Welcoming Address by the Dean

Jurisprudence has a tradition dating back centuries. Its aim has always been to find an amicable resolution when there are conflicting interests, whether in legislation or in the application of the law. There is hardly any aspect of human existence that is not affected by legal questions or curtailed by legal restrictions. The questions that the Faculty of Law deals with in its research, teaching, and continuing education are correspondingly diverse, and its offerings are therefore broad and varied.

As the largest faculty of law in Switzerland and one of the biggest in the German-speaking world, the Faculty of Law at the University of Zurich covers the entire range of legal subject areas. Because of its size, it is able to conduct especially deep and thorough research and teaching in numerous fields and to set priorities accordingly. In addition to Swiss and international commercial and financial market law, these priorities include, for example, democracy research, public international law and European law, medical and healthcare law, criminal and criminal procedure law, the study of questions related to digitalization, specializations in family law, the law of persons and property law, and, in particular, fundamental legal research (legal history, philosophy of law, and sociology of law) that is essential for the scientific basis of our activities.

The breadth and depth of the entire faculty serves as the basis for the in-depth education of Bachelor’s, Master’s, and doctoral students. The scientific findings of professors, adjunct professors, privatdozents, non-professorial academic staff, and our research centers shape the content of our courses and provide students with in-depth insights into the latest research and developments during their studies.

Only a few degree programs offer such an array of career prospects as those of jurisprudence. Our program is focused on preparing graduates to act with responsibility in the area of legislation and jurisprudence, in advocacy and in the public prosecutor’s office, at all levels of administration, in business, in politics and society, in the diplomatic service, and in many other areas.

Legal internships, moot courts, a diverse range of periods spent abroad at prestigious partner universities, and many other options within the course sequence facilitate entry into everyday life in the legal profession.

And the Faculty of Law also offers a challenging and informative range of courses for anybody who wishes to refresh or extend their knowledge, whether through an LL.M., a CAS or DAS, or by attending another continuing education course.

With this in mind, I am delighted to welcome you to the Faculty of Law of the University of Zurich.

Prof. Dr. iur. Thomas Gächter

Dean, Faculty of Law