REMINDER: WORKSHOP: Law Without Lawyers (Brussels: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 8-9 MAY)

  

Law Without Lawyers

  On the 8th and 9th of May 2024, drs. João Freitas Mendes and his supervisor Prof. dr. Laurent de Sutter  are organising a workshop on Law Without Lawyers, generously funded by the Doctoral School of Humanities of VUB.

Abstract:

   Modern politics gave lawyers the role of governing freedom and equality to all through legality. Some lawyers appropriated this legitimacy to construct a “legal science”. Meanwhile, the most prolific lawyers and capitalists keep working together to enforce power and authority, independently of poverty, exclusion and knowledge. This workshop proposes a question: if we can see laws of phenomena, why do we need lawyers? Who gave social autority to technology and violence? Interestingly, participants don’t have the same opinion on the topic. Some will highlight external contributions to legal knowledge from art historians and poets, others will try to unveil the Roman foundation of juristocracy or argue for the need to transform law attending recent social movements as critical race theory. We invite all to join us for two days of discussion and critical thinking (in presence or online). Each participant will present a paper with equal time for discussion.  

 

 Speakers:   

    Adam Gearey, Paul de Hert, Fabian Steinhauer, Laurent de Sutter, Victoria L. Ridler, Ricardo Spindola Diniz, João Freitas Mendes, Bárbara da Rosa Lazarotto, Konstantinos Tsioutras, João Marcelo Brito da Silva 

Place and time:

    Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Ixelles/Elsene Campus, room C4.09, 9.30-12.30, 14.30-17.30. 

RSVP: João Freitas Mendes (link to online participation: joao dot tiago dot freitas dot mendes@vub dot be)