History of the Legal Professions

A.Y. 2023/2024
6
Max ECTS
42
Overall hours
SSD
IUS/19
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students critical tools in order to understand the historical development of European legal profession, finding continuities and discontinuities between past and present.
The learning objective of the course, therefore, is to illustrate the dynamics leading to the discipline of legal profession nowadays, especially focusing on the organization and the rules of legal profession from the 12th to the 20th century.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will have to demonstrate
- to know the notions underlying the development of legal profession from the Middle Ages to modern period (Knowledge and understanding)
- the ability to reflect upon the distinctive features of legal profession in different historical contexts (Applying knowledge and understanding)
- critical awareness of the role of lawyers in the evolution of European law and on the different matters related to legal profession in historical perspective, through optional written exercises (Making Judgements).
- to write and to speak about the concepts learned during the course, with appropriate language and methodical precision (Communication skills).
- to understand the relationship between advocacy and judiciary, on the one hand, and politics and society, on the other hand, and also a strong capacity for comparing the past and present (Learning skills)
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The legal profession is still one of the main vocational opportunities for Law graduates. The social, cultural and economic transformations occurred in the current historical phase (also because of the pandemic) have transformed the exercise and the organization of the legal profession (as far as regards, for instance, the overcoming of the borders of national legal systems due to globalization or the need for updating and specialization in various areas of the legal system, also because of the "new" rights deriving from technological innovation), thus urging to consider the specific function of the lawyers in a historical perspective.ù
The course aims at describing the historical evolution of legal profession in Italy and Europe, with particular regard to the 19th and 20th centuries, focusing on the independence of the lawyers and the effectiveness of the right to counsel.
Some crucial issues affecting historical and current debate over legal profession, such as the bar associations, the legal ethics, the relationship between advocacy, on the one hand, and politics and society, on the other hand, the debate on training and access to the legal professions, the admission of women to the advocacy and the judiciary, the access to justice.
Prerequisites for admission
As requested by the didactic regulation: in particular, Institutions of Private Law and Constitutional Law are prepararory
Teaching methods
Attendance to classes is strongly recommended although not compulsory. The teaching is delivered through frontal lectures aimed primarily at the acquisition of knowledge and competence of the subject. Discussion with the teacher in the classroom on case studies is integrant part of the didactic method and aims at promoting a critical attitude and the capacity to argumentation.
Meetings with professors, lawyers and judges focus on specific topics in historical and current perspectives.
The teaching is also based on didactic material and sources provided on Ariel.
Teaching Resources
For attending students teaching materials and texts will be available on the Ariel web portal.
For not-attending students, the exam will take place on one to be chosen from the following (1, 2 or 3):
1. textbook avaible at Copisteria Laura s.r.l., via Bergamini 17, Milano) containing:
a. A. Padoa Schioppa, Brevi note sull'avvocatura nell'età del diritto comune (pubbl. in Un progetto di ricerca sulla storia dell'avvocatura, a cura di G. Alpa, R. Danovi, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2003, pp. 41-53);
b. E. Dezza, L'avvocato nella storia del processo penale (pubbl. in Un progetto di ricerca sulla storia dell'avvocatura, a cura di G. Alpa, R. Danovi, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2003, pp. 111-134);
c. C. Storti, Avvocati milanesi tra Austria e Italia (pubbl. in Sapere accademico e pratica legale fra Antico Regime ed unificazione nazionale, a cura di V. Piergiovanni, Genova, Accademia Ligure di Scienze e Lettere, 2009, pp. 352-399 e in Avvocati e avvocatura nell'Italia dell'Ottocento, a cura di A. Padoa Schioppa, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2009, pp. 271-321);
d. C. Cavagnari, E. Caldara, Avvocati e procuratori, edizione a cura di G. Alpa, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2004 (limitatamente alle pp. 7-35 e 157-357);
e. M.N. Miletti, Uno "zelo invadente". Il rifiuto della pubblicità istruttoria nel c.p.p. del 1913 (pubbl. in Processo penale e opinione pubblica, a cura di F. Colao, L. Lacchè, C. Storti, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008, pp. 227-262).
or
2. A. Meniconi, La "maschia avvocatura". Istituzioni e professione forense in epoca fascista (1922-1943), Bologna, Il Mulino, 2006 (Collana Storia dell'Avvocatura in Italia)
or
3. A. Meniconi, Storia della magistratura italiana, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2012
Assessment methods and Criteria
- Method: oral exam
- Type of examination: oral interrogation
- Evaluation criteria: capacity to demonstrate and elaborate knowledge; quality of exposition, efficacy, clarity; the use of specialised lexicon; capacity for critical reflection
- Type of evaluation method: mark in 30s
The format of the exam for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the professor, as well as the relevant office.
IUS/19 - HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL AND MODERN LAW - University credits: 6
Lessons: 42 hours