CONTRACT AND OBLIGATIONS LAW
Syllabus
EN
IT
Learning Objectives
The course is intended to provide the participants with basic categories and notions of Italian Private Law within the context of the European Union legal framework.
The students will acquire knowledge and understanding of some fundamental legal categories of contract and obligations law and will develop new skills not only in autonomously interpreting existing Italian Private Law, looking at the underlying rationale behind the provisions but also in making connections between the various topics covered and in referring to the legal sources in order to solve legal cases.
The students will therefore both improve analytical skills in the theoretical part of the course and develop problem-solving skills in the solution of legal cases.
They will become familiar with the fundamental notions of obligations and contract law; acquire the ability to critically adress legal issues in the light of the provisions of the Italian civil code; they will learn how to adequately manage legal reasoning; propose and justify their findings, properly using the technical legal language.
The students will acquire knowledge and understanding of some fundamental legal categories of contract and obligations law and will develop new skills not only in autonomously interpreting existing Italian Private Law, looking at the underlying rationale behind the provisions but also in making connections between the various topics covered and in referring to the legal sources in order to solve legal cases.
The students will therefore both improve analytical skills in the theoretical part of the course and develop problem-solving skills in the solution of legal cases.
They will become familiar with the fundamental notions of obligations and contract law; acquire the ability to critically adress legal issues in the light of the provisions of the Italian civil code; they will learn how to adequately manage legal reasoning; propose and justify their findings, properly using the technical legal language.
Prerequisites
None
Program
The course explores the foundational pillars of Italian Private Law, with a specific focus on
natural persons, legal entities, obligations, contracts, and tort law. The curriculum is
structured into the following core thematic areas:
Foundations of the Legal System: The concept of legal rules, the hierarchy of sources of
law, and the methodology of statutory interpretation.
Legal Subjectivity & Transactions: The categorization of legal facts and acts, and the legal
framework governing natural persons and legal entities.
The Law of Obligations: General principles, sources, performance, and non-performance of
obligations.
The Law of Contracts: General principles of contract law, including formation, validity,
natural persons, legal entities, obligations, contracts, and tort law. The curriculum is
structured into the following core thematic areas:
Foundations of the Legal System: The concept of legal rules, the hierarchy of sources of
law, and the methodology of statutory interpretation.
Legal Subjectivity & Transactions: The categorization of legal facts and acts, and the legal
framework governing natural persons and legal entities.
The Law of Obligations: General principles, sources, performance, and non-performance of
obligations.
The Law of Contracts: General principles of contract law, including formation, validity,
Books
G. Iudica-P. Zatti, Language and rules of Italian Private Law, A brief textbook, Padua
(CEDAM), 2025 (Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 10, Chapter 11,
Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16, Chapter 17, Chapter 19,
Chapter 20, Chapter 21).
(CEDAM), 2025 (Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 10, Chapter 11,
Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16, Chapter 17, Chapter 19,
Chapter 20, Chapter 21).
Teaching methods
Lectureres and case studies
Exam Rules
The final examination assesses the student's mastery of the foundational principles of
Italian Private Law, with specific reference to the topics covered in the syllabus.
Students will be evaluated on their ability to:
- Independently interpret statutory provisions while identifying their underlying legislative
intent (ratio);
- establish systematic connections across different legal areas and argue complex legal
issues with logical rigor and linguistic accuracy;
- demonstrate a thorough command of the theoretical content of the course;
- resolve practical legal issues by constructing coherent arguments and using precise,
technical legal terminology.
Italian Private Law, with specific reference to the topics covered in the syllabus.
Students will be evaluated on their ability to:
- Independently interpret statutory provisions while identifying their underlying legislative
intent (ratio);
- establish systematic connections across different legal areas and argue complex legal
issues with logical rigor and linguistic accuracy;
- demonstrate a thorough command of the theoretical content of the course;
- resolve practical legal issues by constructing coherent arguments and using precise,
technical legal terminology.
Attendance Rules
non compulsory