3 ECTS credits
90 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 6006065FNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.
1. Purpose of the case study
The purpose of this case study is to provide some field experience to the students (how do things work in practice?; developing analytical and presentation skills; …). For this purpose, lawyers (tutors), all practising EU competition law in Brussels, will assist the students in clearing a European competition case. The idea is to draw up a hypothetical case, similar to ones the tutors are familiar with in their law firm activity.
Each tutor will assist a group of students, each student representing a party involved in the case. Example of parties in a European competition case: (i) Directorate-general for Competition of the European Commission, (ii) a national competition authority, (iii) company a, involved in a price cartel, (iv) company b, involved in the same price cartel, (v) company c, competitor of companies a, b and d, and (vi) company d, competitor of companies a, b and c.
2. Schedule and expectations
Introduction (VUB):
The case study will be distributed, together with supporting materials, and introduced to all the students. Immediately after this introduction, the groups will meet their tutor to discuss the case and to hear what is expected.
Progress meeting (office of the tutor or VUB):
The students will prepare an individual draft memorandum, summarising the issues relevant to their role. Each group will meet its tutor during a progress meeting. At this meeting, the tutor (and Prof. T. Joris) will hear the students (as a group or separately) and see if they are on the right track.
Submission of memorandum:
The students will submit (electronically) their final individual memorandum, summarising the issues relevant to their role.
Oral hearing (office of the tutor or VUB):
Finally, at an oral hearing, each student will present (ten minutes) and defend (by answering questions from their tutor, possibly also from other students and/or Prof. T. Joris) his/her memorandum.
3. Student duties
Each student will be present - in person and on time (sanctions apply) - at the three meetings (introduction meeting / progress meeting / oral hearing). He/she participates actively during the introduction meeting and the progress meeting, writes and submits an individual memorandum and presents/defends his/her memorandum at the oral hearing.
4. Tutor duties
The tutors will (re)direct the students during the introduction meeting and the progress meeting. They will raise questions during the oral hearing. Prof. T. Joris may also ask questions.
In the beginning of the second semester, the students receive, via e-mail, an information note that explains the case study. The students are informed, via e-mail, of the learning outcomes of this course.
The case study will take place during one week towards the end of the second semester.
Example of a schedule:
- Friday: introduction;
- Monday: progress meeting;
- Wednesday: submission of final memorandum;
- Friday: oral hearing.
The groups will not consult each other!
Hypothetical case study, together with supporting materials. No other documents are required.
Credit and exam contracts: not possible.
The purpose of this course is to provide field experience to the students (how do things work in practice?; developing analytical and presentation skills; …). For this purpose, lawyers (tutors), all practising EU competition law in Brussels, will assist the students in clearing a European competition case. The idea is to draw up a hypothetical case, similar to one the tutors are familiar with in their law firm activity.
The students are expected to learn how to prepare, at the request of a client company (as an external counsel) or a superior (for example, as an internal counsel or an official of the European Commission), an individual advisory memorandum. This memorandum will be presented/defended at an oral hearing.
When preparing their memorandum, the students will answer the following questions: who is my audience?; what are the legal issues involved?; what legal questions are asked by my client/superior?; and what documents do I have to rely on to make my case?
The case study is a practical exercise and a learning process, based on the theoretical knowledge, gathered by the students in the course "EU Competition Law".
The students will learn how to structure a memorandum, focusing on the legal issues involved and answering the questions put to them. At the oral presentation, the students will summarise their findings in a structured and fluent manner, and will answer questions, put to them by their client/superior (tutor), and possibly by other students and/or Prof. T. Joris.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
LEC Presentation determines 50% of the final mark.
LEC Paper determines 50% of the final mark.
Within the LEC Presentation category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the LEC Paper category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Oral hearing: each student will present (ten minutes) and defend (by answering questions) his/her memorandum.
The students will be graded on the basis of two criteria: memorandum (50%) and presentation at the oral hearing (50%). The final grade will be announced after the deliberation.
Examples of questions: the questions depend on the content of the case, the memorandum and the oral presentation.
Within five calendar days after the announcement of the exam results, the students may ask (tony.joris@vub.be) for a clarification of their exam result.
There is no retake possible for this course in August/September of the same academic year.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of International and European Law: Standaard traject