Research

RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS

In public law, the collaborative research projects ofthe IDEDH (Institute for European Human Rights Law) currently focus on the societal role of human rights within the European Union, the evolving relationship between humans and animals, and European safeguards for fundamental rights in the face of digital development. The research conducted by CERCOP (Center for Comparative Constitutional and Political Studies) addresses numerous facets of constitutional law (comparative law, constitutional litigation) as well as legal theory, particularly the relationship between law and science. The researchers at CREAM (Montpellier Center for Administrative Research and Studies) focus on the diverse aspects of administrative law and public business law.

In private law, the collective research of the LDP (Laboratory of Private Law) emphasizes an international approach (particularly within the framework of an International Associated Laboratory) and a cross-disciplinary examination of legal issues, institutions, and instruments.The EDSM (Montpellier School of Social Law) conducts research in labor law on collective bargaining and occupational health. The CDE (Center for Corporate Law) focuses its research on contracts, intellectual property, and corporate assets.

At the intersection of several legal disciplines, the LICeM (Laboratory for Innovation, Communication, and Markets) brings together legal scholars—specializing in particular in economic law, digital law, and intellectual property law—whose work focuses on innovation in relation to the law. The Montpellier Criminal Law and Forensic Sciences Team (EDPFM) brings together researchers from various disciplines (notably law and medicine) to take a cross-disciplinary approach to criminal law and forensic sciences, combining perspectives from law, criminology, sociology, criminalistics, and forensic medicine. The School of Health Law prioritizes interdisciplinary approaches within the legal field and multidisciplinary approaches to issues affecting human beings. Finally, the Institute of Customary Law studies unwritten law and is conducting a project titled “Customs of Occitania Today.”

In the field of legal history, in addition to the historical aspects of the work carried out by other research teams, special mention should be made of the collaborative research conducted by the Edmond Meynial Institute of Legal History (IHD) on a wide range of topics—topics for which the past consistently offers valuable insights that help us better understand the present and the future, particularly in the field of law.

In the field of political science, CEPEL (Center for Political and Social Studies – Environment, Health, Territories) stands out for its research in political science as well as for its multidisciplinary approach, which combines political science with legal sociology, sociology, ethnology, philosophy, and epidemiology. In addition to the traditional subjects of political science, examined through the lens of territorial issues, the research programs currently underway at CEPEL are linked to the themes ofFeed, Care, Protect,” including, in particular, questions of environmental and food policy, as well as several studies focusing on new forms of citizen participation and engagement with these issues.

It is not uncommon for several research teams to collaborate on interdisciplinary research programs—for example, within the University of Montpellier’s Labex “Entreprendre” or in other contexts—to analyze the transformations driven by the imperative of sustainable development or to examine the legal changes brought about by digital technology. All of these efforts help promote Montpellier’s academic research by integrating into national and international research networks.

DOCTORAL TRAINING

In accordance with its bylaws, the Faculty of Law and Political Science at Montpellier is tasked with supporting the preparation of doctoral candidates in Law and Political Science, in collaboration with the Doctoral School of Law and Political Science.

Each year, two lecture series are organized for the university’s doctoral students and, in some cases, for students from all universities; their growing and steady success reflects the strong interest these events generate among young researchers.

The series of methodological seminars aims to provide students with general guidance to help them progress through their dissertation and the unique years of their doctoral program, without ever replacing their research advisors: training in university pedagogy; research methodology and ethics; writing advice; instruction in analyzing judgments of the Council of State and the Court of Cassation; navigating the first months of the dissertation; preparation for the final stages of the dissertation and the defense; etc. This series also supports the professional integration of Montpellier PhD graduates by organizing conferences to present applications for the position of maître de conférences, or to highlight the contribution of the PhD to the role of administrative magistrate. It also includes support for competitive exams for associate professor or administrative magistrate positions through the organization of mock interviews and oral exams. In this context, the local agrégation conference allows our candidates to conduct numerous mock lessons.

The series of thematic lectures is directly shaped by proposals from doctoral students, who are invited each year to submit topics that require further exploration for their research.