The Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, marks its 247th anniversary with a special ceremonial session of the Faculty Council. The event, which took place in the Blagoje Bersa Hall of the Zagreb University Music Academy, was attended by the University of Zagreb rector Prof. Stjepan Lakušić, the Mayor of the City of Zagreb Tomislav Tomašević, the President of the Supreme Court Radovan Dobronić, the Prime Minister’s envoy and Minister of Justice Ivan Malenica, the president of the Committee for Legislation and envoy of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Marija Jelkovac, the envoy of the President of the Republic of Croatia and Adviser to the President for Foreign and European Policy Neven Pelicarić, the Minister of Finance Prof. Marko Primorac, the State Attorney-General Zlata Hrvoj-Šipek, vice-rectors of the University of Zagreb, deans and vice-deans of the faculties of law from Croatia and abroad, deans of University of Zagreb faculties, numerous other distinguished guests, including Faculty awards laureates – students, professors and employees.

In his address, Rector Lakušić highlighted the importance of the renovation of the university infrastructure. “The faculty eagerly awaits the decisions on the continuation of funding following the completion of the procurement competition. We hope to be able to move back into the premises shared with the Faculty of Law, including the Rectorate building, within a year, year and a half. It is my firm belief that the Government will successfully continue the renovation project, “ the Rector said.

Mayor Tomašević expressed his satisfaction with the contribution of the City of Zagreb to the renovation of the faculty buildings after the earthquake, reminding that the City of Zagreb leased several city properties for use as lecture halls and Law Clinic premises. „Co-operation with the Faculty in terms of city laboratories started within the European University of Post-Industrial Cities project and the Law Clinic serves as an example of the faculty’s contribution to the society“, the Zagreb Mayor said.

The President of the Supreme Court Radoslav Dobronić commended the co-operation with the Faculty of Law in the form of practical training attended by students in over thirty courts, including the Supreme Court of the Republic of Croatia. In addition to the training, Dobronić stressed the importance of education in theory and doctrine: „Foundations of doctrine and fundamental theoretical knowledge are crucial to a thorough understanding of law, without which practical training is of little use. The faculty should continue developing its scientific and teaching activities as the core of legal education.“

The Prime Minister’s envoy Minister Ivan Malenica said that the Croatian legal system, although built on firm foundations, continually undergoes changes and improvements to respond to society’s needs.

„I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Faculty of Law in Zagreb and its professors for their invaluable contribution to the work of the working groups for drafting legislation. Their professional contribution and critical views shared in the discussions help raise the quality of our legislative framework. I would especially like to single out the project „The Right of Every Child to a School Meal“, which was awarded the Best Innovation prize in the academic year 2022/23. This project symbolizes the co-operation between the academic community, the Faculty of Law and the Government of the Republic of Croatia and has resulted in the Government’s decision to include this initiative in the State Budget last year, ensuring a school meal for nearly 311,000 children. I would like to thank the faculty on behalf of the Prime Minister for this initiative, which will hopefully pave the way to future co-operation“, minister Malenica said.

The envoy of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Marija Jelkovac invited the professors to continue to convey knowledge to new generations with equal motivation. „It is my belief that our students, as future law practitioners and scientists, will boldly apply and uphold the law in society. May they continue to be the pillars of justice and duly represent the Faculty of Law in Croatian society“, Jelkovac said.

The envoy of the President of the Republic Neven Pelicarić highlighted the importance of the education acquired at the Faculty of Law. „The knowledge and skills I gained at the faculty transcend the boundaries of law as a discipline and include economics, sociology, history and particularly legal logic and deduction. This wide knowledge base was the foundation of my professional career and proved invaluable in all my activities,“ Pelicarić concluded.

In his address, dean of the Faculty of Law Prof. Ivan Koprić pointed out the successes achieved in the academic year 2022/23, during which a total of 655 students graduated – 304 from the integrated study of law, 187 from the Social Work Study Centre, and 164 from the Study Centre for Public Administration and Public Finance – including 19 doctoral and 41 specialist degrees. Compared to the previous academic year, the number of graduates was exceeded by 68, i.e., 11.6%, which suggests a higher success rate and a shorter completion time. Dean Koprić particularly noted the permanent solution for the faculty library, which will preserve more than 515,000 titles and about 1,000 works of historic value for our country. The cost of preparation of the project documentation is estimated to be approximately 470,000 EUR. The project is currently in the conceptual design phase. The total value of the investment is estimated at approximately 20 million EUR, with funding from the budget and other sources.

„Key development priorities are the construction of the faculty library building, continued accelerated internationalisation, completion of the renovation of Faculty buildings and modernisation of study programmes, which includes increasing the ratio of practical content. Achieving these goals is a prerequisite for the creation of a contemporary and socially responsible faculty“, the dean concluded.

In the second part of the session awards and recognitions were presented to students, professors, and employees for the academic year 2022/23. The Best Innovation award was given to Faculty teachers Assoc. Prof. Ivana Dobrotić, Prof. Olja Družić Ljubotina, Assoc. Prof. Marijana Kletečki Radović and Assoc. Prof. Antonija Petričušić. The „Marko Petrak“ Award for Best Scientific Paper by a Student of the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb was presented to Valentino Kuzelj, and the „Marko Petrak“ Award for Best Scientific Paper by a Young Researcher was presented to Dr. Juraj Brozović and Leon Žganec-Brajša.

Dean’s awards for various activities and achievements were also presented to: Lea Blažević, Grgur Plavec, Alix Uzelac Vedriš, Karlo Žalac, Barbara Grlić, lva Keblar, Lejla Kruševljanin, lnes Ljubičić, Dino Rakić, Hrvoje Ukić, Lucija Zelenković, Valentino Kuzelj, Juraj Dunatov, Gabrijela Bušić, lvana Omelić, Katarina Ljeljak, Barbara Grlić, Sara Petričević, Mihaela Slunjski, Đorđija Plavšić, Anamarija Gabrić, Lorena Kovačec, Lorena Sabalić, Sanja Aralica, Anda Crnković, Gita Franković, Marta Karadakić, Vanesa Kosović, Lucija Strahinec, Tea Šajnović, Petra Romac and Slavica Martinić-Meštrante. The Best Study Achievement award for the academic year 2022/23 was presented to Filip Gajić, Lovre Opačak, Niko Stipić, Jure Topić, Franjo Dumančić, lvan Modrić, Filipa Ledić, Luka Orešković, Monika Markus, Marin Roglić, Matea Ana Cindrić, Kristina Luheni, Lucija Gakovski, lvana Paska, Ela Sakač and Anela Vale.

Awards for a special contribution by an employee to the work and results of the Faculty were presented to Tihana Delak, Katarina Prpić, Biserka Salar and Jelena Tadić Cegnar, while awards for a special contribution by a student to the work and results of the Faculty through organisation and implementation of the EGPA 2023 Conference was presented to Nina Jagušt and Josipa Jerabek.

The session was concluded by performances by the pianist Martina Filjak, Zagrebački Solisti, and the Faculty of Law mixed choir Capella Juris.

Photo by IPIK Bitunjac