Faculty of Law

Legal studies at Vytautas Magnus University are following a long tradition. During the interwar period (1922 – 1940), legal studies at the university were supervised by a famous lawyer and scientist, Prof. Petras Leonas. Renowned contemporary professors, such as Vaclovas Biržiška, Mykolas Römeris and Antanas Krikščiukaitis, read lectures at VMU. During the Soviet era, lectures for prospective lawyers were not available in Kaunas. After the restoration of independence of Lithuania and the re-establishment of Vytautas Magnus University, legal studies were brought back as well and have been available since 1995.

Legal studies at VMU were restored and prepared according to the model of Western universities. The choice was determined by the demand for highly qualified lawyers who would possess wide liberal education, fluency in legal English and ability to work in both Lithuania and abroad. Currently, the faculty provides integrated studies of law, which encompass the Bachelor’s and Master’s level studies. For the graduates, the degree of the Master of Law and the professional qualification of a lawyer are awarded.

Upon graduation, students of the Faculty of Law can also get the Michigan State University Certificate in Transnational Law in addition to their VMU Master’s degree diploma. The certificate testifies that the faculty’s alumnus has passed the main courses of international law and has a good command of legal English. VMU is the first university in Lithuania and one of the few in Europe to have signed an agreement of such kind with one of the most prestigious universities in the USA.

The Faculty of Law is exceptional due to its unique teaching methods and promotion of the Socratic Method during the lectures. Rather than having the teacher speak and the students take notes, an unconventional approach, practiced in the most prestigious American universities, is taken. During discussions and practical activities, the students analyze specific cases where legal regulations are applied and solve exercises of collision law by applying Q & A form. Lectures proceed in the same manner in the USA and the most advanced European law schools. Most legal experts and scientists acknowledge that this method is the best way to prepare students for the profession of a lawyer.

Another aspect contributing to the warm and collegial atmosphere surrounding teachers and students is the fact that the Faculty of Law is comprised of young and promising lecturers, who respect the courage, creativity and initiative of the students.

Qualified scientists and specialists of their fields (civil, criminal, administrative law and other legal areas) are teaching at the faculty, ensuring that the necessary knowledge and skills needed for professionally practicing lawyers in Lithuania are imparted upon the students. Since many of the teachers are practicing lawyers, the students are acquainted not only with all essential elements of the law in Lithuania, but also with the issues that the lawyers face when applying the law in practical situations, which are frequently looked at during the lectures.

Considering it one of their top priorities, scientists at the faculty pay due attention to the infl uence of globalization on legal issues. The study material is kept fresh and relevant thanks to innovative scientific research, which is carried out to tackle the hot-button issue of globalization and the problems it brings to the law. Research results are presented at special conferences organized by the faculty and the English-language scientific journal Baltic Journal of Law & Politics, published by the Faculty of Law in collaboration with the Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy.

A large part of the subjects off ered by the VMU Faculty of Law are taught by lawyers and legal experts from higher education institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and other countries. Ample attention is given to the knowledge of legal English, therefore the faculty graduates are able to analyze legal documents written in English and compete with the best lawyers in Western Europe, apply for positions at European and international institutions.

Faculty In Brief

Faculty Community

  • 600-700 students
  • 15-20 permanent lecturers and 10-15 visiting foreign guest lecturers

Faculty Structure

  • Departments of Public Law and Private Law 

BA and MA Courses in English

Student Activities

  • Academic law club