Max-Planck Summer Academy for Legal History

The Max-Planck Summer Academy for Legal History, offered by the Max Planck Institute for European Legal History (MPIeR), provides an in-depth introduction to methods and principles of research in legal history. Although its main focus is on European legal history, there is special emphasis on global perspectives on legal history. It addresses a selected group on highly motivated early-stage researchers, usually PhD candidates, working on a research project with an interest in the basic research of historical formation and transformations of law and other normative orders.

The academy consists of two modules and lasts three weeks; the first two weeks provide an introduction to the study of sources, methodological principles, as well as theoretical models and controversial research debates on basic research fields of legal history (module 1). During the third week the participants discuss a special research theme and develop their own approach to the theme (module 2).

Date

Course aim

The overall aim of the Max Planck Summer Academy for Legal History is to provide early-stage researchers with an expertise on the methods and principles of legal history and to equip them with the ability to apply this knowledge to their research projects and other research in legal history or related disciplines.

Curriculum

Lectures and workshops in history of legal history, methodological principles of legal history, antiquity, legal history in antiquity, Ius Commune, legal bibliography, history of private law in the modern era, constitutional history, history of criminal law, and history of public law form the core of the academy. Here you can find a list of the courses given and the faculty.

A detailed schedule is available here

• History of Legal History (Thomas Duve, MPIeR)
• Antiquity (Anna Seelentag, MPIeR)
• An introduction into the secular Ius Commune I (12th-16th century) (Christiane Birr, MPIeR)
• Ius Commune II – Classical and Post-Classical Canon Law (12t-16th century) (Christoph Meyer, MPIeR)
• History of Private Law in the Modern Period (Wim Decock, MPIeR)
• Constitutional History (Michael Stolleis, MPIeR)
• History of Criminal Law (NN)
• History of Public Law (Peter Collin, MPIeR)
• Contemporary Legal History (Thorsten Keiser, MPIeR)
• Introduction to Legal Theory (Lena Foljanty, MPIeR)

In addition to the lectures and workshops the participants have the opportunity to work on their individual research projects and present and discuss them in plenum. Furthermore, the academy offers additional courses in complementary skills. As a summer academy should not consist of academic activities only, a variety of extra-curricular activities, such as visits to nearby historical sites and several get-togethers in the evenings are offered.

Special theme 2013: Global Perspectives on Legal History

Global History, World History, Imperial History, Atlantic or Pacific History: the variety of transnational historiography is growing ever larger still. These global perspectives provide new challenges and opportunities for legal history. In various lectures and workshops during the third week of the summer academy the participants reflect on the different concepts and models of how to approach the global perspectives in legal history. The aim is to raise awareness when employing these perspectives and enabling the participants to critically analyze the discourses on transnational historiographies.

Summer Academy flyer [615 KB]

Application

Prerequisites for participation are an above-average university degree and a very good command of written and spoken English. Knowledge of German is not a prerequisite. Additionally, candidates are required to work on an individual research project in legal history or related disciplines.

A complete application contains the following documents:

• CV
• Copies of the diploma
• Project draft of approx. 10 pages. The main research questions and outline of the project or doctoral thesis should be the focus of this draft.
• Brief letter of motivation: Applicants should write a short statement of no more than one typed page in English as to why they wish to take part in the summer academy and whether they have previously studied legal history.

Deadline: Applications are to be sent by email by 15 March 2013. Applicants will be informed at the end of April whether or not they have been offered a place on the summer academy. Please submit the complete application compiled as one pdf-file to: .

Scholarships

There will be a number of scholarships available. In order to apply for a scholarship, applicants should include a letter of motivation (no more than two typed pages) stating:

• how the applicant will benefit from taking part in the academy;
• the different steps taken during the individual academic career up to now;

Costs

The participation fee is EUR 500,- in total. It includes:

• tuition
• lecture materials
• final exam
• administrative fees
• lunch (on week-days)
• events and excursions

Please note: Accommodation is not included. When informed about admission, you will receive information about accommodation possibilities.

Contact

Dr. Isabell Ludewig, Coordinator graduate programs
Fon: +49 (69) 78978 - 137
Fax: +49 (69) 78978 - 169