The Law Programme

a) Knowledge of broadly-defined law, including the areas within that scope.

b) Selected skills, knowledge, attitudes and social competences required in careers in various sectors and in public and social activities.

c) Preparation of students for a career in central or local government institutions, the institutional free market area and non-government sector organizations, i.e. associations, foundations. In addition to that, preparation of students for practising the professions of legal counsel, notary, advocate, judge, prosecutor, bailiff, official receiver, mediator.

d) Development of creativity, innovativeness, professionalism, including a strong ethical base and responsibility in professional, public and social communities.

e) Preparation for further education towards a doctoral degree or under legal apprenticeship arrangements.

Additional information

During its development, the programme was discussed with and eventually approved by external institutions operating in the broadly-defined market for legal services (public and private sector). The education objectives envisaged in the programme, involving knowledge, skills and social competences, have been assessed as desirable by potential employers. Moreover, a review of careers of law graduates also demonstrates that the programme meets the expectations of the labour market, making it possible to pursue careers in legal professions of the students’ choosing.

Entry requirements (expected competences of applicants): Competences expected of a person with a high school diploma.

Verification of envisaged education objectives: Verification is performed at various education stages

1. At the stage of exams concluding each course envisaged in the programme. Verification of knowledge obtained at lectures is performed by way of oral or written exams. Verification of knowledge obtained during discussions is performed by way of case studies solved by students.
2. As part of workshop tutorials held during the study programme by practising lawyers. Such classes envisage the student’s involvement in solving specific legal dilemmas – simulation of trials and practical teaching of writing of petitions, lawsuits, indictments or other pleadings. The tutorial system makes it possible to continually and practically verify the envisaged education objectives at each education level, answering the question whether the knowledge, the skills and the social competences acquired by the student at lectures and discussions actually prepare him or her for practising the lawyer’s profession.
3. At the stage of the master’s exam;
4. Based on apprenticeship results – number of graduates who have passed the selected legal apprenticeship exams;
5. Based on graduates’ questionnaires;
6. Based on reports prepared by the Education Quality Committee of the ESLA

As stated in Appendix 2 to Resolution 1/09/2014 dated 10 September 2015.

a) Total ECTS credits which the student must obtain as part of classes included in the mandatory modules of: 1025 hours for the part-time programme – 204 ECTS credits, including a foreign language, physical education and practice – 500 hours additionally

b) Total ECTS credits which the student must obtain as part of classes included in the optional modules of: 420 hours for the part-time programme – 105 ECTS credits.

c) Total number of hours of practice:

c.i) internship at external institutions – 300 h
c.ii) tutorials – 200 h
c.iii) part-time programme discussions – 460 h

Total number of hours for the part-time programme – 965 h

 d) ECTS credits which must be obtained by the student at physical education classes of: 40 hours for the part-time programme – 2 ECTS credits

Physical education forms are governed by Resolution 09/2013 of the Senate of the European School of Law and Administration in Warsaw dated 12 July 2013 on: the adoption of the physical education forms for the entire university

Additional information

The study programme involves mandatory and optional courses. All the courses are allocated to relevant topic modules.

Mandatory courses take place in semesters I to VIII and they have been allocated to 13 topic modules.

Optional courses are taken into account in the following modules:

• Interdisciplinary C – the student is required to choose one Interdisciplinary module course in semester II;
• Basic major A (six topic modules) – the student selects at least one and not more than four modules, starting with semester VI; The student attends all the lectures contained in the modules selected thereby.
• In-depth major B (four topic modules) – the student may select an entire module or areas selected from several modules, starting with semester VII.

In addition to the basic major A modules and one lecture selected from the optional Interdisciplinary C module in semester II, the student should select 21 optional courses, corresponding to a total of 105 ECTS credits.

The number of hours, the rules and the form of practice at external institutions are as set forth in the Practice Handbook as approved by Resolution 02/06/2013 of the Senate of the ESLA dated 30 June 2014 on the amendments to the Practice Handbook at the ESLA.

Additional mandatory internships at external institutions, of 300 hours, make is possible for students to gain knowledge of the operation of the judiciary and other public authorities, and institutions or businesses whose operation involves making or applying law. Internships may also take place at offices of advocates, legal counsels, bailiffs or notaries or at the legal departments of businesses.

Tutorials, of 200 hours and provided by experienced practising lawyers, are an integral part of practice. The purpose of tutorials is for the students to acquire practical skills and inclinations involving the application of law in specific cases which give rise to specific conflicts of interests of public or private law entities. Therefore, tutorials are also a practical method of verification of knowledge, skills and social competences acquired at lectures and discussions needed for the practising of the lawyer’s profession.

During the study programme, the student is required to take 500 hours of practice, including:

1. 300 hours externally at workplaces
2. 200 hours as part of tutorials

In total, the student obtains 18 ECTS credits for practice

Tutorials take place over eight semesters for 25 academic hours in each semester and they are credited at the end of the study programme, together with internships which have taken place away from the university, at workplaces. Eventual 18 ECTS credits are conditional upon taking eight semesters of tutorials and the presentation of a certificate of completion of an external internship.

There are no grades for taking a semester of tutorials; what is envisaged are only 'pass’ or 'no pass’ confirmations. 'No pass’ in respect of even one semester of tutorials means that the student cannot obtain practice credits.

The rules and form of tutorials are as set forth in the Tutorship Handbook for the European School of Law and Administration as approved by Resolution 12/2013 of the Senate of ESLA dated 12 July 2013.

Courses are held in the following forms:

1. lectures
2. discussions
3. foreign language classes
4. workshop tutorials

Number of students per discussion, foreign language group: 25 to 35 people