Law schools within european universities in the age of secularization and globalization

Abstract

There are forty law schools at Catholic universities in twelve European countries. The article is a starting point for academic debate on what it means to be a Catholic law school in the 21st century in Europe. Firstly, it encompasses an overview of the link between mediaeval legal studies and modern law schools at Catholic universities, general requirements for Catholic universities and their law schools, faculty and students. Secondly, the analysis of the position of the Catholic law schools on the academic map of Europe is presented on the country basis, which allows to trace the impact of national context and historical background. Thirdly, the research is focused on analysis of mission, curriculum and position in global ranking, which gives an opportunity to identify some common trends: (1) law schools in Catholic universities are mostly modern and postmodern phenomena; (2) they gradually strengthen their teaching and research capacity; (3) law schools are more explicit about their Catholic mission in countries where the Catholic Church has been persecuted; (4) commitment to excellence, service-driven approach, respect for human dignity are common values. Finally, the conclusion was made that enhancing cooperation between Catholic law schools in Europe can become a strong impulse for the advancement of Catholic intellectual tradition in law in general and a point for growth for each law school in particular.