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Which major subjects are commonly considered the foundation of a law degree?
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Legal education
William Blackstone, oil painting attributed to Sir Joshua Reynolds; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
While legal education varies by jurisdiction, law schools typically do not expect students to master the entire body of substantive law. Instead, curricula focus on providing familiarity with general principles across several core areas.
The following subjects are commonly considered the foundation of a law degree:
- Constitutional law: Governs the major organs of state.
- Contract law: Governs obligations entered into by agreement.
- Tort law (or delict): Governs compensation for personal injury and damage to property, income, or reputation.
- Property law: Governs transactions involving real or immovable property.
- Criminal law: Governs punishment, deterrence, rehabilitation, and the prevention of offenses against public order.
- Corporation (or company) law: Governs the primary forms of economic actors in modern society.
The primary objective of studying these foundational subjects is to ensure students understand basic legal concepts and methods, enabling them to conduct effective research on diverse legal problems throughout their careers.1