Faculty of Law and Criminal Justice
University of Lausanne
UNIL - Dorigny
Internef - office 415
CH-1015 Lausanne
SWITZERLAND
Information
Fax: ++41 (0)21 692 2745
Description, aims and objectives
Law may be defined as the art of pursuing justice in the service of the individual and society. It may thus be understood as the set of rules of conduct, decreed or accepted by public authorities and backed by coercive sanctions, which organise the guarantee of liberties and the coexistence of human groups. But law is also a science, that is to say a branch of knowledge with its own subject matter and methods.
Although the legal system in force in a given country constitutes the main frame of reference for law studies, the law does not exist in isolation in any of its dimensions. A legal system is the result of a process of evolution over time and of osmosis with the economy and the social and political spheres, as well as of exchanges with other legal systems.
The courses taught in the Faculty, taking all these contexts into account, allow the students to acquire, notably, a sense of moderation and balance, a knowledge of positive law and a rigorously critical frame of mind. They provide a training in logical reasoning and precision of expression. The Faculty adds a practical dimension to its teaching through cooperation, in particular, with members of the bar by, for example, entrusting some courses or seminars to practising lawyers and notaries.
Degrees awarded
Bachelors
Masters
Masters of Advanced Studies (3rd cycle)
Master of Advanced Studies
Continuing Education
Doctorate
Doctorate in Law
Useful links
The Faculty’s Major Assets...
> personalised supervision of students through teaching in small groups in the first year;
> strong presence of foreign legislations: German, French, American, European and Comparative Law;
> focus on subjects developing the capacity of reflection: Economics, Roman Law, History and Philosophy of Law;
> strong support for doctoral research (about one hundred doctoral students and about 15 theses per year;
>the introduction of programmes in innovative fields: Information Law, Environmental Law, Master of Law in Criminality and Security of New Technologies.
