package p; import java.util.List; class Test { static class Element{ } static class A { private final List<Element> fElements; public A(List<Element> list) { fElements= list; } public List<Element> getElements() { return fElements; } public void setElements(List<Element> newElements) { fList= newElements; } } { A a= new A(new List<Element>()); a.setElements(a.getElements()); } }