Faculty of Law

European Law Faculties Association (ELFA)

We belong to the European Law Faculties Association - a prestigious group of best law faculties from Europe and other continents which have one thing in common - their care for the highest level of legal education. In he framework of this international organization, we join a forum for discussion, cooperation and exchange of experience in areas related to legal education.
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Prominent Polish lawyers

We are proud to have renowned legal professionals, such as judges, advocates, attorneys at law, and international security analysts, among our faculty, including:

• Adam Bodnar, Ph.D. / Associate Professor – Minister of Justice of the Republic of Poland (as of December 2023), former Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Poland (2010–2015), former Vice-President of the Helsinki Foundation of Human Rights
• Marek Chmaj, Professor – Vice-Chair of the State Tribunal, long-standing expert advising the Institute of Public Affairs, the Sejm Extraordinary Commission, the Senate Regulatory Commission, and the Senate Permanent Subcommittee for Constitutional Changes
• Lech Gardocki, Professor – former First President of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Poland (1998–2010)
• Bronisław Sitek, Professor – the Secretary of Poland’s Central Commission for Academic Degrees and Titles, member of the Council for Research Excellence, and the former President of the General Counsel for the Department of the Treasury
• Andrzej Szlęzak, Ph.D. / Associate Professor, adjudicator of the Arbitration Tribunal of the Polish Chamber of Commerce in Warsaw and a senior partner at Sołtysiński, Kawecki & Szlęzak, a leading legal law firm in Poland.

Top of the rankings

In the 2023 ranking by Perspektywy, a Polish influential magazine devoted to educational affairs, SWPS University takes top place, ex aequo with the University of Warsaw and the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, as the best higher educaiton institutions that offer programs in law.

The reputation of our faculty has also been confirmed by the annual rankings published by the Rzeczpospolita daily newspaper. In 2023, the Faculty of Law in Warsaw was ranked 3rd among non-public universities offering law studies. We hold the 1st place in the category "Quality of Education" among all non-public universities in Poland.
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Best rated Student Legal Services in the country

In 2023, once again, our Student Legal Services have been ranked first, among 25 other student legal aid services, in the annual ranking organized by the Rzeczpospolita daily and the Legal Clinics Foundation.
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Practical studies recognised by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education

Leal studies in SWPS University are the only law degree programme in Poland awarded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in the competition for the best educational programmes. The ministry appreciated the modern teaching model, the practical profile of studies, our constant readiness to adjust the methodology to student needs, the quality of offered internships and the scale of cooperation with employers. The Faculty received PLN 1 million to implement its innovative teaching programme and to further improve its teaching offer. Our studies were ranked among 13 most innovative programs with a practical profile in the country.

Individual work with a tutor

Law students receive support from a dedicated tutor who helps them choose the right educational path, tailored to their individual interests, needs and career plans. The practical training programme, contact with the best lawyers in the country and individual work with a tutor help students significantly to prepare for their apprenticeship examinations.

Professional development with the Student Legal Services

Our students start gaining experience already during their studies, among others by working with the Students Legal Services where they provide legal advice to people whose financial situation excludes them from being able to use the help of a lawyer or legal counsel. Young law students help to interpret the client's legal situation on the basis of applicable regulations, they analyze contracts and draft procedural documents. The Student Legal Services work free of charge. The work takes place under the supervision of mentors - holders of Ph.D. degrees in law, active attorneys and legal counsel.
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Specialized Database

Our students are given the opportunity to use professional legal information systems: LEX and Legalis. In order to expand the library collection, we have established close cooperation with two important legal publishers: Wolters Kluwer Polska and LexisNexis. Currently, the number of books purchased for law students is 12 thousand copies.

Collaborations

The practical profile of our study program necessitates close cooperation with various external partners. These collaborations allow our students to complete their internships in selected institutions. In this respect, we collaborate with:

• offices of public administration, such as the Ombudsman for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and the General Counsel to the Republic of Poland
• members of business associations, for example the Polish Confederation Lewiatan, Employers of Poland, and Inicjatywa Firm Rodzinnych (Family Firms Initiative))
• professional organizations representing the legal and financial sector such as the Supreme Bar Council (NRA), District Chamber of Legal Advisers (OIRP) in Warsaw, National Chamber of Tax Advisors, and the Accountants Association in Poland
• non-governmental organizations specializing in market research, for example the Civil Development Forum, Polski Instytut Myśli Gospodarczej (Polish Institute of Economic Thought (PIMG))
• professional associations representing economically-significant sectors, for example the Responsible Business Forum and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Poland).

Doctoral seminars

Our lecturers have developed a specialized program for students who wish to pursue a doctoral degree in law and expand their professional development to include research in the discipline of law.

Programs

Our undergradaute and graduate programs prepare students for successful careers in law. Our graduates specialize in civil, criminal, economic and international law. The faculty also offers an innovative programme focused on business law. Read more about our programs in Polish  

Support for students with disabilities

SWPS University offers a number of scholarships, including a special scholarship for students with disabilities. We ensure that students with special needs have access to assistants and specialized equipment. For students who find it hard to adapt to university life, we offer free psychological consultations.

For information on available forms of assistance, students may contact Health and Accessibility Coordinators at their respective faculties.

Wiktoria Obidniak-Marciniak
tel.: +48 22 517 99 30
e-mail: accessibility@swps.edu.pl

Leading research center among non-public universities

Our Institute of Law was established in 2019. It coordinates and oversees research projects carried out by legal professionals who work in all SWPS University campuses that offer programs in law (i.e., Warsaw, Poznań, and Wrocław). The Institute has the power to grant doctoral and post-doctoral (habilitacja) degrees in the discipline of law.
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Director of the Institute: Teresa Gardocka, Ph.D. / Associate Professor, Vice-Directors: Dariusz Jagiełło, Ph.D. / Associate Professor (Faculty of Law in Warsaw), Paweł Daniel, Ph.D. / Associate Professor (Faculty of Psychology and Law in Poznań), Iwona Sierpowska, Ph.D. / Associate Professor (Faculty of Law and Communication in Wrocław).

Research projects

Our Institute of Law oversees research carried out by our academics. Polish constitutional law is one of the topics of our research. The Institute’s publishing house, Difin, has been publishing a multi-tome commentary to the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. As of May 2024, the Institute has published 43 tomes of the commentaries. The entire series is to comprise over 70 tomes.

Additionally, our researchers carry out projects focused on criminal law (including penitentiary law), civil and commercial law, human rights, medical law, labor law, and social legislation.

We also conduct research on the methodology of teaching law. As the first university in Poland we have introduced teaching of practical legal skills, following the example and best practices of British universities.

Developing premises for the new law

A consortium established by the Faculty of Law together with the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszow and Collegium Civitas was among the winners of a competition to develop detailed guidelines for the new law on higher education in Poland. The team is chaired by professor Hubert Izdebski, Director of the Institute of Law in SWPS University.