Civil law of obligation - first semester WP-PRZ-PCZ1-ćw

The classes are the practical complement to the lecture on the general part of the law of obligations. Their subject is the application of the provisions of Book Three of the Civil Code (Titles I–X) to specific factual situations and the consolidation of the conceptual framework of the law of obligations.
The classes analyse in particular: the structure of the obligational relationship (debt and liability), performance and its types, monetary performance (nominalism, valorisation, interest), redress of damage, plurality of debtors and creditors (solidarity, indivisible obligations, in solidum liability), freedom of contract and its limits, the preliminary contract, standard terms and unfair contract terms, consumer protection, contracts relating to third parties, additional contractual stipulations (earnest money, contractual right of withdrawal, withdrawal payment, contractual penalty), unjust enrichment and undue performance, torts (principles and prerequisites of liability, personal injury, liability for a dangerous product), performance of obligations and the consequences of non-performance (impossibility of performance, delay and default, reciprocal contracts), extinction of obligations (set-off, novation, performance in lieu), assignment of claims, subrogation and assumption of debt, the actio Pauliana and the concurrence of claims.
Work in class consists of solving case studies, interpreting provisions, analysing the case law of the Supreme Court and drafting simple contractual clauses and declarations shaping the obligational relationship (e.g. a demand for payment, a declaration of set-off, a declaration of withdrawal from a contract). The classes develop the ability to identify the source of an obligation, to determine the prerequisites of liability for damages and to justify the proposed solution logically.
The content of the classes is correlated with the lecture; the detailed schedule of topics in individual groups is determined by the group teachers.

Term 2025/26_Z:

None

(in Polish) Dyscyplina naukowa, do której odnoszą się efekty uczenia się

law

(in Polish) E-Learning

(in Polish) E-Learning (pełny kurs) z podziałem na grupy

(in Polish) Grupa przedmiotów ogólnouczenianych

(in Polish) nie dotyczy

Course coordinators

Dariusz Fuchs

(in Polish) Opis nakładu pracy studenta w ECTS

Term 2023/24_Z:

(in Polish) Udział w zajęciach: 30 h wykład + 30 h ćwiczenia Praca własna - lektura zadanej literatury i orzecznictwa: 40 h Suma godzin: 100 (50 h wykład, 50 h ćwiczenia) Liczba ECTS: 50h/25 = 2 p. ECTS

Term 2024/25_Z:

Term 2025/26_Z:

(in Polish) Udział w wykładzie: 16h Lektura literatury: 45h Przygotowanie do zaliczenia: 10h Suma: 70 h 2 ECTS

Term 2026/27_Z:

Participation in classes: 16 h Preparation for classes (reading, analysis of legal acts and case law, solving case studies): 20 h Preparation for the final assessment: 14 h Total: 50 h Number of ECTS credits: 50 h / 25 h = 2 ECTS

Subject level

elementary

Learning outcome code/codes

PR_U01, PR_U02, PR_U03, PR_U04, PR_U05, PR_U08, PR_U09, PR_K01, PR_K03, PR_K04

Type of subject

obligatory

Preliminary Requirements

Formal requirements: prior credit for the classes and passed examinations in Civil Law – General Part and Property Law. Substantive requirements: in particular, well-established knowledge is required of the subjects of civil-law relationships (legal capacity and capacity for juridical acts), the theory of juridical acts (including the rules on making and interpreting declarations of intent, the form of juridical acts, defects in declarations of intent, condition and time limit), representation, and the effect of lapse of time (limitation and preclusive time limits). In addition, the student should understand the specific nature of civil-law relationships and have an initial ability to analyse doctrinally the provisions of Book One of the Civil Code, which is the necessary foundation for understanding how obligations arise and are performed.

Learning outcomes

The classes pursue learning outcomes in skills and social competences; outcomes in knowledge are pursued in the lecture.
EU1 (PR_U01) — The student interprets the provisions of the law of obligations – general part using linguistic, systemic and functional interpretation in order to resolve a specific factual situation.
Method of verification: final test; solving case studies in class.
EU2 (PR_U02) — The student solves a case study in the law of obligations – general part: identifies the legal problem, selects the relevant provisions, carries out subsumption and justifies the solution.
Method of verification: final test; solving case studies in class.
EU3 (PR_U03) — The student assesses the social and economic function of the institutions of the law of obligations – general part, arguing for a particular solution with reference to case law and scholarship.
Method of verification: final test; solving case studies in class.
EU4 (PR_U04) — The student forecasts the legal effects of particular events and juridical acts in the law of obligations – general part, using legal information systems and case-law databases.
Method of verification: final test; solving case studies in class.
EU5 (PR_U05) — The student analyses the application of the institutions of the law of obligations – general part in contemporary transactions, taking European Union law into account and indicating regulatory doubts.
Method of verification: final test; solving case studies in class.
EU6 (PR_U08) — The student drafts a simple document, declaration or contractual clause in the law of obligations – general part, complying with the requirements as to form and content.
Method of verification: final test; activity in class (drafts of documents and declarations).
EU7 (PR_U09) — The student presents to the group the solution of a case study in the law of obligations – general part, using legal terminology and defending the solution in discussion.
Method of verification: final test; activity in class (oral presentations).
EK1 (PR_K01) — The student prepares for classes on the basis of the current state of the law and the indicated judgments, identifying normative and case-law changes in the law of obligations – general part.
Method of verification: observation of the student's work in class (activity points).
EK2 (PR_K03) — The student cooperates in a team in solving a case study, assuming the assigned role and justifying the team's position.
Method of verification: observation of the student's work in class (activity points).
EK3 (PR_K04) — The student plans the steps necessary to resolve a legal problem (establishing the facts, selecting the legal basis, interpretation, subsumption, conclusion), completing tasks within the set time.
Method of verification: observation of the student's work in class (activity points).

Assessment criteria

Form and conditions of assessment
Graded credit. The final grade results from the final test (20 single-choice questions, including questions based on case studies; 1 point for each correct answer) and from points for activity in class.
Pass threshold: 12 points in the test (60%). Grading scale:
below 12 points – grade 2.0
12–13 points – grade 3.0
14–15 points – grade 3.5
16–17 points – grade 4.0
18–19 points – grade 4.5
20 points – grade 5.0
Activity: each plus awarded for activity in class equals 0.5 point. Activity points are added to the test result of a student who has reached the pass threshold; they may raise the grade resulting from the test by half a grade.
A student who has not reached the pass threshold may take the resit assessment.
A positive grade in the classes (at least 3.0) is a condition for admission to the lecture examination.
The above rules are a general framework. Group teachers may lay down detailed rules in the group syllabi (including the form of the resit, additional components of the grade and the method of converting points); in such a case the rules set out in the group syllabus apply in that group.
Verification of outcomes: EU1–EU7 (PR_U01, PR_U02, PR_U03, PR_U04, PR_U05, PR_U08, PR_U09) – final test and activity in class. The social-competence outcomes EK1–EK3 are verified exclusively by observation of the student's work in class (activity points).

Grade descriptors applied to each skills outcome EU1–EU7 (concerning the law of obligations – general part)
Grade 2.0 — the student has not achieved the outcome: is unable to interpret the provisions, to qualify the facts legally, to draft a basic document or to present a legal issue in a comprehensible manner.
Grade 3.0 — the student performs the task at a basic level: relies mainly on linguistic interpretation, indicates the legal basis in typical cases but omits some prerequisites, justifies the solution incompletely.
Grade 3.5 — a level intermediate between the descriptors for grades 3.0 and 4.0.
Grade 4.0 — the student correctly interprets the provisions using linguistic, systemic and purposive interpretation, correctly qualifies typical factual situations, indicates the proper legal basis and justifies the solution; drafts are correct in form and substance.
Grade 4.5 — a level intermediate between the descriptors for grades 4.0 and 5.0.
Grade 5.0 — the student stands out in proficiency: independently solves complex case studies, notices concurrence of provisions and alternative legal bases, takes into account the case law of the Supreme Court and formulates in-depth legal argumentation and assessments de lege ferenda.

Social competences – ACHIEVED / NOT ACHIEVED only
EK1 (PR_K01) ACHIEVED — the student prepares for classes systematically, shows initiative in broadening knowledge and follows changes in the law and case law. NOT ACHIEVED — the student does not prepare for classes and shows no interest in deepening knowledge.
EK2 (PR_K03) ACHIEVED — the student cooperates in a group when solving case studies, assumes various roles and responds constructively to the positions of other participants. NOT ACHIEVED — the student does not cooperate in a group.
EK3 (PR_K04) ACHIEVED — the student organises his or her own work properly, sets priorities accurately when solving legal problems and completes assigned tasks on time. NOT ACHIEVED — the student does not complete assigned tasks and shows no ability to set priorities.

Bibliography

Required reading:
Z. Radwański, A. Olejniczak, J. Grykiel, Zobowiązania – część ogólna, 17th ed., C.H. Beck, Warszawa 2026 (or a later edition).

Supplementary reading:
A. Brzozowski, J. Jastrzębski, M. Kaliński, E. Skowrońska-Bocian, Zobowiązania. Część ogólna, 5th ed., Wolters Kluwer, Warszawa 2024 (or a later edition);
W. Czachórski, A. Brzozowski, M. Safjan, E. Skowrońska-Bocian, Zobowiązania. Zarys wykładu, 11th ed., Wolters Kluwer, Warszawa 2009;
K. Osajda (ed.), System Prawa Prywatnego, vol. 5, Prawo zobowiązań – część ogólna, 3rd ed., C.H. Beck, Warszawa 2019 (or a later edition);
A. Olejniczak (ed.), System Prawa Prywatnego, vol. 6, Prawo zobowiązań – część ogólna, 4th ed., C.H. Beck, Warszawa 2023 (or a later edition);
E. Gniewek, P. Machnikowski (eds), Kodeks cywilny. Komentarz, 12th ed., C.H. Beck, Warszawa 2025 (or a later edition);
K. Pietrzykowski (ed.), Kodeks cywilny, vol. I, Komentarz. Art. 1–449¹⁰, and vol. II, Komentarz. Art. 450–1088. Przepisy wprowadzające, 10th ed., C.H. Beck, Warszawa 2020 (or a later edition);
G. Bieniek, H. Ciepła, S. Dmowski, J. Gudowski, K. Kołakowski, M. Sychowicz, T. Wiśniewski, C. Żuławska, Komentarz do Kodeksu cywilnego. Księga trzecia. Zobowiązania, vols I–II, LexisNexis, Warszawa 2011;
J. Rajski, Prawo o kontraktach w obrocie gospodarczym, Warszawa 2002.

Legal acts: ustawa z dnia 23 kwietnia 1964 r. – Kodeks cywilny (Book Three, Titles I–X) – as currently in force; ustawa z dnia 30 maja 2014 r. o prawach konsumenta; case law of the Supreme Court indicated during the course.

Group teachers may indicate additional materials (case studies, lists of judgments, specimen documents) in the group syllabi or in MS Teams.

Term 2025/26_Z:

None

Notes

Term 2025/26_Z:

None

Term 2026/27_Z:

Compulsory classes for Year III of Law (part-time studies). Students granted an Individual Organisation of Studies are requested to contact the group teacher at the beginning of the semester. Office hours and their venue are published on the teachers' profiles in USOSweb.

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

Law - part-time master studies

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of WP-PRZ-PCZ1-ćw in USOSweb