Program on Law and Human Development
About the Program
The Program on Law and Human Development serves as a forum and catalyst for interdisciplinary research, scholarship, teaching and service on the role of law and justice in the integral development of human persons and communities. We emphasize an approach to global affairs that is oriented toward the integral development of the human person and the common good of the human family.
The Program is a focal point for international legal studies, broadly defined, at the Notre Dame Law School. At the same time, the Program collaborates closely with actors at the Law School and throughout the University working on issues relevant to human development. > Learn more
Annual Theme 2011-12
Each academic year, the Program identifies a timely issue in law and human development as its principle thematic interest. This Annual Theme shapes the principal initiatives of the Program, including research projects and publications, seminars and lectures, and visiting scholars. The Annual Theme for the 2011-12 academic year is Migration, Law and Human Development. In our concept paper on this wide and open research space, the Program outlines its approach along with an array of specific issues for examination and support. > Read 2011-12 Annual Theme Concept Paper
Research
Our research is guided by the overarching question: What is the role of law and justice in advancing or impeding the goals of human development? During 2011-12, this question will be explored in the context of the Program’s Annual Theme, human migration. Applying an interdisciplinary approach, we convene scholars and practitioners from Notre Dame and throughout the world to explore this issue in depth, welcoming Visiting Fellows from other institutions, and support innovative research on this issue.
The Program involves Notre Dame students in its exploration of this question, including through Summer Internships. During the summer of 2011, we supported a number of Notre Dame Law School students in international projects on human migration and human development in South America, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Middle East. > Learn more
Resources
The Program seeks to contribute to the discourse on issues relating to law and human development with resources available on-line. These resources include, but are not limited to: our working papers series publishing work of scholars from Notre Dame and around the world; student studies, especially those resulting from summer internships; and reference tools facilitating research on our annual themes. > Learn More
Events
Our programmatic activities focus on the overarching question: What is the role of law and justice in advancing or impeding the goals of integral human development? Applying an interdisciplinary approach, we bring together scholars, practitioners, and students from Notre Dame and around the world to discuss this question in specific contexts. Each year, the Program hosts seminars, workshops, lectures, a Summer Institute, and other events aimed at building a scholarly community exploring together the relationship of law and human development. > See Events
