is felt with regards to the knowledge and interpretation of these Acts, especially for those stakeholders who are involved in such activities but do not have a legal background. This is also felt where Government entities are concerned. Additionally, such institutions are faced with important decisions which will affect the lives of other citizens. On the other hand the stakeholders involved need to balance the needs of the individual with those of the safety and security of the country. For these reasons, familiarity with these Acts will assist such employees and other stakeholders in the field to reach knowledgeable, fair and objective decisions. Furthermore, from such understandings the relevant policies and procedures will be drawn up by the respective Government entities and organisations.

This Unit will introduce interested stakeholders engaged in the area of Identity management and dealing with such matters to the broad understanding of Acts related to such matters for example: The Marriage Act, Citizenship Act, Immigration Act etc. The understanding and interpretation of such Acts will be discussed in detail and practical and real life examples will be studied in depth.

This Unit will assist those working in these areas to obtain a theoretical and legal background on these Acts, enabling them to arrive at a fair and proper evaluation of cases in their line of work. Additionally, learners will be able to develop proper procedures and policies.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the unit the student will be able to:

- have developed a critical eye to issues related to these Acts;
- comprehend the importance of being familiar with these Acts;
- appreciate the complexity of such Acts and the need to remain objective and seek professional help for the interpretation of such Acts.

2. Skills:
By the end of the unit the student will be able to:

- explain the main components related to Acts;
- be able to process cases efficiently;
- be able to arrive at the right conclusions.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Laws of Malta
Chapter 12
Chapter 16
Chapter 285

EU Regulations and Drafts, including
Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003
Regulation (EC) No 15/2012

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Cases
Selected judgements of the ECHR, ECJ and domestic courts

2013, Solidarity between generations, Fulchiron H. (ed) Bruylant, (ISBN 9782802739982)
2012, International Family Law, (2012) IFL 135-256, Farrugia R., The advent of a Divorce Law for Malta pp192-196
2011, Latest Developments in EU Private International Law, Campuzano Diaz B., Czepelak M., Rodriguez Benot A. and Rodriguez Vazquez A. (eds), Intersentia, [ISBN 978-17-8068-000-2]
2011, Jane Mair, Esin Örücü (eds), The Place of Religion in Family Law: A Comparative Search, Intersentia
2011, Patrick Parkinson, Family Law and the Indissolubility of Parenthood, Cambridge, ISBN 9780521116107
2010, Juxtaposing Legal Systems and the Principles of European on Parental Responsibilities, Mair J., and Örücü E. (eds.), Intersentia [ISBN ISBN 978-90-5095-979-7]
2009, European Family Law in Action. Volume IV - Property Relations between Spouses, Boele Woelki K., Braat B. and Curry-Sumner I. (eds.), Intersentia, ISBN 978-90-5095-893-6
2009, Cretney and Probert's Family Law (9781847035530) London: Sweet and Maxwell
2009, Fortin J., Law In Context: Children's Rights and the Developing Law 3rd ed, ISBN 9780521698016
2009, The continuing evolution of family law, Editors: Lowe, N. and Douglas, G. (9781846611698) Bristol: Family Law
2008, Impact of EU Legislation on Maltese Family Law – National Family Commission, Malta, Research on the Family Series No.2 [ISBN 978-99932-0-591-3]
2008, Diduck A. (ed) , Marriage and Cohabitation: Regulating Intimacy, Affection and Care, Ashgate
2007, Brussels II BIS - Its Impact and Application in EU Member States. Boele-Woelki, K. and Gonzalez Beilfuss, C. (Eds), Intersentia pub. [ISBN978-90-5095-644-4]
Harris D. and Parisi D., Gender Role Ideologies and Marriage Promotion: State Policy Choices and Suggestions for Improvement, Review of Policy Research, Volume 22, Number 6 (2005)
Campbell Clark S., Work/family border theory: A new theory of work/family balance, Human Relations, Volume 53(6): 747

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Examination (1 Hour) Yes 40%
Case Study (Take Home) Yes 60%

 
LECTURER/S Philip Mario Magri
Ferrante Juliana Scerri

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit