JOB: Ph.D.-position at Ghent University (project "François Laurent's draft civil code for Belgium: a missed opportunity ?"); DEADLINE 10 JULY 2015

 (image: François Laurent, source: UGentMemorie)

The Ghent Legal History Institute currently has a vacancy for one Ph.D.-researcher (two year-contract, renewable once) in the framework of a project granted by the University's Special Research Fund (BOF).

Project description:

The history of codification traditionally only mentions winners. François Laurent's draft Civil Code for Belgium (1879-1885), probably the most important text ever written by a Belgian legal scholar after 1804, is seen as a "loser". It was never enacted by the legislator. The reason for this failure is its too progressive and anti-clerical character. Laurent inter alia favoured equal rights for women.

Until now, a thorough study of this original and influential text has been lacking. Besides this, we should re-appreciate Laurent as a legal scholar, especially regarding the label "exegetic school" often associated with his writings. On a more general level, Belgian law and its dependence on the French legal tradition come into the scope of this research, as well as the influence of the project on Belgian law.

Profile:

The candidate will analyse Laurent's project and his legal thinking, uncover the sources used by François Laurent, contextualise contemporary criticism of Laurent and investigate the national as well as the international afterlife of the text.

The required profile is that of a Master in law and/or history (the latter implying a familiarity with legal research), graduated at the latest by 30 June 2016. Precision, independence and a full commitment to research are a minimum requirement. The applicant should demonstrate a positive team spirit, and master Dutch, French and English, as well as (more passively) German.

The Ghent Legal History institute offers an appointment of 2 years, renewable once, starting between 1 September 2015 and 1 July 2016. Ghent University offers free public transport from home to work, a bicycle allowance and access to universitary sporting and dining facilities.

 Contact:

Project supervisor, Prof. dr. D. Heirbaut (Dirk.Heirbaut@UGent.be). Candidacies will be received until 10 July 2015. A full curriculum vitae is required.

More information at the same address or with Karin.Pensaert@UGent.be (+32 9 264 68 53).