History

The history of the Institute as a scientific and didactic unit dates back to the 1950s in connection with the opening of a Consultation Point in Opole by the Faculty of Law of the University of Wroclaw for the purpose of extramural studies first in the field of law and then administration. Structural development of the institution could not take place until the end of the 20th century, when the Institute of Law and Administration was established in the newly established university – the University of Opole still within the Faculty of Economics in 1996, with its first director Prof. UO Dr. Stanislaw Malarski. Staff growth and educational needs promoted the transformation of the unit into an independent Interdepartmental Institute of Law and Administration in 2001, and in 2006 into the Faculty of Law and Administration, with Prof. Leszek Stadniczeńko as its first dean. The statutorily mandated major changes to the statutes of the UO made in 2019. resulted in an internal reorganization of the university. Institutes were created in the faculties and each of these units was given separate responsibilities.

The Institute of Legal Sciences of the University of Opole was established by the Rector of the University of Opole by Order No. 31/2019 dated 28.06.2019, issued on the basis of Article 23 (3) of the Act of July 20, 2018. Law on Higher Education and Science (Journal of Laws 2018. 1668, as amended) and § 3(1) of the Resolution of the Statute of the University of Opole (199/2016-2020, dated May 9, 2019, as amended). The task of the Institute has become to conduct and coordinate scientific research, develop international cooperation, bear responsibility for personnel policy and for the authority to confer degrees in the field of social sciences, in the discipline of legal sciences subject to evaluation. The Institute also conducts research in security sciences (a non-evaluated discipline) closely related to the faculty’s field of study.

Pursuant to § 1 of the UO Rector’s Order No. 49/2019 dated September 30, 2019. (effective October 1, 2019) and point XV. paragraph 1 item 1) of the Appendix to this Order, 7 departments and 4 teams were created within the organizational structure of the Institute, including the Clinical Education Team “Law Clinic”. By the same Order (item XV, paragraph 2 of the Appendix), in terms of the functional structure of the Institute, the following were distinguished: the director of the INP, the deputy director of the INP, the Council of the Institute of Legal Sciences, the heads of the Chairs and the coordinators of the Teams. During the first term of the Institute, the structure underwent 2022. expanded, and from the next term starting September 1, 2024, it was reorganized: 9 Chairs and 9 Teams (6 research and 3 teaching) were established. The Institute currently employs 54 people (2 professors, 17 university professors, 28 assistant professors, 3 assistants, 4 senior lecturers) on a contract basis, including 5 academics who do not belong to any department or research team. Our employees are distinguished by their theoretical knowledge, but also most have practical skills and experience. They are also employed in judicial and public administration positions, or are in the liberal professions of attorneys and legal advisors.

As of October 1, 2019. The director of the INP is Dr. Piotr Stec prof. UO. In 2019-2020, the Deputy Director of the Institute was Dr. Joanna Ryszka prof. UO, and from October 1, 2020. – Dr. hab. Ewa Kozerska prof. UO.

Diverse research interests of employees related to the main legal sub-disciplines are publicized in specialized monographs, legal commentaries, international and national journals, as well as during scientific conferences. Grants obtained from NCN, MEiN and Horizons 2020 funding are also implemented.

As part of the commercialization of scientific results, employees are commissioned to provide expertise and legal opinions by public administration institutions, professional governments or business entities.

Within the Institute there is a scientific editorial board of the periodical “Opole Administrative and Legal Studies” published since 2003 (indexed in CEJSH, CEEOL, POL-Index, HeinOnline, Index Copernicus, ERIH PLUS, DOAJ, AmeliCA, The Norwegian Register for Scientific Journals, JUFO, EBSCO Legal Source). Affiliated to the Institute is the journal Santander Art and Culture Law Review (also indexed in Scopus, ProQuest East&Central Europe Database), published since 2015 by the UNESCO Centre for the Law of the Protection of Cultural Property.

The research efficiency of our Institute’s staff in the evaluation for 2017-2021 received a B+ category by the decision of the MEiN of March 4, 2023, which allows us to maintain full academic rights. The unit has been authorized to confer the degree of Doctor of Laws since 2013, and since 2021. obtained the right to confer the degree of doctor of jurisprudence in the discipline of legal sciences. The authority to confer doctoral and postdoctoral degrees in the social sciences in the discipline of legal sciences, as well as the obtained evaluation category, allows the unit to conduct recruitment for the UO Doctoral School in the discipline of legal sciences.