South East European Law School Network

The South East European Law School Network (SEELS) is an academic network of 13 public Law Faculties from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

History and Mission

Established on March 25, 2011, SEELS' mission is to create synergies and to foster excellence in science and education through regional collaboration and European Integration. The network is dedicated to increased international competitiveness and a high-level of performance in the field of legal education, research and publishing, particularly with regard to curricula development, inter-institutional co-operation and integrated programmes of study at a regional level.

Through the development and introduction of new joint programmes and activities, the member of the SEELS network are able to offer attractive and specialised courses and programmes and thereby facilitate regional mobility of scientists, students, researchers and lawyers.

The activities of SEELS are supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Three-Pillar approach

SEELS embraces all legal disciplines and fields with regional or cross-border dimension within its three-pillar-approach: Education, Research and Publishing by targeting undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students, academic staff and legal professionals.

Education

SEELS aims to further harmonise curricula across South East Europe. It organises and offers postgraduate and doctoral courses as well as summer schools on topics of European relevance. One example of SEELS teaching activities is the SEE Graduates EU Law Teaching & Research Academy which is implemented in collaboration with the Europa-Institut of the Saarland University.

Research

SEELS facilitates intensified academic legal research in the region, by connecting leading academics in the fields of common interest and organises joint conferences, research programs and forums.

Publishing

SEELS provides regional publications on relevant legal topics, publishes proceedings, analyses, findings and research papers from organised legal research forums and other events. SEELS also publishes the SEE Law Journal which is the first regional law journal in English language in South East Europe. It offers legal researchers and practitioners a discursive space for scholarly exchange on the issues of legal reform and harmonisation on the domestic level in direct relation with questions regarding regional cooperation as well as European integration.

Members of SEELS

  • University of Tirana, Faculty of Law (Albania)
  • University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Law (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
  • University of Zenica, Faculty of Law (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
  • University of Mostar "Dzemal Bijedic", Faculty of Law (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
  • University of Zagreb, Faculty of Law (Croatia)
  • University of Split, Faculty of Law (Croatia)
  • University of Osijek, Faculty of Law (Croatia)
  • University of Rijeka, Faculty of Law (Croatia)
  • University of Skopje, Faculty of Law "Iustinianus Primus" (Macedonia)
  • University of Montenegro, Faculty of Law (Montenegro)
  • University of Belgrade, Faculty of Law (Serbia)
  • University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Law (Serbia)
  • University of Nis, Faculty of Law (Serbia)