MAS - Contemporary Legal Studies (CLS)
Introduction
The Union University School of Law (UUSL) organizes and implements a masters study programme in English language entitled Contemporary Legal Studies (CLS). This study programme is an extension of a four years long undergraduate academic studies programme providing students with an direct access to their masters studies. The CLS lasts for a year (two semesters), with a total score of 60 ECTS and implemented exclusively in English. The programme includes subjects from various branches of law and legal disciplines, focusing on studying their contemporary application challenges. Master academic studies in law provide students with highest level of professional and theoretical knowledge necessary for resolving the most complex legal problems, a skill significant in all types of legal professions. Teaching in English provides students with an access to international education opportunities or professional career. All terms in this section, as well as the rest of the documentation, refer to both the female and male gender, without discrimination.
Programme Structure
The Contemporary Legal Studies (CLS) study programme corresponds to the Bologna higher education system of legal professionals. It has a clear and unambiguous purpose, aims and learning outcomes, all in line with the law proscribing the national qualification framework (see Standards No. 2-4), gearing students towards obtaining a master in law academic title (qualification level 7.1).
The CLS lasts for a year (two semesters), with a total score of 60 ECTS. During their studies, the students must pass four exams (one from a mandatory subject and another three from optional ones), do an internship, implement a research study as a preparation for their final papers, as well as defend their masters thesis. Passing exams entails 30 ECTS, while internship, preparation and the final thesis entail the remaining 30 ECTS.
Bearing in mind its comprehensive aim, the CLS programme offers maximum flexibility to students, providing an opportunity to adapt these studies to students’ academic and professional interests within a wide spectrum of legal fields. Therefore, CLS comprises the following: a mandatory subject, optional subjects, an internship, a research study paper as a part of preparation for the final thesis, writing and public defence thereof (entailing 100% of the total CLS ECTS score). Optional subjects amount to a total of 18 ECTS (30% of the total CLS ECTS score). The internship is organized in the second semester; its duration is the equivalent of 90 classes and its score is 3 ECTS. Theoretical, methodological, academic and general educational subjects make 25.5% of the total ECTS score, with professional and applied ones making the remaining 74.55%.
Applicants to the CLS enrollment call need to have finished an 240 ECTS undergraduate study programme
with the UUSL or another law school in the Republic of Serbia, or other type of academic studies of the same scope within the related fields of humanities and/or social sciences (qualification level 6, sublevel 2, acc. to the National Qualification Framework). Candidates who have obtained an equivalent of the aforementioned academic education acc. to earlier regulations are also entitled to enrollment into CLS. Enrollment of applicants who have obtained their undergraduate academic education within related fields of humanities and/or social sciences is conditional and they are required to pass additional exams prior to enrollment, according to the UUSL general legal acts. A general condition for all candidates is English language knowledge at a level sufficient for attending and participating in their courses, passing exams, research study implementation and final thesis writing.
The decision on launching the enrollment call is made by the Union University Senate, upon a UUSL Teaching and Academic Research Council formal suggestion initiating the entire process. Ranking of applicants acc. to their scores from prior studies is performed by a special enrollment committee. Enrollment terms and conditions are published in a students’ information bulletin and available on the UUSL webpage. Transfer to CLS from other study programmes within the same or similar study fields is possible, in accordance with the Union University and the UUSL general legal acts. Teaching in small groups contributes to interactivity, qualilty collaboration among students and teachers and monitoring students’ success. During the process, students master legal reasoning, critical thinking and general written and oral presentaton competencies for academic purposes. The total No. of active teaching classes is 600, with lectures, practice sessions and other forms of active teaching making 300 classes, the remaining 300 classes covering the individual research study part of the programme.
Programme Objectives
The Contemporary Legal Studies (CLS) study programme is implemented within the teaching and academic research field of humanities and social sciences. CLS is an extension of a four years long undergraduate academic studies programme of 240 ECTS providing students with direct access to their masters academic studies. Legal profession is a traditional, recognized and socially relevant one. The study programme trains students in application and development of highly specialized knowledge, professional and academic achievements in key fields of public and private law.
The purpose of this study programme is for students to acquire legal knowledge as pertaining to posing questions, discussing issues, assessing others’ positions, identifying relevant materials and building argumentation concerning regulations, public policy measures, existing practice and possibilities to change them. Besides its legal component, the programme also incorporates a public policy component aimed at building students’ capacities to perceive law in the context of formation, definition and implementation of relevant public policy measures.
The CLS purpose is complementary with the UUSL mission and the general purpose of its study programmes implementation (§61 of the UUSL Statute), and is compatible with the CLS aim (see Standard No. 3). The study programme enables students to participate in creation of their own education based on
their individual needs, choosing between various optional subjects encompassing major fields of legal
studies.
Besides basic knowledge on comparative and international law, as well as the European Union law, the CSL is conceived in a way to provide conditions for the students to perfect their knowledge of foreign legal terminology and their ability to use legal texts in English, which may be of significance in case they decide to continue their professional development or find employment abroad, in multinational companies or in local companies operating internationally.
Programme Goals
The core aim of the Contemporary Legal Studies (CLS) study programme is extended and in-depth student education, both of those having just completed their undergraduate academic studies and experienced professionals wishing to expand their legal knowledge and skills, with a special focus on contemporary legal matters.
The aforementioned core aim of the programme corresponds to the mandate UUSL has been registered for and its mission (acc. to the Quality Provision Strategy of 25 December 2018 and 2019-2029 legal acts pertaining to planning), which is provision of highest level of knowledge to students in order to build their capacities for service-provision to their clients in various legal professions, as well as developing students’ zeal for their own continuous professional development. The CLS core aim is relevant as pertaining to the study programme purpose and competence acquisition matching the National Qualification Framework qualification level 7.1.
The core aim is specified by means of interlinking specific aims:
- Transfering special theoretical and professional knowledge to students on a level providing them with a formal qualification of a master in law;
- Providing students with exceeding professional competencies in certain fields of law;
- Providing students with an opportunity to master complex problem-solving and research study implementation skills, motivating them for further own professional development;
- Providing students with an opportunity to master written and oral communication skills, as well as public appearance and teamwork skills;
- Improving the quality of legal professionals’ academic education and raising the quality of the educational process to the level of the European university-level institutions in the field.
In order to achieve its specific aims, the study programme entails certain percentages of theoretical and methodological (TM), academic and general educational (AGE), as well as professional and applied subjects (PA). Studying certain categories of subjects provides for implementation of specific aims incorporated into the core CLS aim. Studying TM and AGE subjects aims at mastering knowledge on the methods of acquiring law and legal reasoning skills, along with successful application of scientific research study methods. PA subjects provide for mastering knowledge and skills of individual and correct legal norms interpretation in certain fields of law, according to the newest theoretical positions and contemporary practice and building students’ capacities for independent complex legal problem-solving and legal procedures application.
Graduates` Competencies
The Contemporary Legal Studies (CLS) study programme builds students’ capacities in developing and applying knowledge and academic research study findings in the field of law. Upon completion the programme, students acquire the 7.1 qualification level and an academic title of a master of law (MA), with extended, in-depth theoretical and practical knowledge and intellectual skills necessary for a successful career in the field of law as related to managerial positions in public administration, the judiciary, international organisations, companies and the non-governmental sector.
In line with the programme aim, upon completion of CLS students will have acquired the following knowledge and intellectual skills, i.e. general and specific professional competencies:
- Specialist legal professional activities implementation skills;
- Extended general theoretical and practical knowledge in chosen study subjects as an essential precondition to quality and responsible professional decision-making;
- The ability to relate theoretical to practical knowledge to the possibilities of resolution of complex issues and cases requiring knowledge of various legal fields and complex legal acts composition skills;
- The ability to apply various interpretative methods for considering legal texts as one of the necessary components of legal reasoning;
- Logical thinking and conclusion-drawing capacity by applying legal syllogism and argumentation, along with interlinking knowledge from various fields of law;
- The capacity to implement basic academic / legal research, including identification of appropriate research sources, adequate research methodology selection and research techniques application;
- Correct and clear written and oral presentation skills concerning legal issues and compelling presentation and public appearance skills;
- Assuming a responsible and critical attitude towards any social developments;
- Conscientiousness and conduct corresponding the highest ethical standards of the legal profession;
- Preparedness to take the initiative, independence and integrity in decision-making.
Upon CLS completion, a student who has completed a 240 ECTS undergraduate academic programme in law with UUSL or another law school in the Republic of Serbia has direct access to the UUSL doctoral programme – PhD in law.
Curriculum
The Contemporary Legal Studies (CLS) curriculum meets the aims of a study programme. Its structure includes subject distribution by semesters, a sufficient number of classes, as well as ECTS points for each subject.
The CLS study programme structure consists of a mandatory subject, optional subjects, an internship, a research study paper as a part of preparation for the final thesis, writing and public defence thereof (entailing 100% of the total CLS ECTS score). Optional subjects amount to a total of 18 ECTS (30% of the total CLS ECTS score). The internship is organized in the second semester; its duration is the equivalent of 90 classes and its score is 3 ECTS. Theoretical, methodological, academic and general educational subjects make 25.5% of the total ECTS score, with professional and applied ones making the remaining 74.55%. The list of optional subjects may be updated annually, i.e. each school year, for the purposes of programme update and within the scope of study programme alterations not subject to re-accreditation.
The studies last over two semesters, with an average total of 24 classes over a 40-hour week per semester. The overall student engagement comprises of attending active teaching sessions (lectures, practice sessions and other forms of active teaching like seminars, workshops and alike, as well as special individual consultations and mentoring consultations during final thesis preparation), independent research study paper writing, exams and other forms of engagement. The total No. of active teaching classes is 600, with lectures, practice sessions and other forms of active teaching making 300 classes, the remaining 300 classes covering the individual research study part of the programme. Internship takes the form of practice sessions and other forms of teaching that foster applying and interlinking theoretical and practical knowledge and skills.
The value of each subject and other teaching contents is expressed in ECTS points. ECTS points list is an integral part of the curriculum. Description of each subject contains its title, subject type, year and semester of studies. number of ECTS points, the name of the teacher, course aim, learning outcomes, preconditions to attending the subject, subject contents, the readings list, description of teaching methodology, testing methods and grading criteria.
Student Enrollment
In line with its resources, the Union University School of Law (UUSL) will enroll 20 students into the Contemporary Legal Studies (CLS) master academic studies programme during the 2021-2022 school year. The enrollment is organized acc. to the State of the Union University in Belgrade and the UUSL Statute and its Rulebook on Undergraduate Academic and Master Academic Studies. Applicants to the CLS enrollment call need to have finished an 240 ECTS undergraduate study programme with the UUSL or another law school in the Republic of Serbia, or other type of academic studies of the same scope within the related fields of humanities and/or social sciences (qualification level 6, sublevel 2, acc. to the National Qualification Framework). Candidates who have obtained an equivalent of the aforementioned academic education acc. to earlier regulations are also entitled to enrollment into CLS. Enrollment of applicants who have obtained their undergraduate academic education within related fields of humanities and/or social sciences is conditional and they are required to pass additional exams prior to enrollment, according to the UUSL general legal acts. A general condition for all candidates is English language knowledge at a level sufficient for attending and participating in their courses, passing exams, research study implementation and final thesis writing. The selection procedure, the candidates’ ranking, determining the selected candidates’ list and the candidates’ objection right concerning the selection committee’s decisions are regulated by the Rulebook on Undergraduate Academic and Master Academic Studies. The ranking of applicants to master academic studies in law is determined based on the general average grade in their undergraduate studies. In case two or more candidates have the same average grades, advantage is given to the candidates completing their undergraduate studies in a shorter period of time.