The international scientific conference ‘Contribution of Legal Science to the Development of Society’ was organized by the Department of Labour and Social Law of the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, in the premises of the Association of University Teachers and other Scientists in Zagreb on 10 November 2023. The conference was organized in honour of Professor Emeritus Željko Potočnjak on the occasion of his retirement and the honorary title of professor emeritus of the University of Zagreb.

The conference was opened by Professor Ivan Koprić, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Law, who described the historical development of the Faculty of Law in Zagreb, as well as the contribution of Professor Emeritus Željko Potočnjak to the legal science in our country, and referred to the content of the book “Liber amicorum Željko Potočnjak – Legal Science in the Function of Social Progress’, which was presented at the conference.

The conference was divided into a ceremonial and a scientific part. In the first, ceremonial part, Professor Ivana Grgurev emphasized the role of Professor Emeritus Željko Potočnjak in the development of Croatian labour and social law. Then, Professor Mario Vinković, PhD, and Associate Professor Andrijana Bilić, PhD, the reviewers of the book “Liber amicorum Željko Potočnjak – Legal Science in the Function of Social Progress”, presented its content. After that, Professor Emeritus Željko Potpčnjak addressed the conference participants and thanked his colleagues and family members. After that, he was presented with a copy of the book “Liber amicorum Željko Potočnjak – Legal Science in the Function of Social Progress”.

Manfred Weiss, Professor Emeritus from the Goethe University in Frankfurt, Alan C. Neal, Professor Emeritus from the University of Warwick, Polonca Končar, Professor Emeritus from the University of Ljubljana and Professor Paul Schoukens, PhD, from the Catholic University of Leuven participated in the scientific part of the conference. Professor Emeritus Manfred Weiss gave a speech on ‘The Impact of Legal Scholarship on Society’, in which he emphasized the importance of independence of legal scholars, as well as the protection of human rights and dignity as a guideline for their work. Professor Emeritus Alan C. Neal emphasized in his presentation the importance of comparative law research. Professor Emeritus Polonca Končar spoke about the role of legal science in Slovenia and criticized the insufficient respect for the voice of legal science in Slovenia and that, when drafting new laws, exclusively the voice of representatives of social partners was listened to, without respecting the research results of legal theorists. Professor Paul Schoukens, PhD, in his provocatively titled speech ‘Is Law a Science after All? Or the Role of Law as Science in Society’, pointed to the contemporary trend of bringing into legal science methodologies from social discipline related to law, which, according to him, was appropriate when it came to interdisciplinary research. However, when it came to purely legal research, then, the peculiarities inherent only to legal science came to the fore. An example is the critical analysis of legal provisions.

After the speeches, Professor Emeritus Manfred Weiss, Professor Ivana Vukorepa, PhD, Professor Viktor Gotovac, PhD, and Andrea Grgić, PhD, participated in the discussion. Professor Gotovac believes that politicians do not want to  hear any criticism from legal theorists and that they only need them as their apologists. Professor Vukorepa spoke about her recent experience in the work of the working group for amending laws in the field of pension insurance, in which Professor Emeritus Potočnjak and her took part. They were presented a ready-made proposal to change the laws without having been consulted. Andrea Grgić, PhD, thanked Professor Emeritus Željko Potočnjak for having the opportunity to write papers in co-authorship with him, because she gained knowledge that was extremely useful in her work for the European Commission.

The participants of the conference rated it extremely successful due to the high-quality presentations and a meaningful discussion. The members of the Department of Labour and Social Law wished professor Emeritus Željko Potočnjak an active retirement and continued cooperation. Professor Emeritus Manfred Weiss told him that the best time was yet to come, because he was now in a position of complete independence that allowed him to choose projects according to his own wishes.