Graz Jurisprudence

23/01/2026

On January 22, we had the honour of hosting Professor Massimo La Torre (Universitá Catanzaro) for our yearly GJ Lecture!👨‍🏫 Professor La Torre discussed the nature of philosophy from a jurisprudential standpoint, aiming to define what is and what is not philosophy. We thank him for an extremely thought-provoking talk, which was followed by a lively discussion with students and staff.

SAVE THE DATE: Our GJ Lecture will be held on May 28th 2026 by Professor Aileen Kavanagh! Stay tuned for more updates...

30/10/2025

Robert Alexy turned 80 - and celebrated this milestone with his former students! 🥳
To celebrate this special occasion, Carsten Bäcker, Martin Borowski, and Jan-Reinard Sieckmann published an edited volume with contributions related to Alexy's impressive scholarly work. Professor Klatt, who completed his doctorate under Alexy's supervision, was honoured to contribute with a chapter on five and a half misconceptions about legal non-positivism. You can find more information on the book and Professor Klatt's contribution here: bit.ly/47uIawJ

30/10/2025

It's been a busy summer for Professor Klatt! 📚👨‍🏫
In July and August, Professor Klatt travelled to Brasil for a series of talks. His first talk was at this year's ICON-S conference, where he spoke about six problems of constitutionally conforming interpretation. His talk was based on his own contribution in his recently published edited volume: Constitutionally Conforming Interpretation - Connections and Analysis. More information can be found here: bit.ly/4oj0EYu
In his second talk, held at the University of Sao Paulo, he spoke about popular misconceptions about non-positivism. This talk was also based on a recently published article titled 5 1/2 myths of legal non-postivism. The article can be accessed here: bit.ly/4ocr1iz
Finally, a third talk, also at the University of Sao Paulo, also centered around six problems of constitutionally conforming interpretation.

11/09/2025

Reminder: Die Anmeldefrist läuft noch bis Montag, 15.09.! 🧐👨‍🏫

Unsere Lehrveranstaltungen im WS 2025/26👨‍🏫
⚠️Die Anmeldefrist startet am 04.09.⚠️

VO Rechtsphilosophie
Unsere alljährliche VO ist eine Einführung in die Rechtsphilosophie. Hier gewinnen Sie einen Überblick über die wichtigsten Themen und Fragestellungen dieser Disziplin. Diese Lehrveranstaltung ist im Diplomstudium Rechtswissenschaften verpflichtend zu absolvieren!
Die LV wird von Univ.-Prof. Matthias Klatt abgehalten, eine gesonderte Anmeldung über UGO ist erforderlich.

SE Rechtsphilosophie: Präjudizien als Argument
In unserem SE bearbeiten wir aktuelle rechtsphilosophische Fragestellungen, zu denen am Zentrum geforscht wird. Dieses Jahr stellen wir uns die Frage, ob Gerichte ihre Entscheidungen auf Präjudizien stützen können - und wenn ja, welche methodischen Besonderheiten das involviert.
Die LV wird von Univ.-Prof. Matthias Klatt abgehalten, eine gesonderte Anmeldung über UGO ist erforderlich. Die Plätze sind begrenzt!

PS Methodik und Praxis des wissenschaftlichen Arbeitens: Präjudizien als Argument
Im PS widmen wir uns allen Fragen rund um das wissenschaftliche Arbeiten - von der Literatursuche über das Lesen und Exzerpieren bis hin zum Schreibprozess! Die methodischen Kompetenzen können dann gleich an einem inhaltlich bearbeiteten Thema praktisch angewendet werden.
Die LV wird von Univ.-Prof. Matthias Klatt abgehalten, eine gesonderte Anmeldung über UGO ist erforderlich. Die Plätze sind begrenzt!

UE Prüfungsvorbereitung zur VO Rechtsphilosophie
Diese Übung dient der optimalen Prüfungsvorbereitung für die VO-Prüfung aus Rechtsphilosophie. Die LV wird von Mag. Barbara Zeller abgehalten, eine gesonderte Anmeldung über UGO ist erforderlich. Die Plätze sind begrenzt!

27/08/2025

Unsere Lehrveranstaltungen im WS 2025/26👨‍🏫
⚠️Die Anmeldefrist startet am 04.09.⚠️

VO Rechtsphilosophie
Unsere alljährliche VO ist eine Einführung in die Rechtsphilosophie. Hier gewinnen Sie einen Überblick über die wichtigsten Themen und Fragestellungen dieser Disziplin. Diese Lehrveranstaltung ist im Diplomstudium Rechtswissenschaften verpflichtend zu absolvieren!
Die LV wird von Univ.-Prof. Matthias Klatt abgehalten, eine gesonderte Anmeldung über UGO ist erforderlich.

SE Rechtsphilosophie: Präjudizien als Argument
In unserem SE bearbeiten wir aktuelle rechtsphilosophische Fragestellungen, zu denen am Zentrum geforscht wird. Dieses Jahr stellen wir uns die Frage, ob Gerichte ihre Entscheidungen auf Präjudizien stützen können - und wenn ja, welche methodischen Besonderheiten das involviert.
Die LV wird von Univ.-Prof. Matthias Klatt abgehalten, eine gesonderte Anmeldung über UGO ist erforderlich. Die Plätze sind begrenzt!

PS Methodik und Praxis des wissenschaftlichen Arbeitens: Präjudizien als Argument
Im PS widmen wir uns allen Fragen rund um das wissenschaftliche Arbeiten - von der Literatursuche über das Lesen und Exzerpieren bis hin zum Schreibprozess! Die methodischen Kompetenzen können dann gleich an einem inhaltlich bearbeiteten Thema praktisch angewendet werden.
Die LV wird von Univ.-Prof. Matthias Klatt abgehalten, eine gesonderte Anmeldung über UGO ist erforderlich. Die Plätze sind begrenzt!

UE Prüfungsvorbereitung zur VO Rechtsphilosophie
Diese Übung dient der optimalen Prüfungsvorbereitung für die VO-Prüfung aus Rechtsphilosophie. Die LV wird von Mag. Barbara Zeller abgehalten, eine gesonderte Anmeldung über UGO ist erforderlich. Die Plätze sind begrenzt!

21/08/2025

Today the tenth volume of our Hart Studies in Constitutional Theory is published, entitled Constitutionally Conforming Interpretation – Volume 2: Critical Analysis! 🎉

This second volume builds upon the insights of the first volume, which includes national reports on the use of constitutional interpretation. In Volume 2, the analysis is extended beyond the national context, discussing its application in the supranational and international contexts, including in EU law and the domestic use of international law. It presents several critical perspectives, challenging the legitimacy of constitutionally conforming interpretation, and looks at the invisible constitution, constitutional amendments, and the impact of legalism. The volume is rounded off by three comparative analyses, which formulate universally applicable insights.

We would like to thank our amazing authors as well as our brilliant publishing house!

Take a look for a little teaser: https://bloomsburycp3.codemantra.com/viewer/6878ab12dc0e82000179137d
Take a look for more information: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/constitutionally-conforming-interpretation--comparative-perspectives-9781509953806/

… and don’t forget to use the code GLR BD8 at the checkout to obtain your 20% discount!

12/08/2025

Check out the exciting new addition to our Hart Studies in Constitutional Theory an get 20 % discount code with this flyer! Pre-order the book online at https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/constitutionally-conforming-interpretation--comparative-perspectives-9781509953806/
- use code GLR BD8 at the checkout to obtain your 20% discount!

31/07/2025

We are pleased to announce that our latest volume of our Hart Studies in Constitutional Theory will be released on the 21st of August! 🎉 The book, entitled Constitutionally Conforming Interpretation – Volume 2: Critical Analysis, is the second part of a 2-volume set which presents an in-depth investigation into the canon of constitutionally conforming interpretation.
This second volume builds upon the insights of the first volume, which includes national reports on the use of constitutional interpretation. In Volume 2, the analysis is extended beyond the national context, discussing its application in the supranational and international contexts, including in EU law and the domestic use of international law. It presents several critical perspectives, challenging the legitimacy of constitutionally conforming interpretation, and looks at the invisible constitution, constitutional amendments, and the impact of legalism. The volume is rounded off by three comparative analyses, which formulate universally applicable insights.

Take a look for more information: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/constitutionally-conforming-interpretation--comparative-perspectives-9781509953806/
Take a look for a little teaser: https://bloomsburycp3.codemantra.com/viewer/6878ab12dc0e82000179137d

18/07/2025

We're excited to announce another addition to our book series Hart Studies in Constitutional Theory! This volume was edited by Dimitrios Kyritsis and critically engages with the proportionality test's links to philosophical ideologies. And this volume is extra special: Professor Klatt wrote a contribution which refutes a popular balancing critique! Use the discount code to get the book - and stay tuned for further additions to our series! 📚

12/06/2025

We are hiring!

We are searching for an University Assistant without doctorate starting the 14 of July 2025 or later!
The position comes with a 4-year fixed-term contract and 20h/week with option to increase to 30h/week.

The call is now open until the 3rd of July 2025!
You can find the call as well as further details for the position here: https://jobs.uni-graz.at/en/jobs/13d60489-532a-79bd-f025-6819a7c4f7d1

Are you interested in working together in an internationally oriented, motivated and successful team?
Do you wish to take the first step into academia and write your own PhD thesis in one of the six core areas of research of Graz Jurisprudence?
If so, don't hesitate and apply to become the newest member of Graz Jurisprudence!
We offer a flexible work environment with the opportunity to do a PhD in an internationally recognized team in the areas of international constitutional law and legal philosophy.

A complete application consists in filling the form with the corresponding documents, such as a CV with a picture, motivational letter and relevant certificates, here: https://jobs.uni-graz.at/en/jobs/13d60489-532a-79bd-f025-6819a7c4f7d1
For informal queries please, don't hesitate to contact us anytime at [email protected]
We are looking forward to receiving your application!
Please do not contact us via Facebook if you are interested in the call!

13/05/2025

GJ goes Seggau

On 8 and 9 May, we held our annual International Constitutional Law Seminar on the special topic of Constitutionally Conforming Interpretation - Critical Analysis. As every year, the seminar took place in the impressive setting of Schloss Seggau. Far away from the university, the academic discourse unfolded in a marvellous way. The extremely refreshing setting was even further fuelled by our guests from Frankfurt. Nine students from Goethe University's International Master's Programme in Legal Theory took part in the seminar and enriched the discourse with insights from their respective legal systems. In terms of content, the seminar was based on the second volume (forthcoming) of the „Constitutionally Conforming Interpretation“-Anthology in Professor Klatt's Hart Publishing Series (more information on the first volume can be found here: bit.ly/4eMS4vn).