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  • Textbook
  • © 2017

Introduction to Law

  • Includes a new chapter on Tax Law
  • Introduces to law in general, rather than to law of a particular jurisdiction
  • Focuses on problems which law must solve, rather than on particular solutions (functional approach to law)
  • Comparative introduction to law

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Table of contents (15 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages I-IX
  2. Sources of Law

    • Jaap Hage
    Pages 1-20
  3. Legal Reasoning

    • Jaap Hage
    Pages 21-31
  4. Basic Concepts of Law

    • Jaap Hage
    Pages 33-52
  5. The Law of Contract

    • Jan Smits
    Pages 53-77
  6. Property Law

    • Bram Akkermans
    Pages 79-108
  7. Tort Law

    • Jaap Hage
    Pages 109-128
  8. Criminal Law

    • Johannes Keiler, Michele Panzavolta, David Roef
    Pages 129-163
  9. Constitutional Law

    • Aalt Willem Heringa
    Pages 165-199
  10. Administrative Law

    • Chris Backes, Mariolina Eliantonio
    Pages 201-227
  11. The Law of Europe

    • Jaap Hage
    Pages 229-249
  12. Tax Law

    • Marcel Schaper
    Pages 251-275
  13. International Law

    • Menno T. Kamminga
    Pages 277-301
  14. Human Rights

    • Gustavo Arosemena
    Pages 303-329
  15. Elements of Procedural Law

    • Fokke Fernhout, Remco van Rhee
    Pages 331-358
  16. Philosophy of Law

    • Jaap Hage
    Pages 359-382
  17. Back Matter

    Pages 383-397

About this book

This book is exceptional in the sense that it provides an introduction to law in general rather than the law of one specific jurisdiction, and it presents a unique way of looking at legal education. It is crucial for lawyers to be aware of the different ways in which societal problems can be solved and to be able to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different legal solutions. In this respect, being a lawyer involves being able to reason like a lawyer, even more than having detailed knowledge of particular sets of rules. Introduction to Law reflects this view by focusing on the functions of rules and on ways of arguing the relative qualities of alternative legal solutions. Where ‘positive’ law is discussed, the emphasis is on the legal questions that must be addressed by a field of law and on the different solutions which have been adopted by, for instance, the common law and civil law tradition. The law of specific jurisdictions is discussed to illustrate possible answersto questions such as when the existence of a valid contract is assumed.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Foundations and Methods of Law, Maastricht University Faculty of Law, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Jaap Hage

  • Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Antonia Waltermann

  • Private Law, Maastricht University Faculty of Law, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Bram Akkermans

About the editors

Jaap Hage is Professor of Jurisprudence at Maastricht University and Fellow of the Maastricht European Private Law Institute (M-EPLI), Maastricht University.

Antonia Waltermann is Assistant Professor at the Department of Foundations and methods of Law, Faculty of Law, Maastricht University.

Bram Akkermans is Assistant Professor European Private Law and Associate-Director of the Maastricht European Private Law Institute (M-EPLI), Maastricht University.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Introduction to Law

  • Editors: Jaap Hage, Antonia Waltermann, Bram Akkermans

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57252-9

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Law and Criminology, Law and Criminology (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2017

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-57251-2Published: 09 August 2017

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-86114-2Published: 04 August 2018

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-57252-9Published: 07 August 2017

  • Edition Number: 2

  • Number of Pages: IX, 397

  • Number of Illustrations: 13 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Fundamentals of Law, Philosophy of Law

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access