Universidade Católica Portuguesa - Porto Law School

Law degree

The degree program is thus conceived as a continuation of the student's intellectual, ethical, and cultural development. This is achieved not only through legal subjects and a wide range of non-legal disciplines, but also through skills development programs (the Jurist's DNA) and social intervention programs (within the scope of the UDIP - Unit for the Integral Development of the Person), unique in the national context.
Furthermore, the particular personalized teaching style practiced at the Catholic University contributes to this, where each student receives individualized attention, enhanced by a system of continuous assessment in small classes, which encourages critical participation and legal dialogue.

The Law Degree is the natural choice for anyone wishing to dedicate themselves to any of the legal professions, such as law, the judiciary or the Public Prosecution Service, solicitors, registries and notaries, consultancy to companies, among others. A quick observation of reality shows, in addition, that there are lawyers or professionals with legal training in multiple areas of activity, in addition to the traditional legal professions.

The Law Degree from the Porto School of the Faculty of Law of the UCP responds to the challenges facing lawyers in the 21st century, combining tradition and innovation, in order to ensure the success of its students:

Technical excellence

Through demanding and rigorous training in all legal disciplines, provided by a highly qualified teaching staff, from a scientific and pedagogical point of view, and the appreciation of merit throughout the course.

Communicational competence

The ability to communicate the Law, orally and in writing, is developed in all disciplines and, in particular, in the ADN do Jurista program, with modules in Dramatic Expression, Public Speaking and Legal Writing.

Practical forensic competence

The knowledge acquired through the exercise of forensic professions is partially anticipated, through the subjects of Civil Procedure Practice, Criminal Procedure Practice and Interdisciplinary Practice, through the completion of curricular internships and, also, through the collaboration of lawyers, magistrates, registrars and notaries in the teaching of several optional subjects.

Internationalization

Law graduates are prepared for international work, abroad or in Portugal, by attending the International Law Programme, in which several subjects of International and European Law are taught entirely in English, with a quarter of the course being taught in English; international mobility to one of over 70 foreign universities is also actively promoted, for 1 or 2 semesters of the course.

Specialization

The UCP Faculty of Law believes that it must help young legal professionals to stand out in the job market, which is made possible, from the outset, with a first and broad specialization in Private Law, Public Law or Criminal Law, in the final year of the degree; and then, above all, through attending one of the eight areas of the Masters in Law.

Interdisciplinarity

A correct understanding of Law requires adequate knowledge of the subjects on which it relates, that is, of the different areas of social life, with a wide variety of non-legal subjects being offered in the degree (from economics to psychology, from political science to mediation) that contribute to this knowledge.

Digitalization of society

In the contemporary world, civic or professional action in society requires mastery of the most diverse computer tools and knowledge of the intersection of Law and technology; and teaching that embraces these new realities, aiming at blended learning that combines the best of both worlds, face-to-face and digital.