Sustainability is a prominent concept at both the national and international level. Its importance has recently been restated with the formulation of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. This course offers an interdisciplinary perspective by discussing how several aspects of social, economic, and ecological sustainability are linked to national and international law, including the law of the European Union. More specifically, this course shows to what extent law can, on the one hand, promulgate sustainability and, on the other hand, retard the implementation of sustainability goals. This course thus provides an integrative perspective on law and sustainability encouraging business lawyers-to-be to reflect on their own professional role in society and both the possibilities and limitations of legal provisions in general.

After completing this sustainable economics and business course for lawyers, the students are able to describe different aspects of sustainability and how these aspects are linked to corresponding legal provisions - both at the national and the international level. Further, students will be aware of current (legal) pitfalls and catalysts when it comes to implementing the concept of sustainability.

Engaging in this interdisciplinary discourse on law and sustainability, students learn to assess legal provisions from different perspectives. They learn to reflect on the role of law and lawyers in the light of calls for action towards a long-term sustainable development. Writing assignments and presentations are designed to foster critical thinking. Feedback from the course instructors and class discussions will help students to recognize and develop these skills. Particular emphasis is placed on teamwork skills and reflective thinking and experiential knowledge.

This is a course with continuous assessment (PI). Please note that regular attendance (> 80 %) is necessary to complete the course. 

The requirement is the same for participation on campus and participation in distance learning. It is expected that you notify the teacher by email before class (if possible) if you miss class for an important reason.

As long as the minimum attendance requirement is fulfilled, absences may not directly affect the final grade. Yet, there can be indirect negative effects from being absent. This is especially the case when students cannot participate in graded activities during class.

Learning activities consist in preparatory readings, teacher's input, discussions and other activities in class, small individual assignments and quizzes, written group work assignment.

In the summer term 2021 this course will generally take place in the form of distance learning, but there is the possibility to move to a hybrid mode under certain conditions, which would allow a limited number of students to take part on campus. Whether in pure distance or in hybrid mode, the contact hours will remain as planned, and classes will take place in an electronic setting using MS Teams or else. Registered students will receive updated information on the course by email.

Course performance will be evaluated multi-dimensionally. 3 criteria are to be considered in the overall assessment:

• active participation in class and contributions to the discussion (20%),
• small individual assignments and quizzes throughout the course (40%),
• group work assignment (essay) to be submitted at the end (40%).

Grading scale:

≥ 60 % grade 4, ≥ 70 % grade 3, ≥ 80 % grade 2, ≥ 90 % grade 1

Course enrollment is on the basis of "first come, first served" principle. If you have registered but cannot participate in the course, please de-register via LPIS so that your spot is available to students on the waiting list. If there is a waiting list for enrollment in the course, students on the waiting list will be notified after the end of the enrollment period and will be allocated to available spots. Students will be ranked by their study progress, not by their rank on the waiting list. This procedure is, however, not to be understood as a place guarantee.