HISTORY OF THE FACULTY OF LAW
The Faculty of Law at the University “Isa Boletini” in Mitrovica was established on July 4, 2014, through decision no. 548/14, dated July 4, 2014, issued by the Kosovo Accreditation Agency’s State Quality Council (KSHC), specifically with the decision that amends the previous decision no. 165115, dated March 17, 2015. The Faculty of Law was accredited with decision no. 548/14, dated July 4, 2014, issued by the State Quality Council (KSHC) of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency. The Faculty was re-accredited with decision no. 535/2017, dated July 6, 2017, for a three-year period. Furthermore, with decision no. 465/18D, dated May 18, 2018, the accreditation period was extended by one (1) year, until September 30, 2021, and it was re-accredited once more with decision no. 3022/21, dated August 12, 2021, for a three-year period. The Faculty of Law is currently re-accredited with decision no. 1079/24, dated May 30, 2024, for a three-year period. The Faculty of Law has been re-accredited with a unique curriculum for its bachelor program, tailored to the regional market’s specifications.
Based on the necessity to organize and develop higher education according to European and modern standards and criteria, the Faculty of Law, as part of the University “Isa Boletini” in Mitrovica, has designed its study model and programs based on the recommendations of the Bologna Declaration. The Faculty of Law aims to attract students who are ready to dedicate all their efforts to a challenging program and take on responsibilities as judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and other legal professionals in the future. Studies in this program are organized in a single direction (General Jurisprudence) over seven (7) semesters, with the possibility for students to specialize in one of the following modules during the eighth (8th) semester: • Public Law, and • Private Law.
The Faculty of Law, within its continuing education program for students, has created a clear concept in both didactic and research aspects, taking into account the objectives of achievement, the starting point of this achievement, as well as how the educational process will develop and what the expected outcomes of the educational process are. This concept is achievable through support in: • Expected outcomes of the program; • Teaching materials; • Practical work in legal clinics and exercises; • Interactivity in teaching and exercises; • Group work in solving legal cases; • Concrete tools (books, projectors, boards, etc.); • Continuous testing and evaluation.
The regular academic staff at the Faculty of Law is highly qualified with doctoral degrees and LLM degrees in their respective fields, as well as with academic titles of Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, and Teaching Assistant, in accordance with the legal requirements set for the Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions in the Republic of Kosovo. The Faculty employs more than two full-time professors with regular employment relations and doctoral titles (Dr.) for every 60 credits.
The teacher-to-student ratio at the Faculty of Law is one (1) to twenty-three (23) – 1/23.
The Faculty of Law offers a unique education program designed to meet the market needs, especially for the region it serves. This program serves to train young lawyers and simultaneously acts as a research center. The foundational knowledge gained in this study program prepares graduates for the market’s needs, for academia, judiciary, prosecution, lawyering, administration, notaries, research institutes, and both public and private institutions locally, regionally, and internationally, as well as in the educational process for future legal professionals. Additionally, students are trained to engage in independent research work, group work, presentation skills, drafting legal acts and documents, and applying advanced legal knowledge, including a critical approach to law and the principles of justice in general. Graduates of the Faculty of Law have successfully secured positions in master’s programs abroad and have won study scholarships overseas. Furthermore, students have managed to find employment and secure positions for professional practice, in accordance with the current legislation in Kosovo. According to surveys conducted last year among the graduates of the Faculty of Law, 60.9% of the 90 graduates were employed.
The success of the program is further evident in the national competition for Simulated Court Trials for Law Faculties of public universities, organized by USAID, where the students of this faculty have won first place consecutively, demonstrating the faculty’s commitment to contributing to Kosovo’s society and beyond.
The program of the Faculty of Law, within its curriculum, covers fields such as: • Criminal Law, • Civil Law, • Constitutional Law, • Administrative Law, • International Law, • Financial Law, and • Several interdisciplinary subjects.
These fields collectively follow a logical flow based on national and European documents. The learning outcomes for each subject are designed in accordance with the program’s overall learning objectives.
Upon successfully completing the Legal Studies program, students will be able to: • Understand the role of law in society and its social effects; • Understand the specifics of each area of law in the country and acquire skills for their application; • Develop abilities to discuss and debate legal problems, theories, and specific doctrines within the field of law from different perspectives; • Communicate effectively from a legal viewpoint; • Become skilled in independent research, group work, and presentation abilities; • Draft legal acts and documents; • Compare and evaluate different legal systems; • Engage in lifelong learning, including professional training for the legal profession; • Apply advanced legal knowledge, including a critical approach to law and principles of justice in general.
The Faculty of Law has secured numerous cooperation agreements with justice institutions where students can carry out their practical phase as part of clinical subjects, as well as extracurricular practice. In addition to internal cooperation agreements, the Faculty has also established partnerships with law faculties of European Union universities. The Faculty has developed a Strategic Plan for Scientific Research and has established the Institute for Legal and Judicial Studies and Research.
The entire infrastructure and resources of the Faculty of Law ensure high-quality teaching and learning aspects, with sufficient classrooms, library space, technological tools, and offices for adapting teaching organization for different student groups. Within the new university campus, in building no. 1, with a total internal surface area of 18,028.5 square meters, the Faculty of Law’s students and staff will have access to: • 8 classrooms; • 2 amphitheaters (one for 350 students and one for 140 students); • A library with a reading room and computer room covering 660 square meters (the reading area with 112 desks and 112 chairs – 275 square meters, the bookshelves – 334 square meters, the computer room – 60 square meters with 13 desks and 13 chairs); • 8 offices.
In addition, the construction of student dormitories and the student canteen will be completed with an inauguration set for March 2024. Furthermore, in 2023, several football and volleyball fields, along with recreational elements for students, were constructed and are now available for use. The Faculty of Law students also have access to an exceptionally attractive recreation area located below the building housing the faculties. Moreover, the Faculty of Law is in the preparatory phase for building a courtroom, which will serve students for observing and simulating judicial processes. The academic staff and faculty management organize research, conferences, seminars, and lectures with foreign professors for students and have established the Institute for Legal and Judicial Studies and Research.