This is a two-year theoretical and practical programme at the University of Iceland Faculty of Law.
The Master's programme allows students to build on the basic knowledge they acquired during the BA programme, focusing on specialised areas of law, depending on the student’s own interests.
The programme is 120 ECTS and is organised as two years of full-time study.
The programme is made up of:
Students have a wide range of elective courses to choose from, allowing them to tailor the programme to suit their own interests.
Significant emphasis is placed on interactive teaching methods, in order to harness the benefits of active discussion between student and instructor.
Courses are taught in Icelandic or English. Textbooks are in Icelandic, Nordic languages, English or other languages.
The programme aims to provide students with academic skills and legal training , giving them opportunities to expand and deepen their knowledge of specific areas of law. After graduating, students will be equipped to take on positions of responsibility, e.g. key roles in the Icelandic judicial system and research positions within academia. Students will also develop academic independence and the ability to present impartial and independent legal conclusions based on recognised legal methodology.
Completing a Master's degree in law qualifies you to work as a lawyer. To work as a lawyer, you must have completed a Master's degree in law or an equivalent qualification including specific courses and examinations. Please note that the professional title of ‘lawyer’ is not legally protected.
Completing the programme grants a student access to further graduate studies.
BA degree in law at the University of Iceland, or a comparable degree
A total of 120 ECTS credits is required for the final degree, mag. jur. (magister juris). The student must complete 90 ECTS credits by course examinations and 30 ECTS credits through a thesis. The student must present the results of his/hers thesis (the final paper) in a lecture or at an oral examination.
Further information on supporting documents can be found here.
Check below to see how the programme is structured.
This programme does not offer specialisations.
The Master-thesis is an independent research project which the student writes under an academic supervision. The project deals with challenging subject and original application of theories. All further information about the thesis
The Master-thesis is an independent research project which the student writes under an academic supervision. The project deals with challenging subject and original application of theories. All further information about the thesis
The Master-thesis is an independent research project which the student writes under an academic supervision. The project deals with challenging subject and original application of theories. All further information about the thesis
Research methods in Law
Law provisions and other rules governing the roles of judges and attorneys at law. Preparation for legal proceedings as well as proceedings before a court, in civil as well as criminal cases. Evidence, among other things burden of proof and presentation of evidence. Various practical matters, including questioning parties and witnesses, oral argumentation, formulation of judgements and other legal documents.
The aim of this course is to provide students with a solid knowledge in the field of the rights of the child as reflected in international treaties and Icelandic law. The course provides the historical background of the Convention, its aims and main structure. It also looks at the work of the Council of Europe and The European Court of Human Rights and links to the CRC. An introduction of the sustantive provisions of the CRC will be given with regard to Icelandic law and legal practice. Students will deliver a paper, 40% of final grade, and undergo an oral test, 60% of final grade.
The course will deal with the institutions that apply Icelandic competition law. The procedure in Icelandic competition cases will explained and compared with the procedure in antitrust cases in EC/EEA law. The relationship between competition law and human rights law will be explored. Penalties for infringement of competition law and leniency rules will be discussed. The application of competition law to public restrictions of competition will be dealt with.
In progress
A general introduction to the main parts of Icelandic Copyright Law and practice also with a survey on the elements of International Conventions on the subject.
A course description in English is not available.
The course aims at providing students with a solid knowledge in welfare- and social law and capability to solve legal problems in that field. The main rules, sources and interpretation of social law will be studied as well as the status of social law in general. Human rights in the field especially economical, social and cultural rights will be discussed and the ground on which those rights are established. The right to an adequate standard of living will be studied and how those rights appears in Icelandic law. Furthermore the Icelandic law on social security, its interpretation and implemention will be discussed as well as the influence of European law on Icelandic law in this field. Finally the rights of special groups, i.e. persons with disability, people who give birth, people with drug problems, people with mental illness and elder people will be studied. It might vary between years which groups are emphasized.
The aim of the course is to provide students with solid knowledge about the basic principles of health law, the provision of health care services, and the development and technological innovation in relation to health matters. Special emphasis will be placed on the regulation of bioethical requirements for health care services and health sciences.
The main objective of the course is to give a profound understanding of Icelandic Tax Law. The course Tax Law I deals with Icelandic tax law but the course Tax Law II deals with international tax law.
The course deals with tax law and its workings in the Icelandic legal system. The main concepts of tax law and tax law from a constitutional perspective are discussed. The concepts of tax, tax liability and exemptions are discussed and the course provides for an in debth analysis of the concept of income for defining tax bases including a thorough analysis of allowable deductions. Various doctrines of tax law are discussed. The course covers the law of procedure for disputes concerning taxation, both within the tax administration and before courts. The course deals mainly with income tax for both legal and natural persons, capital income tax and value added tax.
The course description is not available in English
The EEA Law Moot Court competition will be held either in Norway or in Iceland during academic year 2025-2026 (to be confirmed by EFTA Surveillance Authority/ESA in Brussels).
Full time students finishing graduate studies in law or post-graduate students are eligible to participate on behalf of the Faculty of law in an international/European Moot Competition in the field of EEA law organized by the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) in Brussel sin collaboration with the Faculties of Law of Iceland and in Norway. The competition is held bianully, one year in Iceland, the following in Norway.
The ESA decides every year a different topic in the field of European internal market law. Students from Icelandic and Norwegian universities represent different parties in a fictional EEA law case before a judging panel of EEA legal experts.
More information about past competitions available at this link https://www.eftasurv.int/esa-at-a-glance/events
Students receive grades on the basis of active participation in the competition. Number of participants is limited (usually four members in a team) while the Faculty sets objective criteria for team member selection.
Students are expected to register either end August or end December and prepare for a participation in the oral competition to be held 10-12 weeks later. Deadline for written submissions is one month before the Moot Court takes place.
Academic supervision is assured by a permanent academic staff member while coaching is provided by a team coach (ie. Lawyer with litigation experience and knowledge of similar Moot Court competitions). The team coach prepares the team to reply to the moot court questions and defense of arguments during all rounds. He/she submits a report to the supervisor confirming that the team has participated in the competition. Students either pass or fail the course. No individual grades are awarded.
Registration is not conditional to previous completion of Master´s courses in EU-EEA law though students will strongly benefit taking them in Iceland or abroad if they want to specialize in the field ((NORDPLUS /ERASMUS grant opportunities). Participation is requested by student´s registration but course supervisor and team coach have final decision based on merits, previous knowledge and capacity.
Full time law students on a graduate or post graduate level are eligible to register for participation on behalf of the Faculty of law in an International Moot Court Competition (Philip C. Jessup or an equivalent competition recognised by the Faculty of law) in the field of Public International Law and shall accordingly receive grade points for their active participation. Participation is based on student's registration while supervisor and team coach then select if needed participant that are selected for the team each year. Number of participants is limited based on how many participants are allowed in a team while the Faculty sets objective criteria for team member selection. Supervision is conducted by an academic staff member while coaching is done by team coach that is usually lawyer with a previous experience of participation. Participation takes place both in autumn and springs semesters, and in this latter half during the spring the participating students are expected to prepare for and to participate in the oral national round here in Iceland, i.e. if needed in order to win a place in the final round abroad. The team coach prepares the team with moot court excises, including before panels, while his report to the supervisor that the team has participated in the national round besides prepared for the finals if needed is the ground for receiving credits. Do notice that participation in related moot court course taking place during the autumn semester in the same academic year is usually a pre-condition for registration for this assignment.
This course aims to increase professionals‘ and students‘ knowledge and understanding of refugees and asylum seekers from the perspective of social work, law and anthropology. The course will provide an overview of:
The course has two aims. Firstly, to provide students with knowledge of provisions of the general penal code and specific environmental protection laws. Students will learn about the following offence categories: 1. Violations of environmental protection laws, 2. Violations of nature conservation and fishing/hunting laws, 3. Offences involving soil or air pollution, 4. Offences involving pollution of the ocean. The course will cover the requirements for criminal liability regarding offences in these categories and the sanctions imposed. The course will also address the concept of environmental offences, investigation and case management, the history of criminal law in this field and international cooperation. Finally, students will learn about other provisions in Icelandic law that protect the environment, especially liability for damages. Secondly, the course will cover the subject from a political perspective, seeking explanations for why sanctions involving protection of the environment are not used more often.
On completing the course, students should be familiar with the legal principles regarding the above topics and able to use them to resolve legal issues in the field of environmental law.
Duration of Instruction: September - October, and Oral Exam in October. This is a basic course in the field of Public International Law addressing fundamental issues in the field such as Sources, International Personality, States, Territory, Jurisdiction, Immunities, The Law of Treaties, State Responsibility, International Organisations, The United Nations, The Use of Force and Settlement of Disputes. The course is mainly constructed for law students on a graduate level, while it can also be useful for students from other but related academic fields, such as in international relations, as there is an emphasis on approaching the topics to be dealt with also from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Duration of Instruction: October - November. The objective is to present an overview of international cooperation for the protection of human rights, international human rights instruments their implementation and enforcement, as well as recent trends in the evolution of international action on human rights, etc. The course will present the system for the protection of human rights within the United Nations and focus on some of the major human rights treaties, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Human Righs Committee and the international Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The main features of regional human rights cooperation in the world will be introduced, and particular attention will be paid to the European Convention and the Court of Human Rights. Issues in the field of humanitarian law will also be covered, as well as role of international criminal courts in implementing fundamental human rights.
The course covers the legal foundations and principles of International Environmental Law and European Union Environmental Law. The course is divided into two parts. In the first part, structured as interactive lectures with student participation, the main emphasis is placed on covering and explaining the legal foundations and principles of environmental law, including sustainable development, sustainability and the UN SDG, within each of the two legal systems of International Environmental Law and European Union Environmental Law, the influence of International Environmental Law on European Union Environmental Law, the development of statutory solutions and the influence of legal practice. This will be followed by a general introduction of the chief topics of environmental law within each legal system. In the second part of the course, some specific themes of environmental law within each legal system will be thoroughly and critically analysed, requiring active student participation and initiative. Among these themes are the conservation of biological diversity, pollution prevention, participation rights and access to courts, human rights and the environment, and legal issues relating to the Arctic. (See also course LÖG187F, Transnational Climate Law).
The course covers the legal foundations and principles of International Climate Law and European Union Climate Law. The course also covers some statutory solutions adopted by individual states in response to their international obligations, along with some landmark national case-law. The course is divided into two parts. In the first part, the main emphasis is placed on the legal foundations and principles of climate law, the influence of International Climate law on European Union Climate Law, and the development of statutory solutions within a few states. In the second part, which will be conducted in the form of seminars, a few themes of International Climate law and European Union Climate law will be thoroughly and critically analysed, requiring active student participation and initiative. (See also course LÖG110F, Themes on International and European Union Environmental Law).
Work-study program, max 6ECTS credits
A general introduction to the main features of Icelandic Law and practice concerning Engineering Contracts and some comparison with foreign Law and practice in this field.
Legal rules regarding the following categories of crime, including general principles of criminal liability and penalties: Rape and other offences involving sexual intercourse, sexual abuse against children, prostitution and domestic violence. Legal rules governing a few aspects of criminal procedure, i.e. the burden of proof and the victim's legal status. The topics will be analyzed from the perspective of women's rights. The course aims at providing students with a solid knowledge of the nature and subject of gender based violence and making them capable of solving legal problems in the field as well.
The course will deal with the major substantive provisions of the Icelandic Competition Law no. 44/2005 as well as corresponding articles in EC/EEA law. An overview of the origin and purpose of competition rules will be given. The scope of competition rules and the defination of the term undertaking will be covered. The prohibition of agreements and agreements and concerted practices that are restrictive of competition will be discussed. The prohibition of abuse of dominant position and merger rules will also be discussed.
Vantar enskan texta
Students will learn about the penal system in general, its development and main features, as well as penal policy, its goals, premises and solutions. The course covers penitentiary issues in detail, such as the origin and development of prison institutions, existing institutions, the management and organisation of penitentiary issues, imprisonment and prisoners' rights in consideration of the European Convention on Human Rights, the European Prison Rules, health and safety in prisons and disciplinary measures, parole and pardon. Students will learn about alternatives to imprisonment, such as community service and mediation. Some attention will also be given to electronic surveillance and child protection measures. The course will address political perspectives on the determination of punishments and comparisons of punishments for specific offence categories. Finally, students will learn about financial penalties, enforcement of fines and seizure of property.
The course aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of Icelandic criminal law and the ideology on which it is based. Students will learn to use legal principles to solve legal issues related to the content of the course. Students should acquire knowledge and understanding of the main trends in Icelandic and Nordic penal policy over recent decades. They should also be able to use their knowledge to take critical and well reasoned positions on current issues related to criminal law.
Administrative Law III analyses in details and depth issues of administrative law deemed relevant and practical in modern administration. The aim is to give students tools and knowhow to be able to work as Civil Servants with the role of legal advisors on highest level of the administration and tools and knowhow to be able to work as lawyers in complex cases working either for or against public authorities. Subjects of the course include amongst other things (1) effects of European and EEA law on Icelandic administration, (2) hierarchy and chains of command and responsibilities in the Icelandic administration, (3) privatisation of public services and/or competences, (4) relations between courts and public authorities and division of powers between the judiciary and executive branches of government and (5) overview of practical tools for lawyers and legal advisors, as for example how to formulate legal memos and analyses.
The course deals with the main issues in the philosophy of law or jurisprudence, for example "What are rules?", "How is the concept of law demarcated?", "How is an answer to what the law is found?", "Is there always only one right legal answer in a legal dispute?". Furthermore, issues of political theory that relate to law and "alternate" theories of law are discussed, as well as gender related theories. A systematic approach to theories of particular scholars will not be attempted unless to address to the extent necessary those issues and questions dealt with at any given time. Also the course does not provide for a historical overview of ideas about law. A discussion on the above-mentioned topics should however give students a relatively good overview of the main trends in modern legal philosophy.
Legal rules governing the securities market. Ability to resolve legal concerns, both practical and academic. Written processing and oral presentation. Organization and different types of securities exchanges, brokerages and securities funds, customers. Securities offers, reliability surveys and reliability of prospectuses. Rules concerning insider trading and supervision of the securities market. European regulations.
Trademark Law and Patent Law are the core of the field of law, commonly referred to as industrial property rights. In this course, national trademark and patent legislation and practice will be examined and discussed, as well as international agreements and treaties and selected judgments of the European Court of Justice.
Equality and non-discrimination
The course aims at providing students with a solid knowledge of the main issues in equality- and non-discrimination legislation as well as being capable of analysing such legislation. The emphasis in the course is on EU-legislation as well as Icelandic in the field of equality and non-discrimination. The main rules, sources and interpretation of equality law will be studied as well as the status of such legislation within law in general. International conventions will be looked at especially the United Nations' conventions. The concepts of equal rights and non-discrimination will be discussed, in theory as well as in practice. Icelandic and European law on gender equality as well as equality legislation concerning other grounds than gender will be examined. Equality law concerning the labour market will be studied, i.e. equal pay and equal treatment as well as pregnancy, birth and maternity-leave.
Seminar autumn semester
A general introduction to the main themes and features of Icelandic consumer law, lease law and the law on purchase of real estate.
Local Municipalities/Governments play an important role in Icelandic administration. The aim of the course is to give an overview of Icelandic law on Local Municipalities, with emphasis on the Local Government Act no. 138/2011. The course can be divided into following six subjects: 1. Right of Local Municipalities to govern their affairs on their own responsibility. 2. Internal administration and structure of Local Municipalities. 3. Role, responsibilities and tasks of Local Municipalities in Iceland. 4. Local Municipalities fiscal rules and financial regulation. 5. Cooperation between Local Municipalities. 6. Administrative control of Local Municipalities.
The course will deal with the following sets of topics: (1) The concepts, objectives and sources of international criminal law. Alternatives and complements to criminal prosecution. (2) Prosecution of international crimes in national courts, incl. jurisdiction and state cooperation. (3) International prosecutions: The Nuremberg and Tokyo International Military Tribunals, the ad hoc International Criminal Tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda (ICTY and ICTR), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and other criminal courts with international elements. (4) Substantive law of international crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, aggression, as well as a few selected transnational crimes, esp. terrorism and torture. (5) General principles of international criminal liability, incl. command/superior responsibility, and grounds for excluding criminal responsibility. Immunities. (6) An outline of international criminal procedures, esp. at the ICC. (7) Sentencing, penalties and enforcement.
A general introduction to the main features and concepts of Icelandic Mass Media Law and practice. Some comparison with foreign Law and practice.
In the beginning of the course, students are introduced to the definition, nature and scope of private international law, its position within the legal system, main concepts and sources of law. Next, there is an explanation of rules of law that apply to jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of foreign judgements in Iceland and application of foreign law in Icelandic courts. Finally, there is a description of the rules of private international law within each legal category (personal status, succession, family law, law of obligations, law of property, torts, contracts etc.).
A course description in English is not available.
*Course description not available in english*
The right to protection of private life is a wide-reaching right that, inter alia, deals with questions of the right to protection of personal data. These issues are mainly dealt with in human rights law and data protection law. This course aims at giving students an overview over key issues in these fields of law. A special emphasis will be placed on investigating how advances in knowledge and technolocy and changes in society have raised new legal questions, and on how the relevant domestic law must be understood in light of ethics, international law and European law.
Full time law students on a graduate or post graduate level are eligible to register for participation on behalf of the Faculty of law in an International Moot Court Competition (Philip C. Jessup or an equivalent competition recognised by the Faculty of law) in the field of Public International Law and shall accordingly receive grade points for their active participation. Participation is based on student's registration while supervisor and team coach then select if needed participant that are selected for the team each year. Number of participants is limited based on how many participants are allowed in a team while the Faculty sets objective criteria for team member selection. Supervision is conducted by an academic staff member while coaching is done by team coach that is usually lawyer with a previous experience of participation. Participation takes place both in autumn and springs semesters, and in this first half the participating students are expected to conclude, under supervision of the team coach, written submissions in December. If the supervisor formally accepts, after consulting with the coach, that submissions are in sufficient form to be promoted on behalf of the Faculty the participating students shall receive grade points accordingly. Do notice that only students being registered in, or having concluded Basic Course in Public International Law or course that Faculty of Law evaluates as being equivalent, are competent to participate.
The course involves participating in the moot court competition organised by Orator, the association of law students, in which students compete in civil proceedings. This is a team competition, meaning that at least two teams must take part. The fictional case is designed by the supervisory teacher. Professional oversight is the responsibility of this instructor, but the competition is entirely organised by Orator. The final of the competition takes place in the Supreme Court of Iceland on the first weekend in March, judged by three judges from the Supreme Court as well as the supervisory teacher and other members of teaching staff from the Faculty of Law. The case is presented at the end of the autumn semester or the beginning of the spring semester. The circumstances of the case will involve the areas of the law taught at the Faculty of Law, especially civil procedure, and at least one member of each team must have completed this course. Each team shall produce a written complaint and statement of defence as well as pleading a complaint and defence at the Supreme Court. No actual teaching takes place, but Orator is responsible for informing students of arrangements for the competition and will ensure that each team receives professional coaching from an experienced lawyer.
The course, for between four and six law students, involves participating in a Nordic moot court competition. Students compete in pleading before a court in Danish, Norwegian or Swedish, in an imaginary case involving the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights. A description of the case is issued by the Swedish panel. Up to thirteen teams from law faculties at universities in all Nordic countries take part in the competition. The competition involves presenting a complaint and a statement of defence in a case concerning potential violations of the European Convention on Human Rights, in a similar fashion to how cases are handled before the European Court of Human Rights. There are two parts to the competition. The first part is written and begins when a description of the case is made available after mid February. Competitors have six weeks to produce a complaint and a statement of defence for the case. The panel in Sweden evaluate the statements and publish grades around the middle of May. The second part of the competition involves preparing for the court pleading and begins with closed exams at the Faculty of Law around the second week of May. The oral competition takes place on the second weekend of June at a court in a Nordic capital. The competition is judged by Nordic judges from the European Court of Human Rights and judges from the Nordic supreme courts as well as the highest level of government in Finland and Sweden.
The main objective of the course is to give students a good understanding of international tax law. In the course Tax Law II the concepts of limited and unlimited tax liability are discussed and analyzed. Double taxation treaties are studied and the interpretation of such treaties and the methods provided to avoid double taxaton and what implication taxes have on income generated in different tax jurisdictions. Tax competition and the battle against international tax avoidance is disscussed.
The course description is not available in English.
The objectives of the course are threefold. First, to provide a clear and concise overview of the topics of the Energy Law of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) as well as explaining core concepts in this specialised and important field of law. Second, to analyse the main rules of EU Energy Law, including the “Clean Energy for All Europeans Package”, and the connection between energy regulation and climate regulation. Third, to examine Icelandic energy legislation.
A course taught in English dealing with the Law of the Sea, being a special sub-section of public international law. The course is mainly aimed for law students on a master's level, besides exchange students, while also being suitable for students from other related academic fields. After conlcuding the course students should be able to understand the legal framework and to work with instruments in this field. The basis will be studying the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC) prescribing the international legal framework for different ocean areas and for activities there. Also we explore other important instruments in the field as the UN Fish Stocks Agreement. Emphasis is on delimitation and legal status of different maritime zones and on the rules governing the exploitation of marine resources.
International Economic law is a growing field in the area of public international law. The aim of this course is twofold:
1) To learn about international trade, finance, investment and economic development. We learn the international law principles, rules and standards which govern the establishment by economic operators (primarily business and industry) of the various factors of production on the territory of other states or which regulate their international transactions in goods, services and transfer of payments.
Major themes: - Introduction to international economic law. General concepts and context of international economic law. - The multilateral trading system (WTO) - institutional law & dispute settlement, substantive WTO law. GATT Article I - the most favoured nation principle, domestic regulation. GATT Article XI - quantitative restrictions to trade. GATT Article XX - general exceptions, i.e. trade and environment. TBT and SPS agreements, GATS, TRIPs, SCM and anti-dumping. - The International Monetary System. The IMF as lender of last resort, exchange arrangements, conditionally and borrowing by the Fund. - The International Monetary System; World Bank and its affiliates, BIS, Paris Club, Group of ten, etc. - International Investment: Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), Codes towards Multilateral Investment, host State responsibility, foreign investor protection, dispute settlement, dispute settlement and development of standards through specialist for a such as ICSID, Iran-US Claims Tribunal.
2) To understand the current critique to positive economic law (current system in force), discuss scientific (legal) questions on global justice and political economy and philosophy and propose better rules de lege ferenda (for the future).
Major themes: Economic justice in an unfair world. Reforming international economic law. Political philosophies: The law of peoples (Rawls) vs. The egalitarian law of peoples (Pogge). A theory of Justice (Sen). Human Rights Approach: Capabilities as Fundamental Entitlements (Naussban). Aid and Development: The bottom billion (Collier). Other global measuring indexes beyond GDP: measuring human progress, environmental protection and happiness.
Teaching methods: The course aims at active participation of students in discussion and their presentation of the topic of global economic justice in a research paper.
The first part of the course EU/EEA law is devoted to EU/EEA constitutional law: general principles and sources of EU/EEA law, the relationship between EU/EEA law and national laws and judicial protection of individual rights both at national and European level.
The content of EU-EEA law is covered by reading main textbook accessible in advance and provided by teacher. Other reading materials on EU and EEA institutions and legal framework are also offered to students to understand the nature and effects of European integration/cooperation.
Furthermore, a research project is required to learn with locate, summarize and update legal sources in the field with the use of public-access European legal and academic databases (Treaties and legislation, doctrine and case-law from European courts).
The programme will consist of : the European integration process; the European Union after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty; the European institutions; European acts and their effects in the national legal orders; principles of EU law; the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and EU citizenship. These topics are analyzed in the light of the relevant case law of the Court of Justice of the EU and the EFTA Court, both in Luxembourg.
The course focuses on the legal nature of EU and EEA law vis-a-vis other legal orders (international and human rights law, constitutions law) and the effect of EEA law in the national legal orders. Particular attention will be paid to comparing characteristics of EU and EEA law: the role of the Court of Justice and the EFTA Court in the development of EU/EEA law and the effectiveness of these legal orders to secure rights for private individuals and economic operators through these doctrines: primacy, direct effect and State liability for breaches of European law.
Contents of the course in a nutshell:
Method: Reading EU-EEA law textbook and other materials. Learning to do research in the field and writing a legal paper. Taking a written examination dealing with theory (textbook and materials) and practice (real documents for anaysis and comment).
The impact and importance of European law (EU and EEA law) has increased significantly in recent years. This is reflected in its evolution from an internal economic market to one which incorporates social, political and fundamental rights in addition to economic elements. In spite of fundamental differences between EU law and EEA law, the impact of EU/EEA law as a source of national laws in 27/30 European countries is undeniable. Consequently, EU/EEA law is essential to the legal environment, context and operation of any business.
The second part of the course EU/EEA law is devoted to substantive EU/EEA law in the following areas: -the single market, -the four freedoms and - the regulation of the economic activity by the State/EU.
EU Law: the foundations of the single market, the law of the single market: free movement of goods, free movement of workers and persons, freedom of establishment and to provide and receive services and free movement of capital, harmonization and common policy making; the principle of proportionality; Union citizenship; the regulation of economic activity by the State and EU institutions.
EEA Law: the law of the internal market in the EEA legal order. Homogeneity and its limits. EU and EEA law in perspective.
Content of the course in a nutshell:
The course deals with three main subjects. Firstly, rules on structure and functions of the Icelandic labour market, i.e. rules on trade unions, collective bargaining and contracts on wages and other work-related issues, strikes and work stoppage. Secondly rules on individual contracts of employment and rights and duties of individual parties (general labour market). And thirdly rules on rights and duties of Civil Servants (public labour market). The aim of the course is to give overview on the most important rules of the employment market, both private and public sector.
The course begins with an introduction to the concepts involved and the main characteristics and classifications of the types of offence covered by the course. Students will then learn about specific acquisitive crimes and some other kinds of property and economic crimes, such as illegal usage and destruction of property. The course will cover market manipulation, insider dealing and money laundering. Finally, the course will include a general discussion of economic crimes and their relationship with acquisitive crimes and other property crimes.
The course aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of the specific parts of criminal law that deal with acquisitive crimes and related offences, as well as teaching them to resolve legal issues in this area. Students should acquire knowledge and understanding of how this area of criminal law has developed in recent years. They should also be able to use their knowledge to adopt critical and well reasoned positions on the issues covered in the course.
The course provides an overview of the special fields of tort law. Among other topics: The rules on liability for traffic accidents, product liability, liability of children and liability of house-owners.
The objective of the course is to study Human Rights in Europe, the constitutional traditions of human rights and comparison of European system with international systems for the protection of human rights. An overview will be presented of the activities of the Council of Europe in the field of human rights, the European Social Charter and the European Convention on Human Rights. The course will for the largest part focus specifically on the latter, and enable sthe rights and freedoms protected in the Convention and its protocols. It will also cover the procedure before the European Court of Human Rights, study the Court's case law and the enforcement of its judgments. The course is intended to allow students to develop critical, analytical and research skills and foster the ability to construct a logical argument and to communicate that argument clearly and possibly conflicting points of view.
The course is taught in the first half of the spring semester.
This elective course is concerned with civil enforcement other than bankruptcy and official distribution of estates at death, i.e. enforcement proceedings, protective orders. The chief emphasis is placed on enforcement proceedings, including the requirements to be fulfilled, the procedure, and the special rules governing enforcement of monetary claims. Attention will also be given to the chief aspects of protective orders, i.e. attachments and injunctions.
This elective course provides an introduction to bankruptcy law, which is one of the branches of civil enforcement law. The law now in effect in this field, and its historical background, will be described. (See Icelandic version for further information)
Work-study program, max 6ECTS credits
The Master-thesis is an independent research project which the student writes under an academic supervision. The project deals with challenging subject and original application of theories. All further information about the thesis
The Master-thesis is an independent research project which the student writes under an academic supervision. The project deals with challenging subject and original application of theories. All further information about the thesis
The Master-thesis is an independent research project which the student writes under an academic supervision. The project deals with challenging subject and original application of theories. All further information about the thesis
Law provisions and other rules governing the roles of judges and attorneys at law. Preparation for legal proceedings as well as proceedings before a court, in civil as well as criminal cases. Evidence, among other things burden of proof and presentation of evidence. Various practical matters, including questioning parties and witnesses, oral argumentation, formulation of judgements and other legal documents.
The aim of this course is to provide students with a solid knowledge in the field of the rights of the child as reflected in international treaties and Icelandic law. The course provides the historical background of the Convention, its aims and main structure. It also looks at the work of the Council of Europe and The European Court of Human Rights and links to the CRC. An introduction of the sustantive provisions of the CRC will be given with regard to Icelandic law and legal practice. Students will deliver a paper, 40% of final grade, and undergo an oral test, 60% of final grade.
The course will deal with the institutions that apply Icelandic competition law. The procedure in Icelandic competition cases will explained and compared with the procedure in antitrust cases in EC/EEA law. The relationship between competition law and human rights law will be explored. Penalties for infringement of competition law and leniency rules will be discussed. The application of competition law to public restrictions of competition will be dealt with.
In progress
A general introduction to the main parts of Icelandic Copyright Law and practice also with a survey on the elements of International Conventions on the subject.
A course description in English is not available.
The course aims at providing students with a solid knowledge in welfare- and social law and capability to solve legal problems in that field. The main rules, sources and interpretation of social law will be studied as well as the status of social law in general. Human rights in the field especially economical, social and cultural rights will be discussed and the ground on which those rights are established. The right to an adequate standard of living will be studied and how those rights appears in Icelandic law. Furthermore the Icelandic law on social security, its interpretation and implemention will be discussed as well as the influence of European law on Icelandic law in this field. Finally the rights of special groups, i.e. persons with disability, people who give birth, people with drug problems, people with mental illness and elder people will be studied. It might vary between years which groups are emphasized.
The aim of the course is to provide students with solid knowledge about the basic principles of health law, the provision of health care services, and the development and technological innovation in relation to health matters. Special emphasis will be placed on the regulation of bioethical requirements for health care services and health sciences.
The main objective of the course is to give a profound understanding of Icelandic Tax Law. The course Tax Law I deals with Icelandic tax law but the course Tax Law II deals with international tax law.
The course deals with tax law and its workings in the Icelandic legal system. The main concepts of tax law and tax law from a constitutional perspective are discussed. The concepts of tax, tax liability and exemptions are discussed and the course provides for an in debth analysis of the concept of income for defining tax bases including a thorough analysis of allowable deductions. Various doctrines of tax law are discussed. The course covers the law of procedure for disputes concerning taxation, both within the tax administration and before courts. The course deals mainly with income tax for both legal and natural persons, capital income tax and value added tax.
The course description is not available in English
The EEA Law Moot Court competition will be held either in Norway or in Iceland during academic year 2025-2026 (to be confirmed by EFTA Surveillance Authority/ESA in Brussels).
Full time students finishing graduate studies in law or post-graduate students are eligible to participate on behalf of the Faculty of law in an international/European Moot Competition in the field of EEA law organized by the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) in Brussel sin collaboration with the Faculties of Law of Iceland and in Norway. The competition is held bianully, one year in Iceland, the following in Norway.
The ESA decides every year a different topic in the field of European internal market law. Students from Icelandic and Norwegian universities represent different parties in a fictional EEA law case before a judging panel of EEA legal experts.
More information about past competitions available at this link https://www.eftasurv.int/esa-at-a-glance/events
Students receive grades on the basis of active participation in the competition. Number of participants is limited (usually four members in a team) while the Faculty sets objective criteria for team member selection.
Students are expected to register either end August or end December and prepare for a participation in the oral competition to be held 10-12 weeks later. Deadline for written submissions is one month before the Moot Court takes place.
Academic supervision is assured by a permanent academic staff member while coaching is provided by a team coach (ie. Lawyer with litigation experience and knowledge of similar Moot Court competitions). The team coach prepares the team to reply to the moot court questions and defense of arguments during all rounds. He/she submits a report to the supervisor confirming that the team has participated in the competition. Students either pass or fail the course. No individual grades are awarded.
Registration is not conditional to previous completion of Master´s courses in EU-EEA law though students will strongly benefit taking them in Iceland or abroad if they want to specialize in the field ((NORDPLUS /ERASMUS grant opportunities). Participation is requested by student´s registration but course supervisor and team coach have final decision based on merits, previous knowledge and capacity.
Full time law students on a graduate or post graduate level are eligible to register for participation on behalf of the Faculty of law in an International Moot Court Competition (Philip C. Jessup or an equivalent competition recognised by the Faculty of law) in the field of Public International Law and shall accordingly receive grade points for their active participation. Participation is based on student's registration while supervisor and team coach then select if needed participant that are selected for the team each year. Number of participants is limited based on how many participants are allowed in a team while the Faculty sets objective criteria for team member selection. Supervision is conducted by an academic staff member while coaching is done by team coach that is usually lawyer with a previous experience of participation. Participation takes place both in autumn and springs semesters, and in this latter half during the spring the participating students are expected to prepare for and to participate in the oral national round here in Iceland, i.e. if needed in order to win a place in the final round abroad. The team coach prepares the team with moot court excises, including before panels, while his report to the supervisor that the team has participated in the national round besides prepared for the finals if needed is the ground for receiving credits. Do notice that participation in related moot court course taking place during the autumn semester in the same academic year is usually a pre-condition for registration for this assignment.
This course aims to increase professionals‘ and students‘ knowledge and understanding of refugees and asylum seekers from the perspective of social work, law and anthropology. The course will provide an overview of:
The course has two aims. Firstly, to provide students with knowledge of provisions of the general penal code and specific environmental protection laws. Students will learn about the following offence categories: 1. Violations of environmental protection laws, 2. Violations of nature conservation and fishing/hunting laws, 3. Offences involving soil or air pollution, 4. Offences involving pollution of the ocean. The course will cover the requirements for criminal liability regarding offences in these categories and the sanctions imposed. The course will also address the concept of environmental offences, investigation and case management, the history of criminal law in this field and international cooperation. Finally, students will learn about other provisions in Icelandic law that protect the environment, especially liability for damages. Secondly, the course will cover the subject from a political perspective, seeking explanations for why sanctions involving protection of the environment are not used more often.
On completing the course, students should be familiar with the legal principles regarding the above topics and able to use them to resolve legal issues in the field of environmental law.
Duration of Instruction: September - October, and Oral Exam in October. This is a basic course in the field of Public International Law addressing fundamental issues in the field such as Sources, International Personality, States, Territory, Jurisdiction, Immunities, The Law of Treaties, State Responsibility, International Organisations, The United Nations, The Use of Force and Settlement of Disputes. The course is mainly constructed for law students on a graduate level, while it can also be useful for students from other but related academic fields, such as in international relations, as there is an emphasis on approaching the topics to be dealt with also from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Duration of Instruction: October - November. The objective is to present an overview of international cooperation for the protection of human rights, international human rights instruments their implementation and enforcement, as well as recent trends in the evolution of international action on human rights, etc. The course will present the system for the protection of human rights within the United Nations and focus on some of the major human rights treaties, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Human Righs Committee and the international Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The main features of regional human rights cooperation in the world will be introduced, and particular attention will be paid to the European Convention and the Court of Human Rights. Issues in the field of humanitarian law will also be covered, as well as role of international criminal courts in implementing fundamental human rights.
The course covers the legal foundations and principles of International Environmental Law and European Union Environmental Law. The course is divided into two parts. In the first part, structured as interactive lectures with student participation, the main emphasis is placed on covering and explaining the legal foundations and principles of environmental law, including sustainable development, sustainability and the UN SDG, within each of the two legal systems of International Environmental Law and European Union Environmental Law, the influence of International Environmental Law on European Union Environmental Law, the development of statutory solutions and the influence of legal practice. This will be followed by a general introduction of the chief topics of environmental law within each legal system. In the second part of the course, some specific themes of environmental law within each legal system will be thoroughly and critically analysed, requiring active student participation and initiative. Among these themes are the conservation of biological diversity, pollution prevention, participation rights and access to courts, human rights and the environment, and legal issues relating to the Arctic. (See also course LÖG187F, Transnational Climate Law).
The course covers the legal foundations and principles of International Climate Law and European Union Climate Law. The course also covers some statutory solutions adopted by individual states in response to their international obligations, along with some landmark national case-law. The course is divided into two parts. In the first part, the main emphasis is placed on the legal foundations and principles of climate law, the influence of International Climate law on European Union Climate Law, and the development of statutory solutions within a few states. In the second part, which will be conducted in the form of seminars, a few themes of International Climate law and European Union Climate law will be thoroughly and critically analysed, requiring active student participation and initiative. (See also course LÖG110F, Themes on International and European Union Environmental Law).
Work-study program, max 6ECTS credits
A general introduction to the main features of Icelandic Law and practice concerning Engineering Contracts and some comparison with foreign Law and practice in this field.
Legal rules regarding the following categories of crime, including general principles of criminal liability and penalties: Rape and other offences involving sexual intercourse, sexual abuse against children, prostitution and domestic violence. Legal rules governing a few aspects of criminal procedure, i.e. the burden of proof and the victim's legal status. The topics will be analyzed from the perspective of women's rights. The course aims at providing students with a solid knowledge of the nature and subject of gender based violence and making them capable of solving legal problems in the field as well.
The course will deal with the major substantive provisions of the Icelandic Competition Law no. 44/2005 as well as corresponding articles in EC/EEA law. An overview of the origin and purpose of competition rules will be given. The scope of competition rules and the defination of the term undertaking will be covered. The prohibition of agreements and agreements and concerted practices that are restrictive of competition will be discussed. The prohibition of abuse of dominant position and merger rules will also be discussed.
Students will learn about the penal system in general, its development and main features, as well as penal policy, its goals, premises and solutions. The course covers penitentiary issues in detail, such as the origin and development of prison institutions, existing institutions, the management and organisation of penitentiary issues, imprisonment and prisoners' rights in consideration of the European Convention on Human Rights, the European Prison Rules, health and safety in prisons and disciplinary measures, parole and pardon. Students will learn about alternatives to imprisonment, such as community service and mediation. Some attention will also be given to electronic surveillance and child protection measures. The course will address political perspectives on the determination of punishments and comparisons of punishments for specific offence categories. Finally, students will learn about financial penalties, enforcement of fines and seizure of property.
The course aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of Icelandic criminal law and the ideology on which it is based. Students will learn to use legal principles to solve legal issues related to the content of the course. Students should acquire knowledge and understanding of the main trends in Icelandic and Nordic penal policy over recent decades. They should also be able to use their knowledge to take critical and well reasoned positions on current issues related to criminal law.
Administrative Law III analyses in details and depth issues of administrative law deemed relevant and practical in modern administration. The aim is to give students tools and knowhow to be able to work as Civil Servants with the role of legal advisors on highest level of the administration and tools and knowhow to be able to work as lawyers in complex cases working either for or against public authorities. Subjects of the course include amongst other things (1) effects of European and EEA law on Icelandic administration, (2) hierarchy and chains of command and responsibilities in the Icelandic administration, (3) privatisation of public services and/or competences, (4) relations between courts and public authorities and division of powers between the judiciary and executive branches of government and (5) overview of practical tools for lawyers and legal advisors, as for example how to formulate legal memos and analyses.
The course deals with the main issues in the philosophy of law or jurisprudence, for example "What are rules?", "How is the concept of law demarcated?", "How is an answer to what the law is found?", "Is there always only one right legal answer in a legal dispute?". Furthermore, issues of political theory that relate to law and "alternate" theories of law are discussed, as well as gender related theories. A systematic approach to theories of particular scholars will not be attempted unless to address to the extent necessary those issues and questions dealt with at any given time. Also the course does not provide for a historical overview of ideas about law. A discussion on the above-mentioned topics should however give students a relatively good overview of the main trends in modern legal philosophy.
Legal rules governing the securities market. Ability to resolve legal concerns, both practical and academic. Written processing and oral presentation. Organization and different types of securities exchanges, brokerages and securities funds, customers. Securities offers, reliability surveys and reliability of prospectuses. Rules concerning insider trading and supervision of the securities market. European regulations.
Trademark Law and Patent Law are the core of the field of law, commonly referred to as industrial property rights. In this course, national trademark and patent legislation and practice will be examined and discussed, as well as international agreements and treaties and selected judgments of the European Court of Justice.
Equality and non-discrimination
The course aims at providing students with a solid knowledge of the main issues in equality- and non-discrimination legislation as well as being capable of analysing such legislation. The emphasis in the course is on EU-legislation as well as Icelandic in the field of equality and non-discrimination. The main rules, sources and interpretation of equality law will be studied as well as the status of such legislation within law in general. International conventions will be looked at especially the United Nations' conventions. The concepts of equal rights and non-discrimination will be discussed, in theory as well as in practice. Icelandic and European law on gender equality as well as equality legislation concerning other grounds than gender will be examined. Equality law concerning the labour market will be studied, i.e. equal pay and equal treatment as well as pregnancy, birth and maternity-leave.
A general introduction to the main themes and features of Icelandic consumer law, lease law and the law on purchase of real estate.
Local Municipalities/Governments play an important role in Icelandic administration. The aim of the course is to give an overview of Icelandic law on Local Municipalities, with emphasis on the Local Government Act no. 138/2011. The course can be divided into following six subjects: 1. Right of Local Municipalities to govern their affairs on their own responsibility. 2. Internal administration and structure of Local Municipalities. 3. Role, responsibilities and tasks of Local Municipalities in Iceland. 4. Local Municipalities fiscal rules and financial regulation. 5. Cooperation between Local Municipalities. 6. Administrative control of Local Municipalities.
The course will deal with the following sets of topics: (1) The concepts, objectives and sources of international criminal law. Alternatives and complements to criminal prosecution. (2) Prosecution of international crimes in national courts, incl. jurisdiction and state cooperation. (3) International prosecutions: The Nuremberg and Tokyo International Military Tribunals, the ad hoc International Criminal Tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda (ICTY and ICTR), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and other criminal courts with international elements. (4) Substantive law of international crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, aggression, as well as a few selected transnational crimes, esp. terrorism and torture. (5) General principles of international criminal liability, incl. command/superior responsibility, and grounds for excluding criminal responsibility. Immunities. (6) An outline of international criminal procedures, esp. at the ICC. (7) Sentencing, penalties and enforcement.
A general introduction to the main features and concepts of Icelandic Mass Media Law and practice. Some comparison with foreign Law and practice.
In the beginning of the course, students are introduced to the definition, nature and scope of private international law, its position within the legal system, main concepts and sources of law. Next, there is an explanation of rules of law that apply to jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of foreign judgements in Iceland and application of foreign law in Icelandic courts. Finally, there is a description of the rules of private international law within each legal category (personal status, succession, family law, law of obligations, law of property, torts, contracts etc.).
A course description in English is not available.
*Course description not available in english*
The right to protection of private life is a wide-reaching right that, inter alia, deals with questions of the right to protection of personal data. These issues are mainly dealt with in human rights law and data protection law. This course aims at giving students an overview over key issues in these fields of law. A special emphasis will be placed on investigating how advances in knowledge and technolocy and changes in society have raised new legal questions, and on how the relevant domestic law must be understood in light of ethics, international law and European law.
Full time law students on a graduate or post graduate level are eligible to register for participation on behalf of the Faculty of law in an International Moot Court Competition (Philip C. Jessup or an equivalent competition recognised by the Faculty of law) in the field of Public International Law and shall accordingly receive grade points for their active participation. Participation is based on student's registration while supervisor and team coach then select if needed participant that are selected for the team each year. Number of participants is limited based on how many participants are allowed in a team while the Faculty sets objective criteria for team member selection. Supervision is conducted by an academic staff member while coaching is done by team coach that is usually lawyer with a previous experience of participation. Participation takes place both in autumn and springs semesters, and in this first half the participating students are expected to conclude, under supervision of the team coach, written submissions in December. If the supervisor formally accepts, after consulting with the coach, that submissions are in sufficient form to be promoted on behalf of the Faculty the participating students shall receive grade points accordingly. Do notice that only students being registered in, or having concluded Basic Course in Public International Law or course that Faculty of Law evaluates as being equivalent, are competent to participate.
The course involves participating in the moot court competition organised by Orator, the association of law students, in which students compete in civil proceedings. This is a team competition, meaning that at least two teams must take part. The fictional case is designed by the supervisory teacher. Professional oversight is the responsibility of this instructor, but the competition is entirely organised by Orator. The final of the competition takes place in the Supreme Court of Iceland on the first weekend in March, judged by three judges from the Supreme Court as well as the supervisory teacher and other members of teaching staff from the Faculty of Law. The case is presented at the end of the autumn semester or the beginning of the spring semester. The circumstances of the case will involve the areas of the law taught at the Faculty of Law, especially civil procedure, and at least one member of each team must have completed this course. Each team shall produce a written complaint and statement of defence as well as pleading a complaint and defence at the Supreme Court. No actual teaching takes place, but Orator is responsible for informing students of arrangements for the competition and will ensure that each team receives professional coaching from an experienced lawyer.
The course, for between four and six law students, involves participating in a Nordic moot court competition. Students compete in pleading before a court in Danish, Norwegian or Swedish, in an imaginary case involving the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights. A description of the case is issued by the Swedish panel. Up to thirteen teams from law faculties at universities in all Nordic countries take part in the competition. The competition involves presenting a complaint and a statement of defence in a case concerning potential violations of the European Convention on Human Rights, in a similar fashion to how cases are handled before the European Court of Human Rights. There are two parts to the competition. The first part is written and begins when a description of the case is made available after mid February. Competitors have six weeks to produce a complaint and a statement of defence for the case. The panel in Sweden evaluate the statements and publish grades around the middle of May. The second part of the competition involves preparing for the court pleading and begins with closed exams at the Faculty of Law around the second week of May. The oral competition takes place on the second weekend of June at a court in a Nordic capital. The competition is judged by Nordic judges from the European Court of Human Rights and judges from the Nordic supreme courts as well as the highest level of government in Finland and Sweden.
The main objective of the course is to give students a good understanding of international tax law. In the course Tax Law II the concepts of limited and unlimited tax liability are discussed and analyzed. Double taxation treaties are studied and the interpretation of such treaties and the methods provided to avoid double taxaton and what implication taxes have on income generated in different tax jurisdictions. Tax competition and the battle against international tax avoidance is disscussed.
The course description is not available in English.
The objectives of the course are threefold. First, to provide a clear and concise overview of the topics of the Energy Law of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) as well as explaining core concepts in this specialised and important field of law. Second, to analyse the main rules of EU Energy Law, including the “Clean Energy for All Europeans Package”, and the connection between energy regulation and climate regulation. Third, to examine Icelandic energy legislation.
A course taught in English dealing with the Law of the Sea, being a special sub-section of public international law. The course is mainly aimed for law students on a master's level, besides exchange students, while also being suitable for students from other related academic fields. After conlcuding the course students should be able to understand the legal framework and to work with instruments in this field. The basis will be studying the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC) prescribing the international legal framework for different ocean areas and for activities there. Also we explore other important instruments in the field as the UN Fish Stocks Agreement. Emphasis is on delimitation and legal status of different maritime zones and on the rules governing the exploitation of marine resources.
International Economic law is a growing field in the area of public international law. The aim of this course is twofold:
1) To learn about international trade, finance, investment and economic development. We learn the international law principles, rules and standards which govern the establishment by economic operators (primarily business and industry) of the various factors of production on the territory of other states or which regulate their international transactions in goods, services and transfer of payments.
Major themes: - Introduction to international economic law. General concepts and context of international economic law. - The multilateral trading system (WTO) - institutional law & dispute settlement, substantive WTO law. GATT Article I - the most favoured nation principle, domestic regulation. GATT Article XI - quantitative restrictions to trade. GATT Article XX - general exceptions, i.e. trade and environment. TBT and SPS agreements, GATS, TRIPs, SCM and anti-dumping. - The International Monetary System. The IMF as lender of last resort, exchange arrangements, conditionally and borrowing by the Fund. - The International Monetary System; World Bank and its affiliates, BIS, Paris Club, Group of ten, etc. - International Investment: Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), Codes towards Multilateral Investment, host State responsibility, foreign investor protection, dispute settlement, dispute settlement and development of standards through specialist for a such as ICSID, Iran-US Claims Tribunal.
2) To understand the current critique to positive economic law (current system in force), discuss scientific (legal) questions on global justice and political economy and philosophy and propose better rules de lege ferenda (for the future).
Major themes: Economic justice in an unfair world. Reforming international economic law. Political philosophies: The law of peoples (Rawls) vs. The egalitarian law of peoples (Pogge). A theory of Justice (Sen). Human Rights Approach: Capabilities as Fundamental Entitlements (Naussban). Aid and Development: The bottom billion (Collier). Other global measuring indexes beyond GDP: measuring human progress, environmental protection and happiness.
Teaching methods: The course aims at active participation of students in discussion and their presentation of the topic of global economic justice in a research paper.
The first part of the course EU/EEA law is devoted to EU/EEA constitutional law: general principles and sources of EU/EEA law, the relationship between EU/EEA law and national laws and judicial protection of individual rights both at national and European level.
The content of EU-EEA law is covered by reading main textbook accessible in advance and provided by teacher. Other reading materials on EU and EEA institutions and legal framework are also offered to students to understand the nature and effects of European integration/cooperation.
Furthermore, a research project is required to learn with locate, summarize and update legal sources in the field with the use of public-access European legal and academic databases (Treaties and legislation, doctrine and case-law from European courts).
The programme will consist of : the European integration process; the European Union after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty; the European institutions; European acts and their effects in the national legal orders; principles of EU law; the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and EU citizenship. These topics are analyzed in the light of the relevant case law of the Court of Justice of the EU and the EFTA Court, both in Luxembourg.
The course focuses on the legal nature of EU and EEA law vis-a-vis other legal orders (international and human rights law, constitutions law) and the effect of EEA law in the national legal orders. Particular attention will be paid to comparing characteristics of EU and EEA law: the role of the Court of Justice and the EFTA Court in the development of EU/EEA law and the effectiveness of these legal orders to secure rights for private individuals and economic operators through these doctrines: primacy, direct effect and State liability for breaches of European law.
Contents of the course in a nutshell:
Method: Reading EU-EEA law textbook and other materials. Learning to do research in the field and writing a legal paper. Taking a written examination dealing with theory (textbook and materials) and practice (real documents for anaysis and comment).
The impact and importance of European law (EU and EEA law) has increased significantly in recent years. This is reflected in its evolution from an internal economic market to one which incorporates social, political and fundamental rights in addition to economic elements. In spite of fundamental differences between EU law and EEA law, the impact of EU/EEA law as a source of national laws in 27/30 European countries is undeniable. Consequently, EU/EEA law is essential to the legal environment, context and operation of any business.
The second part of the course EU/EEA law is devoted to substantive EU/EEA law in the following areas: -the single market, -the four freedoms and - the regulation of the economic activity by the State/EU.
EU Law: the foundations of the single market, the law of the single market: free movement of goods, free movement of workers and persons, freedom of establishment and to provide and receive services and free movement of capital, harmonization and common policy making; the principle of proportionality; Union citizenship; the regulation of economic activity by the State and EU institutions.
EEA Law: the law of the internal market in the EEA legal order. Homogeneity and its limits. EU and EEA law in perspective.
Content of the course in a nutshell:
The course deals with three main subjects. Firstly, rules on structure and functions of the Icelandic labour market, i.e. rules on trade unions, collective bargaining and contracts on wages and other work-related issues, strikes and work stoppage. Secondly rules on individual contracts of employment and rights and duties of individual parties (general labour market). And thirdly rules on rights and duties of Civil Servants (public labour market). The aim of the course is to give overview on the most important rules of the employment market, both private and public sector.
The course begins with an introduction to the concepts involved and the main characteristics and classifications of the types of offence covered by the course. Students will then learn about specific acquisitive crimes and some other kinds of property and economic crimes, such as illegal usage and destruction of property. The course will cover market manipulation, insider dealing and money laundering. Finally, the course will include a general discussion of economic crimes and their relationship with acquisitive crimes and other property crimes.
The course aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of the specific parts of criminal law that deal with acquisitive crimes and related offences, as well as teaching them to resolve legal issues in this area. Students should acquire knowledge and understanding of how this area of criminal law has developed in recent years. They should also be able to use their knowledge to adopt critical and well reasoned positions on the issues covered in the course.
The course provides an overview of the special fields of tort law. Among other topics: The rules on liability for traffic accidents, product liability, liability of children and liability of house-owners.
The objective of the course is to study Human Rights in Europe, the constitutional traditions of human rights and comparison of European system with international systems for the protection of human rights. An overview will be presented of the activities of the Council of Europe in the field of human rights, the European Social Charter and the European Convention on Human Rights. The course will for the largest part focus specifically on the latter, and enable sthe rights and freedoms protected in the Convention and its protocols. It will also cover the procedure before the European Court of Human Rights, study the Court's case law and the enforcement of its judgments. The course is intended to allow students to develop critical, analytical and research skills and foster the ability to construct a logical argument and to communicate that argument clearly and possibly conflicting points of view.
The course is taught in the first half of the spring semester.
This elective course is concerned with civil enforcement other than bankruptcy and official distribution of estates at death, i.e. enforcement proceedings, protective orders. The chief emphasis is placed on enforcement proceedings, including the requirements to be fulfilled, the procedure, and the special rules governing enforcement of monetary claims. Attention will also be given to the chief aspects of protective orders, i.e. attachments and injunctions.
This elective course provides an introduction to bankruptcy law, which is one of the branches of civil enforcement law. The law now in effect in this field, and its historical background, will be described. (See Icelandic version for further information)
Work-study program, max 6ECTS credits
The Master-thesis is an independent research project which the student writes under an academic supervision. The project deals with challenging subject and original application of theories. All further information about the thesis
The Master-thesis is an independent research project which the student writes under an academic supervision. The project deals with challenging subject and original application of theories. All further information about the thesis
The Master-thesis is an independent research project which the student writes under an academic supervision. The project deals with challenging subject and original application of theories. All further information about the thesis
Law provisions and other rules governing the roles of judges and attorneys at law. Preparation for legal proceedings as well as proceedings before a court, in civil as well as criminal cases. Evidence, among other things burden of proof and presentation of evidence. Various practical matters, including questioning parties and witnesses, oral argumentation, formulation of judgements and other legal documents.
The aim of this course is to provide students with a solid knowledge in the field of the rights of the child as reflected in international treaties and Icelandic law. The course provides the historical background of the Convention, its aims and main structure. It also looks at the work of the Council of Europe and The European Court of Human Rights and links to the CRC. An introduction of the sustantive provisions of the CRC will be given with regard to Icelandic law and legal practice. Students will deliver a paper, 40% of final grade, and undergo an oral test, 60% of final grade.
The course will deal with the institutions that apply Icelandic competition law. The procedure in Icelandic competition cases will explained and compared with the procedure in antitrust cases in EC/EEA law. The relationship between competition law and human rights law will be explored. Penalties for infringement of competition law and leniency rules will be discussed. The application of competition law to public restrictions of competition will be dealt with.
In progress
A general introduction to the main parts of Icelandic Copyright Law and practice also with a survey on the elements of International Conventions on the subject.
A course description in English is not available.
The course aims at providing students with a solid knowledge in welfare- and social law and capability to solve legal problems in that field. The main rules, sources and interpretation of social law will be studied as well as the status of social law in general. Human rights in the field especially economical, social and cultural rights will be discussed and the ground on which those rights are established. The right to an adequate standard of living will be studied and how those rights appears in Icelandic law. Furthermore the Icelandic law on social security, its interpretation and implemention will be discussed as well as the influence of European law on Icelandic law in this field. Finally the rights of special groups, i.e. persons with disability, people who give birth, people with drug problems, people with mental illness and elder people will be studied. It might vary between years which groups are emphasized.
The aim of the course is to provide students with solid knowledge about the basic principles of health law, the provision of health care services, and the development and technological innovation in relation to health matters. Special emphasis will be placed on the regulation of bioethical requirements for health care services and health sciences.
The main objective of the course is to give a profound understanding of Icelandic Tax Law. The course Tax Law I deals with Icelandic tax law but the course Tax Law II deals with international tax law.
The course deals with tax law and its workings in the Icelandic legal system. The main concepts of tax law and tax law from a constitutional perspective are discussed. The concepts of tax, tax liability and exemptions are discussed and the course provides for an in debth analysis of the concept of income for defining tax bases including a thorough analysis of allowable deductions. Various doctrines of tax law are discussed. The course covers the law of procedure for disputes concerning taxation, both within the tax administration and before courts. The course deals mainly with income tax for both legal and natural persons, capital income tax and value added tax.
The course description is not available in English
The EEA Law Moot Court competition will be held either in Norway or in Iceland during academic year 2025-2026 (to be confirmed by EFTA Surveillance Authority/ESA in Brussels).
Full time students finishing graduate studies in law or post-graduate students are eligible to participate on behalf of the Faculty of law in an international/European Moot Competition in the field of EEA law organized by the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) in Brussel sin collaboration with the Faculties of Law of Iceland and in Norway. The competition is held bianully, one year in Iceland, the following in Norway.
The ESA decides every year a different topic in the field of European internal market law. Students from Icelandic and Norwegian universities represent different parties in a fictional EEA law case before a judging panel of EEA legal experts.
More information about past competitions available at this link https://www.eftasurv.int/esa-at-a-glance/events
Students receive grades on the basis of active participation in the competition. Number of participants is limited (usually four members in a team) while the Faculty sets objective criteria for team member selection.
Students are expected to register either end August or end December and prepare for a participation in the oral competition to be held 10-12 weeks later. Deadline for written submissions is one month before the Moot Court takes place.
Academic supervision is assured by a permanent academic staff member while coaching is provided by a team coach (ie. Lawyer with litigation experience and knowledge of similar Moot Court competitions). The team coach prepares the team to reply to the moot court questions and defense of arguments during all rounds. He/she submits a report to the supervisor confirming that the team has participated in the competition. Students either pass or fail the course. No individual grades are awarded.
Registration is not conditional to previous completion of Master´s courses in EU-EEA law though students will strongly benefit taking them in Iceland or abroad if they want to specialize in the field ((NORDPLUS /ERASMUS grant opportunities). Participation is requested by student´s registration but course supervisor and team coach have final decision based on merits, previous knowledge and capacity.
Full time law students on a graduate or post graduate level are eligible to register for participation on behalf of the Faculty of law in an International Moot Court Competition (Philip C. Jessup or an equivalent competition recognised by the Faculty of law) in the field of Public International Law and shall accordingly receive grade points for their active participation. Participation is based on student's registration while supervisor and team coach then select if needed participant that are selected for the team each year. Number of participants is limited based on how many participants are allowed in a team while the Faculty sets objective criteria for team member selection. Supervision is conducted by an academic staff member while coaching is done by team coach that is usually lawyer with a previous experience of participation. Participation takes place both in autumn and springs semesters, and in this latter half during the spring the participating students are expected to prepare for and to participate in the oral national round here in Iceland, i.e. if needed in order to win a place in the final round abroad. The team coach prepares the team with moot court excises, including before panels, while his report to the supervisor that the team has participated in the national round besides prepared for the finals if needed is the ground for receiving credits. Do notice that participation in related moot court course taking place during the autumn semester in the same academic year is usually a pre-condition for registration for this assignment.
This course aims to increase professionals‘ and students‘ knowledge and understanding of refugees and asylum seekers from the perspective of social work, law and anthropology. The course will provide an overview of:
The course has two aims. Firstly, to provide students with knowledge of provisions of the general penal code and specific environmental protection laws. Students will learn about the following offence categories: 1. Violations of environmental protection laws, 2. Violations of nature conservation and fishing/hunting laws, 3. Offences involving soil or air pollution, 4. Offences involving pollution of the ocean. The course will cover the requirements for criminal liability regarding offences in these categories and the sanctions imposed. The course will also address the concept of environmental offences, investigation and case management, the history of criminal law in this field and international cooperation. Finally, students will learn about other provisions in Icelandic law that protect the environment, especially liability for damages. Secondly, the course will cover the subject from a political perspective, seeking explanations for why sanctions involving protection of the environment are not used more often.
On completing the course, students should be familiar with the legal principles regarding the above topics and able to use them to resolve legal issues in the field of environmental law.
Duration of Instruction: September - October, and Oral Exam in October. This is a basic course in the field of Public International Law addressing fundamental issues in the field such as Sources, International Personality, States, Territory, Jurisdiction, Immunities, The Law of Treaties, State Responsibility, International Organisations, The United Nations, The Use of Force and Settlement of Disputes. The course is mainly constructed for law students on a graduate level, while it can also be useful for students from other but related academic fields, such as in international relations, as there is an emphasis on approaching the topics to be dealt with also from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Duration of Instruction: October - November. The objective is to present an overview of international cooperation for the protection of human rights, international human rights instruments their implementation and enforcement, as well as recent trends in the evolution of international action on human rights, etc. The course will present the system for the protection of human rights within the United Nations and focus on some of the major human rights treaties, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Human Righs Committee and the international Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The main features of regional human rights cooperation in the world will be introduced, and particular attention will be paid to the European Convention and the Court of Human Rights. Issues in the field of humanitarian law will also be covered, as well as role of international criminal courts in implementing fundamental human rights.
The course covers the legal foundations and principles of International Environmental Law and European Union Environmental Law. The course is divided into two parts. In the first part, structured as interactive lectures with student participation, the main emphasis is placed on covering and explaining the legal foundations and principles of environmental law, including sustainable development, sustainability and the UN SDG, within each of the two legal systems of International Environmental Law and European Union Environmental Law, the influence of International Environmental Law on European Union Environmental Law, the development of statutory solutions and the influence of legal practice. This will be followed by a general introduction of the chief topics of environmental law within each legal system. In the second part of the course, some specific themes of environmental law within each legal system will be thoroughly and critically analysed, requiring active student participation and initiative. Among these themes are the conservation of biological diversity, pollution prevention, participation rights and access to courts, human rights and the environment, and legal issues relating to the Arctic. (See also course LÖG187F, Transnational Climate Law).
The course covers the legal foundations and principles of International Climate Law and European Union Climate Law. The course also covers some statutory solutions adopted by individual states in response to their international obligations, along with some landmark national case-law. The course is divided into two parts. In the first part, the main emphasis is placed on the legal foundations and principles of climate law, the influence of International Climate law on European Union Climate Law, and the development of statutory solutions within a few states. In the second part, which will be conducted in the form of seminars, a few themes of International Climate law and European Union Climate law will be thoroughly and critically analysed, requiring active student participation and initiative. (See also course LÖG110F, Themes on International and European Union Environmental Law).
Work-study program, max 6ECTS credits
A general introduction to the main features of Icelandic Law and practice concerning Engineering Contracts and some comparison with foreign Law and practice in this field.
Legal rules regarding the following categories of crime, including general principles of criminal liability and penalties: Rape and other offences involving sexual intercourse, sexual abuse against children, prostitution and domestic violence. Legal rules governing a few aspects of criminal procedure, i.e. the burden of proof and the victim's legal status. The topics will be analyzed from the perspective of women's rights. The course aims at providing students with a solid knowledge of the nature and subject of gender based violence and making them capable of solving legal problems in the field as well.
The course will deal with the major substantive provisions of the Icelandic Competition Law no. 44/2005 as well as corresponding articles in EC/EEA law. An overview of the origin and purpose of competition rules will be given. The scope of competition rules and the defination of the term undertaking will be covered. The prohibition of agreements and agreements and concerted practices that are restrictive of competition will be discussed. The prohibition of abuse of dominant position and merger rules will also be discussed.
Students will learn about the penal system in general, its development and main features, as well as penal policy, its goals, premises and solutions. The course covers penitentiary issues in detail, such as the origin and development of prison institutions, existing institutions, the management and organisation of penitentiary issues, imprisonment and prisoners' rights in consideration of the European Convention on Human Rights, the European Prison Rules, health and safety in prisons and disciplinary measures, parole and pardon. Students will learn about alternatives to imprisonment, such as community service and mediation. Some attention will also be given to electronic surveillance and child protection measures. The course will address political perspectives on the determination of punishments and comparisons of punishments for specific offence categories. Finally, students will learn about financial penalties, enforcement of fines and seizure of property.
The course aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of Icelandic criminal law and the ideology on which it is based. Students will learn to use legal principles to solve legal issues related to the content of the course. Students should acquire knowledge and understanding of the main trends in Icelandic and Nordic penal policy over recent decades. They should also be able to use their knowledge to take critical and well reasoned positions on current issues related to criminal law.
Administrative Law III analyses in details and depth issues of administrative law deemed relevant and practical in modern administration. The aim is to give students tools and knowhow to be able to work as Civil Servants with the role of legal advisors on highest level of the administration and tools and knowhow to be able to work as lawyers in complex cases working either for or against public authorities. Subjects of the course include amongst other things (1) effects of European and EEA law on Icelandic administration, (2) hierarchy and chains of command and responsibilities in the Icelandic administration, (3) privatisation of public services and/or competences, (4) relations between courts and public authorities and division of powers between the judiciary and executive branches of government and (5) overview of practical tools for lawyers and legal advisors, as for example how to formulate legal memos and analyses.
The course deals with the main issues in the philosophy of law or jurisprudence, for example "What are rules?", "How is the concept of law demarcated?", "How is an answer to what the law is found?", "Is there always only one right legal answer in a legal dispute?". Furthermore, issues of political theory that relate to law and "alternate" theories of law are discussed, as well as gender related theories. A systematic approach to theories of particular scholars will not be attempted unless to address to the extent necessary those issues and questions dealt with at any given time. Also the course does not provide for a historical overview of ideas about law. A discussion on the above-mentioned topics should however give students a relatively good overview of the main trends in modern legal philosophy.
Legal rules governing the securities market. Ability to resolve legal concerns, both practical and academic. Written processing and oral presentation. Organization and different types of securities exchanges, brokerages and securities funds, customers. Securities offers, reliability surveys and reliability of prospectuses. Rules concerning insider trading and supervision of the securities market. European regulations.
Trademark Law and Patent Law are the core of the field of law, commonly referred to as industrial property rights. In this course, national trademark and patent legislation and practice will be examined and discussed, as well as international agreements and treaties and selected judgments of the European Court of Justice.
Equality and non-discrimination
The course aims at providing students with a solid knowledge of the main issues in equality- and non-discrimination legislation as well as being capable of analysing such legislation. The emphasis in the course is on EU-legislation as well as Icelandic in the field of equality and non-discrimination. The main rules, sources and interpretation of equality law will be studied as well as the status of such legislation within law in general. International conventions will be looked at especially the United Nations' conventions. The concepts of equal rights and non-discrimination will be discussed, in theory as well as in practice. Icelandic and European law on gender equality as well as equality legislation concerning other grounds than gender will be examined. Equality law concerning the labour market will be studied, i.e. equal pay and equal treatment as well as pregnancy, birth and maternity-leave.
A general introduction to the main themes and features of Icelandic consumer law, lease law and the law on purchase of real estate.
Local Municipalities/Governments play an important role in Icelandic administration. The aim of the course is to give an overview of Icelandic law on Local Municipalities, with emphasis on the Local Government Act no. 138/2011. The course can be divided into following six subjects: 1. Right of Local Municipalities to govern their affairs on their own responsibility. 2. Internal administration and structure of Local Municipalities. 3. Role, responsibilities and tasks of Local Municipalities in Iceland. 4. Local Municipalities fiscal rules and financial regulation. 5. Cooperation between Local Municipalities. 6. Administrative control of Local Municipalities.
The course will deal with the following sets of topics: (1) The concepts, objectives and sources of international criminal law. Alternatives and complements to criminal prosecution. (2) Prosecution of international crimes in national courts, incl. jurisdiction and state cooperation. (3) International prosecutions: The Nuremberg and Tokyo International Military Tribunals, the ad hoc International Criminal Tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda (ICTY and ICTR), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and other criminal courts with international elements. (4) Substantive law of international crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, aggression, as well as a few selected transnational crimes, esp. terrorism and torture. (5) General principles of international criminal liability, incl. command/superior responsibility, and grounds for excluding criminal responsibility. Immunities. (6) An outline of international criminal procedures, esp. at the ICC. (7) Sentencing, penalties and enforcement.
A general introduction to the main features and concepts of Icelandic Mass Media Law and practice. Some comparison with foreign Law and practice.
In the beginning of the course, students are introduced to the definition, nature and scope of private international law, its position within the legal system, main concepts and sources of law. Next, there is an explanation of rules of law that apply to jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of foreign judgements in Iceland and application of foreign law in Icelandic courts. Finally, there is a description of the rules of private international law within each legal category (personal status, succession, family law, law of obligations, law of property, torts, contracts etc.).
A course description in English is not available.
*Course description not available in english*
The right to protection of private life is a wide-reaching right that, inter alia, deals with questions of the right to protection of personal data. These issues are mainly dealt with in human rights law and data protection law. This course aims at giving students an overview over key issues in these fields of law. A special emphasis will be placed on investigating how advances in knowledge and technolocy and changes in society have raised new legal questions, and on how the relevant domestic law must be understood in light of ethics, international law and European law.
Full time law students on a graduate or post graduate level are eligible to register for participation on behalf of the Faculty of law in an International Moot Court Competition (Philip C. Jessup or an equivalent competition recognised by the Faculty of law) in the field of Public International Law and shall accordingly receive grade points for their active participation. Participation is based on student's registration while supervisor and team coach then select if needed participant that are selected for the team each year. Number of participants is limited based on how many participants are allowed in a team while the Faculty sets objective criteria for team member selection. Supervision is conducted by an academic staff member while coaching is done by team coach that is usually lawyer with a previous experience of participation. Participation takes place both in autumn and springs semesters, and in this first half the participating students are expected to conclude, under supervision of the team coach, written submissions in December. If the supervisor formally accepts, after consulting with the coach, that submissions are in sufficient form to be promoted on behalf of the Faculty the participating students shall receive grade points accordingly. Do notice that only students being registered in, or having concluded Basic Course in Public International Law or course that Faculty of Law evaluates as being equivalent, are competent to participate.
The course involves participating in the moot court competition organised by Orator, the association of law students, in which students compete in civil proceedings. This is a team competition, meaning that at least two teams must take part. The fictional case is designed by the supervisory teacher. Professional oversight is the responsibility of this instructor, but the competition is entirely organised by Orator. The final of the competition takes place in the Supreme Court of Iceland on the first weekend in March, judged by three judges from the Supreme Court as well as the supervisory teacher and other members of teaching staff from the Faculty of Law. The case is presented at the end of the autumn semester or the beginning of the spring semester. The circumstances of the case will involve the areas of the law taught at the Faculty of Law, especially civil procedure, and at least one member of each team must have completed this course. Each team shall produce a written complaint and statement of defence as well as pleading a complaint and defence at the Supreme Court. No actual teaching takes place, but Orator is responsible for informing students of arrangements for the competition and will ensure that each team receives professional coaching from an experienced lawyer.
The course, for between four and six law students, involves participating in a Nordic moot court competition. Students compete in pleading before a court in Danish, Norwegian or Swedish, in an imaginary case involving the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights. A description of the case is issued by the Swedish panel. Up to thirteen teams from law faculties at universities in all Nordic countries take part in the competition. The competition involves presenting a complaint and a statement of defence in a case concerning potential violations of the European Convention on Human Rights, in a similar fashion to how cases are handled before the European Court of Human Rights. There are two parts to the competition. The first part is written and begins when a description of the case is made available after mid February. Competitors have six weeks to produce a complaint and a statement of defence for the case. The panel in Sweden evaluate the statements and publish grades around the middle of May. The second part of the competition involves preparing for the court pleading and begins with closed exams at the Faculty of Law around the second week of May. The oral competition takes place on the second weekend of June at a court in a Nordic capital. The competition is judged by Nordic judges from the European Court of Human Rights and judges from the Nordic supreme courts as well as the highest level of government in Finland and Sweden.
The main objective of the course is to give students a good understanding of international tax law. In the course Tax Law II the concepts of limited and unlimited tax liability are discussed and analyzed. Double taxation treaties are studied and the interpretation of such treaties and the methods provided to avoid double taxaton and what implication taxes have on income generated in different tax jurisdictions. Tax competition and the battle against international tax avoidance is disscussed.
The course description is not available in English.
The objectives of the course are threefold. First, to provide a clear and concise overview of the topics of the Energy Law of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) as well as explaining core concepts in this specialised and important field of law. Second, to analyse the main rules of EU Energy Law, including the “Clean Energy for All Europeans Package”, and the connection between energy regulation and climate regulation. Third, to examine Icelandic energy legislation.
A course taught in English dealing with the Law of the Sea, being a special sub-section of public international law. The course is mainly aimed for law students on a master's level, besides exchange students, while also being suitable for students from other related academic fields. After conlcuding the course students should be able to understand the legal framework and to work with instruments in this field. The basis will be studying the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC) prescribing the international legal framework for different ocean areas and for activities there. Also we explore other important instruments in the field as the UN Fish Stocks Agreement. Emphasis is on delimitation and legal status of different maritime zones and on the rules governing the exploitation of marine resources.
International Economic law is a growing field in the area of public international law. The aim of this course is twofold:
1) To learn about international trade, finance, investment and economic development. We learn the international law principles, rules and standards which govern the establishment by economic operators (primarily business and industry) of the various factors of production on the territory of other states or which regulate their international transactions in goods, services and transfer of payments.
Major themes: - Introduction to international economic law. General concepts and context of international economic law. - The multilateral trading system (WTO) - institutional law & dispute settlement, substantive WTO law. GATT Article I - the most favoured nation principle, domestic regulation. GATT Article XI - quantitative restrictions to trade. GATT Article XX - general exceptions, i.e. trade and environment. TBT and SPS agreements, GATS, TRIPs, SCM and anti-dumping. - The International Monetary System. The IMF as lender of last resort, exchange arrangements, conditionally and borrowing by the Fund. - The International Monetary System; World Bank and its affiliates, BIS, Paris Club, Group of ten, etc. - International Investment: Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), Codes towards Multilateral Investment, host State responsibility, foreign investor protection, dispute settlement, dispute settlement and development of standards through specialist for a such as ICSID, Iran-US Claims Tribunal.
2) To understand the current critique to positive economic law (current system in force), discuss scientific (legal) questions on global justice and political economy and philosophy and propose better rules de lege ferenda (for the future).
Major themes: Economic justice in an unfair world. Reforming international economic law. Political philosophies: The law of peoples (Rawls) vs. The egalitarian law of peoples (Pogge). A theory of Justice (Sen). Human Rights Approach: Capabilities as Fundamental Entitlements (Naussban). Aid and Development: The bottom billion (Collier). Other global measuring indexes beyond GDP: measuring human progress, environmental protection and happiness.
Teaching methods: The course aims at active participation of students in discussion and their presentation of the topic of global economic justice in a research paper.
The first part of the course EU/EEA law is devoted to EU/EEA constitutional law: general principles and sources of EU/EEA law, the relationship between EU/EEA law and national laws and judicial protection of individual rights both at national and European level.
The content of EU-EEA law is covered by reading main textbook accessible in advance and provided by teacher. Other reading materials on EU and EEA institutions and legal framework are also offered to students to understand the nature and effects of European integration/cooperation.
Furthermore, a research project is required to learn with locate, summarize and update legal sources in the field with the use of public-access European legal and academic databases (Treaties and legislation, doctrine and case-law from European courts).
The programme will consist of : the European integration process; the European Union after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty; the European institutions; European acts and their effects in the national legal orders; principles of EU law; the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and EU citizenship. These topics are analyzed in the light of the relevant case law of the Court of Justice of the EU and the EFTA Court, both in Luxembourg.
The course focuses on the legal nature of EU and EEA law vis-a-vis other legal orders (international and human rights law, constitutions law) and the effect of EEA law in the national legal orders. Particular attention will be paid to comparing characteristics of EU and EEA law: the role of the Court of Justice and the EFTA Court in the development of EU/EEA law and the effectiveness of these legal orders to secure rights for private individuals and economic operators through these doctrines: primacy, direct effect and State liability for breaches of European law.
Contents of the course in a nutshell:
Method: Reading EU-EEA law textbook and other materials. Learning to do research in the field and writing a legal paper. Taking a written examination dealing with theory (textbook and materials) and practice (real documents for anaysis and comment).
The impact and importance of European law (EU and EEA law) has increased significantly in recent years. This is reflected in its evolution from an internal economic market to one which incorporates social, political and fundamental rights in addition to economic elements. In spite of fundamental differences between EU law and EEA law, the impact of EU/EEA law as a source of national laws in 27/30 European countries is undeniable. Consequently, EU/EEA law is essential to the legal environment, context and operation of any business.
The second part of the course EU/EEA law is devoted to substantive EU/EEA law in the following areas: -the single market, -the four freedoms and - the regulation of the economic activity by the State/EU.
EU Law: the foundations of the single market, the law of the single market: free movement of goods, free movement of workers and persons, freedom of establishment and to provide and receive services and free movement of capital, harmonization and common policy making; the principle of proportionality; Union citizenship; the regulation of economic activity by the State and EU institutions.
EEA Law: the law of the internal market in the EEA legal order. Homogeneity and its limits. EU and EEA law in perspective.
Content of the course in a nutshell:
The course deals with three main subjects. Firstly, rules on structure and functions of the Icelandic labour market, i.e. rules on trade unions, collective bargaining and contracts on wages and other work-related issues, strikes and work stoppage. Secondly rules on individual contracts of employment and rights and duties of individual parties (general labour market). And thirdly rules on rights and duties of Civil Servants (public labour market). The aim of the course is to give overview on the most important rules of the employment market, both private and public sector.
The course begins with an introduction to the concepts involved and the main characteristics and classifications of the types of offence covered by the course. Students will then learn about specific acquisitive crimes and some other kinds of property and economic crimes, such as illegal usage and destruction of property. The course will cover market manipulation, insider dealing and money laundering. Finally, the course will include a general discussion of economic crimes and their relationship with acquisitive crimes and other property crimes.
The course aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of the specific parts of criminal law that deal with acquisitive crimes and related offences, as well as teaching them to resolve legal issues in this area. Students should acquire knowledge and understanding of how this area of criminal law has developed in recent years. They should also be able to use their knowledge to adopt critical and well reasoned positions on the issues covered in the course.
The course provides an overview of the special fields of tort law. Among other topics: The rules on liability for traffic accidents, product liability, liability of children and liability of house-owners.
The objective of the course is to study Human Rights in Europe, the constitutional traditions of human rights and comparison of European system with international systems for the protection of human rights. An overview will be presented of the activities of the Council of Europe in the field of human rights, the European Social Charter and the European Convention on Human Rights. The course will for the largest part focus specifically on the latter, and enable sthe rights and freedoms protected in the Convention and its protocols. It will also cover the procedure before the European Court of Human Rights, study the Court's case law and the enforcement of its judgments. The course is intended to allow students to develop critical, analytical and research skills and foster the ability to construct a logical argument and to communicate that argument clearly and possibly conflicting points of view.
The course is taught in the first half of the spring semester.
This elective course is concerned with civil enforcement other than bankruptcy and official distribution of estates at death, i.e. enforcement proceedings, protective orders. The chief emphasis is placed on enforcement proceedings, including the requirements to be fulfilled, the procedure, and the special rules governing enforcement of monetary claims. Attention will also be given to the chief aspects of protective orders, i.e. attachments and injunctions.
This elective course provides an introduction to bankruptcy law, which is one of the branches of civil enforcement law. The law now in effect in this field, and its historical background, will be described. (See Icelandic version for further information)
Work-study program, max 6ECTS credits
The timetable shown below is for the current academic year and is FOR REFERENCE ONLY.
Changes may occur for the autumn semester in August and September and for the spring semester in December and January. You will find your final timetable in Ugla when the studies start. Note! This timetable is not suitable for planning your work schedule if you are a part-time employee.
The University of Iceland collaborates with over 400 universities worldwide. This provides a unique opportunity to pursue part of your studies at an international university thus gaining added experience and fresh insight into your field of study.
Students generally have the opportunity to join an exchange programme, internship, or summer courses. However, exchanges are always subject to faculty approval.
Students have the opportunity to have courses evaluated as part of their studies at the University of Iceland, so their stay does not have to affect the duration of their studies.
Lawyers from the University of Iceland Faculty of Law are highly sought after by employers.
Graduates may work in:
This list is not exhaustive.
The organisation for law students is called Orator. Orator organises a busy calendar for students, including workplace tours, debating competitions and sporting events. The high point of the academic year is the Orator annual gala, which takes place each spring.
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The School office offers support to students and lecturers, providing guidance, counselling, and assistance with various matters.
You are welcome to drop by at the office in Gimli or you can book an online meeting in Teams with the staff.
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