81 %
of staff members engaged in research and teaching
” Law Is a Many-Splendored Thing.” (unknown)
Legal research is increasingly conducted in multinational research teams. A case in point is the eCoherence research group funded by the Academy of Finland. It involves tight cooperation between the Faculty and the Institute for European Studies at the Free University of Brussels. In June 2014 the research group had a seminar on the Seili island near Turku. Faculty’s scholars participate in international book projects, present in international conferences and publish in foreign
legal periodicals in different languages. The rapidly internationalising legal scholarship complements the equally active research relating to the Finnish law and society conducted in Finnish. More often than before research is also done in multidisciplinary environments: law is a manysplendored thing! More information about the Faculty’s research projects, publications and conferences can be found on the Faculty’s web-pages www.utu.fi/law-en.
” Although writing the doctoral thesis was sometimes stressful, the Doctoral Defence was a joyful experience.” Ulla-Maija Mylly, LL.D.
All dissertations are defended in a public doctoral defence. In this festive occasion culminates the long dissertation project. Dress code for the doctoral defence is “white tie” for the opponent, custos and the doctoral candidate. The public defence takes place in front of an audience in the biggest lecture hall of the Faculty. The defence lasts from 2 to 4 hours and follows well-established academic traditions. The festive karonkka-dinner follows the public defence of the thesis, and is in honour of the opponent appointed by the Faculty.
The Faculty has invested considerably in building its Doctoral Programme, supervision and doctoral education over the recent years. About 6-9 doctoral candidates successfully defend their theses each year and are awarded the LL.D. Degree.
Almost
170
scientific publications per year
” give students freedom but also responsibility for their own learning.” Jussi Tapani, Professor of Criminal Law
Researc-driven education that covers all central branches of law qualifies the student for a judicial career. The Faculty also offers a two-year Master’s degree programme in English titled Law and Information Society.
30
courses in English each year
Competent and inspiring teachers and the high quality of the education are attributes the faculty is known for. The members of the teaching staff have often been nominated for the university’s Teacher of the Year award.
1100 students
60
exchange students each year
” I got hooked on Moot Court competitions.” Mirka Kuisma, Student
Student Mirka Kuisma has participated in two Moot Courts. She acted as a Commission Representative and won the European Law Moot Court final before the actual Judges of the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg. Mirka says that participation in Moot Courts developed not only her lawyer skills but also her personality more than any other course. Simulated proceedings such as Moot Court competitions enhance the students’ understanding of law and boost their skills in written and oral argumentation.
Alumna Ella Mikkola serves as an Attorney and Head of the Intellectual Property Group of Bird & Bird in Finland. Ella and her team at Bird & Bird have assisted in training the Faculty’s students for the Nordic Intellectual Property Moot Court competition. Ella says that special courses like Moot Court competitions also provide the students with an edge in recruitment. The Faculty ensures that in addition to Moot Court competitions and other types of practical training, the students develop their skills in academic legal writing and research.Students can choose from a diversity of courses offered mostly in Finnish and English, and more recently also in German and Swedish.
Over
270
degrees each year
Lively and diverse alumni activities throughout the year, culminating in an annual alumni meeting
� I learned to love law and the law has been giving back ever since.� Allan Rosas, Judge, Court of Justice of the European Union, Senior Fellow of the University of Turku
Judge Allan Rosas graduated from the Faculty of Law in 1968 and has since served the Finnish, European and global administrative, academic, and judicial bodies in a number of roles. Analytical and practical skills mastered during the studies have served him and thousands of other graduates in tackling the complexity of constantly evolving realm of law. The alumni of the Faculty have come to occupy the ranks of government, diplomacy, and the private sector both in Finland and internationally. The high quality of research and education is embodied in many a great lawyer calling the Faculty of Law at the University of Turku their alma mater. Alongside active alumni work, the Faculty collaborates extensively with the law professionals to provide them with continuing training fuelled by our on-going top-quality research.
Continuing training is provided by the Faculty both regionally and nationally. The Faculty members share their knowledge and insights into the ways of law through training, tailor-made for the needs and demands of lawyers and judges, the public and the private.
University of Turku Faculty of Law FI-20014 TURUN YLIOPISTO Finland tel. +358 2 333 5502 www.utu.fi/law-en