Challenges of Catholic Legal Education in Croatia

The path toward a different approach to studying law

Keywords: legal education, legal profession, practical legal training, ethical values

Abstract

The text examines the current state of legal education in Croatia, identifies its systemic shortcomings, and presents the innovative approach introduced by the newly established Faculty of Law at the Catholic University of Croatia (CUC). The text explains the key elements of modern and innovative legal education, with particular emphasis on the importance of an individual approach to students. The underlying premise is that legal education should not be reduced solely to the transmission of knowledge about positive law and legal regulations; rather, it should aim to shape legal professionals who are also responsible and ethical members of society.

References

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Documents

Statute of the Catholic University of Croatia, April, 2023, https://www.unicath.hr/sites/default/files/2024-10/Status-Hrvatskog-katolickog-sveucilista_2023.pdf

Apostolic Constitution of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II on Catholic Universities, https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jpii_apc_15081990_ex-corde-ecclesiae.html

Vesna Kovač – Antonija Zubović: Student-Centered Teaching: Planning, Instruction, and Assessment in Legal Studies – A Handbook for Teachers, Providentia Studiorum Juris – Improving the quality of studying at law faculties in Croatia, Sveučilište u Rijeci, Pravni fakultet, 2021. https://providentia-iuris.eu/#

Initial Accreditation Procedure Application Form – Study Programme for Integrated Undergraduate and Graduate University Study of Law at the Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, 2 May 2024.

European Court of Human Rights case Travaš v. Republic of Croatia, application no. 75581/13 of 4 October 2016.

The History of the University of Zagreb, https://www.unizg.hr/o-sveucilistu/sveucilistejucer-danas-sutra/povijest-sveucilista/

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Published
2025-11-15
How to Cite
TurkaljK. (2025). Challenges of Catholic Legal Education in Croatia: The path toward a different approach to studying law . Pázmány Law Review, 12(1), 131-142. https://doi.org/10.55019/plr.2025.1.131-142
Section
Current Issues: Challenges of Catholic Legal Education