The teaching of criminal law and criminal procedure aims to equip students with a thorough understanding of the rules governing offenses and punishment in general, as well as those regulating criminal investigations, trials, and appeals.
In addition to legal knowledge, students also develop key soft skills such as analytical thinking, critical reflection, and both oral and written communication.
The objectives of the course are to provide foundational training in general criminal law and criminal procedure, with a strong emphasis on legal precision and rigor, while encouraging critical thinking.
The course also aims to develop the ability to find legal solutions to practical issues, based on legislation, case law, and legal doctrine.
Particular attention will be given to current events and the faculty’s thematic focus : "Peace and Law.”
The course is taught by two lecturers: Nathalie Colette-Basecqz and Bastien Lombaerd.
Below is the schedule, teaching format and content of the 20 classes (subject to possible adjustments, in particular depending on the pace of the course):
Monday 14 September (Nathalie Colette-Basecqz): Introduction to Criminal Law, Principle of Legality and Statutory Interpretation, Application of Criminal Law over Time: IN PERSON
Thursday 17 September (Bastien Lombaerd): Legal Classification of Offences and Penalties: IN PERSON
Monday 21 September (Nathalie Colette-Basecqz): Constitutive Elements and Aggravating Circumstances of Offences, and Classification of Criminal Offences: TEAMS OR RECORDED VIDEO
Thursday 24 September (Bastien Lombaerd): Introduction to Criminal Procedure and Territorial Application of Criminal Law: TEAMS
Monday 28 September (Nathalie Colette-Basecqz): Criminal Attempt: IN PERSON
Monday 5 October (Nathalie Colette-Basecqz): Perpetrators and Criminal Liability of Legal Persons: TEAMS
Thursday 8 October (Nathalie Colette-Basecqz): Lecture by Léa Saussez introducing International Humanitarian Law: IN PERSON (joint session with the HJ programme, room D02)
Monday 12 October (Nathalie Colette-Basecqz): Complicity and Attribution of Aggravating Circumstances: TEAMS
Thursday 15 October (Nathalie Colette-Basecqz): Comparative Belgian and French Law: Mental Disorder and Internment (guest lecture by Professor Véronique Tellier-Cayrol, University of Tours): IN PERSON
Monday 19 October (Bastien Lombaerd): Criminal and Civil Proceedings: TEAMS
Monday 2 November (Nathalie Colette-Basecqz): Defences: IN PERSON
Tuesday 3 November (Bastien Lombaerd): Preliminary Stage of Criminal Proceedings: TEAMS
Monday 9 November (Bastien Lombaerd): Investigative Measures: TEAMS
Thursday 12 November (Bastien Lombaerd): Seizure, Confiscation and Pre-Trial Detention: IN PERSON
Monday 16 November (Bastien Lombaerd): Trial Stage: IN PERSON
Tuesday 17 November (Bastien Lombaerd): Appeals: TEAMS
Thursday 19 November (Nathalie Colette-Basecqz): Simulated Trial (HJ-HD programmes) at Pedro: IN PERSON
Monday 23 November (Bastien Lombaerd): Evidence in Criminal Matters: TEAMS
Tuesday 24 November (Bastien Lombaerd): Multiple Offences, Recidivism, Suspension of Sentence, Probation and Enforcement of Sentences: IN PERSON
Monday 30 November (Nathalie Colette-Basecqz): Revision and Integrated Practical Exercises: TEAMS
A detailed table of contents is included in both course materials: the general criminal law textbook and the introductory book on criminal procedure.
The course consists of 20 lessons, each lasting three hours. These lessons are delivered during the first semester and are divided between the two co-instructors: Nathalie Colette-Basecqz and Bastien Lombaerd.
The pedagogical approach is both analytical and critical, encouraging reflection on societal issues closely related to criminal law and criminal procedure.
Lessons are taught partly in lecture halls (with live streaming and recording) and partly via Teams (also recorded). The format (in-person or Teams) is communicated in advance along with the schedule. When appropriate, recorded capsules may be posted on Webcampus.
A PowerPoint presentation is uploaded to Webcampus before each lesson. Students are informed of the relevant sections in the two reference books: the General Criminal Law Manual and the Introduction to Criminal Procedure.
During lessons, instructors present the material while encouraging interaction with students. Wooclaps will be used to assess understanding and mastery of the content.
Students may be asked to prepare exercises individually or in teams—such as analyzing a court decision, exploring a current legal issue, or solving a case study—for presentation in a future lesson.
External speakers (notably from the judiciary or the bar) are invited to present specific issues related to criminal law or criminal procedure.
A mock trial linked to the faculty’s thematic focus (Fil rouge) will bring together students from both the evening and daytime schedules. This exercise will provide a concrete and nuanced exploration of several key concepts in criminal law and criminal procedure.
Exam Format and Schedule :
Except in exceptional cases, the exam is a written test lasting three hours. It is held in January for the first session and in August for the second session. Students must bring their code bac, which must not contain any annotations.
Exam Content :
The exam covers criminal law and criminal procedure, encompassing all material covered during the course.
Regarding criminal law, students must be familiar with both the current Penal Code and the new Penal Code (which comes into force on April 8, 2026).
Structure of the Exam :
The exam consists of four questions, distributed as follows:
A true or false question requiring justification and reference to applicable legal provisions.
A cross-analysis of a court decision studied during the course (included in the General Criminal Law Manual or posted on Webcampus for more recent decisions). Sub-questions encourage connections with various issues discussed in class.
A comparative question between several concepts (related to criminal law and/or criminal procedure), or a question identifying legal issues based on a press excerpt.
A short case study to solve, assessing the ability to apply criminal law and procedure to concrete scenarios.
Grading :
The point distribution is indicated next to each question. The final grade is not purely arithmetic and depends on the overall assessment of the paper by the professors.
Preparation :
From the first classes, professors explain the exam format, emphasizing evaluation criteria and objectives. This allows students to study in alignment with these goals. During the final class before the exam, sample questions and preparation tips will be provided. Exercises will also be carried out during the class or as preparation for the class.
Evaluation Criteria :
Understanding and mastery of the subject matter
Ability to correctly solve concrete cases with appropriate legal solutions (adopting the perspective of a judge, lawyer, etc.)
Ability to identify relevant legal issues from case law decisions, press excerpts, etc.
Use of relevant legal sources
Rigor, clarity, precision, coherence, and structure in responses
Bonus Points :
Bonus points may be awarded to students who actively and successfully participate in activities such as mock trials or flipped classroom sessions.
The course materials include, first, a textbook on general criminal law (N. COLETTE-BASECQZ and N. BLAISE, Manuel de droit pénal général, 5th ed., Limal, Anthémis, 2024), together with PowerPoint presentations incorporating the provisions of the new Criminal Code, which came into force on 1 September 2026. They also include an introductory textbook on criminal procedure, updated for the 2026-2027 academic year (M.-A. BEERNAERT, N. COLETTE-BASECQZ, E. DELHAISE, M. GIACOMETTI, Ch. GUILLAIN, B. LOMBAERD, Ch. MACQ, O. NEDERLANDT and D. VANDERMEERSCH, Introduction à la procédure pénale, 11th ed., Brussels, La Charte, 2026).
New legislation and case law from the course are made available to students on the webcampus, as well as Powerpoint slides and other materials to illustrate the subject.
| Training | Block | Credits | Mandatory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor in Law (Evenings and Weekends Schedule) | 2 | 12 | Yes |