Danes and their legal heritage. General introduction. History and special features of the Danish/Nordic legal system. Prevailing theories of law.
Danish Constitutional Law and Denmark in the International Community. The changing role of the Parliament and the law-making process. Parliamentary control with the government. Political and legal responsibility of Government actions. Checks and balances. The political parties in Denmark. The freedom rights. The Community of the Danish Realm and the special status of the Faeroe Islands and Greenland. The constitutional framework governing international relations. Danish participation in the EU, the Nordic Council, the UN and NATO.
Administrative law. The role of the bureaucracy. Basic facts about the central administration, quasi-judicial organs, special complaints procedures and municipal administrations. Control with executive powers. The legal position of the citizen vis-a-vis the State. Protection of the integrity of the citizen and the freedom of information (acts on freedom of information, public computerized files, exchange of information between public authorities etc.). Administrative procedural requirements. The principle of legality. Legal interpretation and sources of law.
The Parliamentary Ombudsman. The legal basis and the sphere of influence. Jurisdiction. Importance to the development of Danish administrative law.
The legal profession in Denmark. The Judiciary, control of the executive branch, independency, judge made civil law. The courts and the judges. Law studies and law practising in Denmark. The profession of advocate and the organisation of practising lawyers.
Family law and law of inheritance. The changing structure of the family and the ensuing legal problems (unmarried couples, involuntary removal of children, registered partnership etc.). New birth technology and abortion. The effects of the present system of inheritance law. Testaments. Minors.
Property Law. The Danish registration system. Transfer of personal property.
Contracts and sales. Formation of contract. Offer and acceptance. Void and unenforceable contracts. Interpretation and filling out of contracts. Performance and non-performance and contractual obligations. Delay and non delivery. Danish private international law. The choice of applicable law. Consumer sales of goods.
Torts and insurance in Danish Law. The basis for imposing tort liability. Grounds for exemption from liability.
Welfare State law. The social security system under stress. Free access to medical assistance. Basic facts about structure and financing. Privatisation and competition between public and private supplier of services. Unemployment benefits and public and private pension schemes.
Company law. The law on foundations and trusts. Multi-national companies in the local market. Influence and implementation of EU law.
Market and consumer law. Price and monopoly control. Unfair competition. Consumer protection. Influence and implementation of EU Law.
Crime and the Welfare State. Danish criminal law. Basic facts on crime and the criminal system. Theories and research on causes of crime, theories on the appropriateness of sanctions and the development of different types of sanctions in Danish law.