Research Group for Legal Culture
The research group explores law as a cultural and historical phenomenon, focusing on studies of legal history, legal cultures and comparative law.
About the research group
The group conducts research on legal cultures and comparative law. This includes both studies and dissemination of the development of law in a legal system that is increasingly influenced by international regimes, europeanisation and, concurrently, a growing sense of legal pluralism.
As opposed to other fields of research within law, legal culture is not a term linked to a specific area of law. It is rather a legal phenomenon studied from different perspectives. Thus, the group's work is interdisciplinary.
The term has been used by Norwegian law scholars for nearly a century, but has in the last years been increasingly referred to by law researchers. This is particularly by virtue of the harmonisation of law across the globe, and more specifically, in Europe. When different legal systems meet in such a way, the recognition of the role of legal cultures becomes increasingly important. In the same manner, the need to identify the factors which affect the very provisions that rule every individual's life, has become greater.
The group is interdisciplinary and internationally oriented and is based on a broad network. e.g. through cooperation with research hubs in Tromsø, Kristiansand, Lillehammer, Stavanger, Oslo and the Norwegian Association for Comparative Law. Internationally, the group works closely with the International Academy of Comparative Law and the British Association of Comparative Law.
International Hub of Excellence for Legal Cultural and Comparative Legal Studies (KultKomp)
The research group has received support from the Research Council of Norway for the network project KultKomp. The aim of this project is to establish an outstanding international environment for comparative law and legal cultural studies at the University of Bergen. A central ambition is to explore the relationship between Norwegian, international, supranational, and other countries' legal systems. The project will also examine legal realism as a regulatory foundation for Norwegian and Scandinavian law.
Teaching
Members of the research group are involved in teaching at the Master's programme at the Faculty:
Norwegian Association for Comparative Law (NACL)
The aim of the Norwegian Association for Comparative Law is to provide a forum for students, researchers, practitioners, lawmakers and judges with interest in comparative law. We remain the national committee for the International Academy of Comparative Law but also seek to organise, facilitate and otherwise contribute to various activities in the field of comparative law. The idea behind the Association is to connect people, share knowledge and advise third parties on comparative method and substantive topics.
The Association is headed by a board of five members from various Norwegian academic institutions, including the president. It welcomes members from all areas of law and both public and private institutions and companies.
Read more about the Norwegian Association for Comparative Law (external link)
Featured
People
Group manager
Sören Koch Professor
Group members
Brage Thunestvedt Hatløy Postdoktor
Linda Gröning Professor
Axel Hjo PhD candidate
Eirik Holmøyvik Professor
Ola Roth Johnsen Project manager
Aurora Laugerud PhD candidate
Monica Naime PhD candidate
Ernst Nordtveit Emeritus
Anna Nylund Professor
Andreas Heian Slettevold PhD candidate
Knut Einar Skodvin Professor
Ingrid Birce Müftüoglu Senior adviser
Marit Ellingsen Tjelmeland PhD candidate
Assosierte medlemmer
Jørn Øyrehagen Sunde Professor, University of Oslo
Dag Michalsen Professor, University of Oslo
Lars August Hafting Kvestad Assistant professor, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
Vito De Lucia Professor, UiT Arctic University of Norway
Johann Ruben Leiss Associate professor, University of Oslo
Helle Vogt Professor, University of Copenhagen
Geir Atle Ersland Emeritus, University of Bergen
Iris Nguyen Duy Professor, University of Agder
Ingvill Helland Göller Associate professor, University of Agder
Sunniva Cristina Bragdø-Ellenes Professor, University of Agder
Ingrid Simonnæs Emeritus, Norwegian School of Economics
Andrew Simpson Professor, University of Aberdeen
Adelyn Wilson Professor, University of Strathclyde
Lloyd T. Wilson Professor, Indiana University Indianapolis
Robert Taylor Professor, University of Aberdeen
Claudia Passarella Researcher, Università di Padova
Merike Ristikivi Associate professor, University of Tartu
Lana Bubalo Associate professor, University of Stavanger
Yuliya Chernykh Professor, University of Inland Norway
Esmeralda Colombo Postdoctoral fellow, Columbia University