Why are formal lectures the main teaching method in many continental European law schools?

In continental European law schools, the formal lecture is the primary teaching method because the legal systems in these regions are based primarily on systematic legislation rather than judge-made law.1

This approach is rooted in a legal tradition heavily influenced by scholars, where the goal is to expound a body of principles systematically. Formal lectures and textbooks are better suited for this objective than class discussion, as they allow for an exploration of the law through its philosophical background.1

Additionally, this methodology is reinforced by the following factors:
* Large Class Sizes: Student populations in these law schools are typically very large, making formal lectures a practical necessity.1
* Scanty Case Reports: In some jurisdictions, the availability of published reports of local court decisions is limited, further emphasizing the reliance on legislative codes and systematic instruction.1
* Historical Context: Unlike in common-law systems, where legal education emerged from the bar and focuses on inductive reasoning from court decisions, continental legal education has been the province of universities since the 12th century, fostering a more theoretical and academic focus.1