Ateneo - UPO

This module provides students with a foundational understanding of Private Law, Family Law, and Children’s Rights within the Italian legal system. Theoretical instruction is integrated with the analysis of practical cases and contemporary legal developments. Particular emphasis is placed upon legal matters pertinent to social work practice, including the protection of vulnerable individuals and the regulation of family relationships.

The module adopts an interdisciplinary and intersectional approach, establishing connections with the Sociology of the Family, Gender Studies, and Queer Studies, from an intersectional perspective.

Textbook:
Lenti, L. (latest edition) Diritto di famiglia e servizi sociali. Turin: Giappichelli.

Required Reading:
Students are expected to study the entire textbook

By the end of this module, students will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding: Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the principal institutions of private law, family law, and children’s rights law.

Applying Knowledge and Understanding: Apply legal knowledge to analyse and address practical issues relevant to social work practice.

Making Judgements: Exercise critical judgement in interpreting legal norms and their application to professional contexts.

Communication Skills: Employ appropriate legal terminology with precision and communicate legal reasoning clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.

Learning Skills: Engage autonomously with legal texts and developments, demonstrating capacity for continued professional learning.

No prior knowledge of law is required. This module is designed for first-year students with no previous Private Law training.
Passing the Private Law exam is a requirement to sit the exam.

The module is delivered through face-to-face lectures, complemented by facilitated class discussions and problem-based learning activities centred on practical case studies.

Supplementary materials, including lecture slides, case studies, and legal updates, will be made available via the DIR virtual learning environment.

Compensatory tools communications will be shared on DIR.

Office hours are by appointment only. To arrange a consultation, please contact the module convenor by email at marco.poli@uniupo.it.

The examination will assess students’ knowledge of the concepts presented in the textbook and supplementary lecture slides (available on DIR). Proficient use of legal terminology will constitute a significant component of the assessment criteria.

Assessment comprises two parts, both conducted on the same day:
- Written exam: A multiple-choice test consisting of 10 questions to be completed within 10 minutes. A minimum of 7 correct answers is required to proceed to the oral component.
- Oral exam: An individual viva voce examination comprising three open-ended questions, designed to assess students' comprehension of the course content and their capacity to analyse and apply legal concepts critically and using correctly technical legal language.

The module is organised into four thematic units:

1. Introduction to Private Law: The law and its sources; subjective rights and legal persons; property and rights in rem; legal capacity and personality; private autonomy and contract law; the law of torts.

2. Families and Adult Relationships: Legal concepts of the family; marriage, civil partnerships, and cohabitation; legal consequences of relationship dissolution.

3. Parenthood and Child Relationships: Filiation and the legal status of children; parental responsibility; child custody and residence arrangements; adoption and foster care.

4. Legal Safeguards and Protection Measures: Legal protections for vulnerable adults; public interventions concerning children and families; the role of social workers in legal proceedings.

Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding: Demonstrate a sound understanding of the fundamental principles and institutions of private law, family law, and children’s rights within the Italian legal system, with particular attention to matters relevant to social work practice.

Applying Knowledge and Understanding: Apply legal concepts and frameworks to practical scenarios encountered in professional social work contexts, demonstrating the ability to identify relevant legal issues and formulate appropriate responses.

Making Judgements: Gather and interpret legal information to inform professional judgements, reflecting on the social and ethical dimensions of legal issues affecting vulnerable individuals and families.

Communication Skills: Communicate legal concepts, arguments, and case analyses clearly and effectively, employing appropriate legal terminology when addressing both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Learning Skills: Develop autonomous learning strategies for the continued study of legal developments relevant to social work practice, demonstrating the capacity to engage critically with legal sources and scholarship.