History
In the 1960s, a need was recognized for training qualified legal experts in the Northern Adriatic region, particularly in areas such as tourism law, maritime law, and international commercial law. This led to efforts to establish a law program in Rijeka. Prominent legal experts of the time played a significant role in this process, initiating the law program, with some later becoming esteemed professors and deans of our Faculty.
The law program began in 1973 as part of the University of Rijeka, within the Faculty of Economics. The Faculty of Law at the University of Rijeka was established as an independent higher education institution in 1976. Before acquiring its own building, the Faculty operated from several buildings at different locations. Its current location became its home in 1981, when the present building was constructed, designed by the renowned architect and academic Boris Magaš and his wife Olga Magaš.
In 2003, the building was expanded with a new wing housing the Faculty’s library, new lecture halls, and several offices for teaching staff.
Deans
| 1973. – 1974. | Prof. Dr. Emanuel Dworski |
| 1974. – 1975. | Prof. Dr. Đorđe Milović |
| 1975. | Prof. Dr. Zoran Kompanjet |
| 1976. – 1978. | Prof. Dr. Emanuel Dworski |
| 1978. | Prof. Dr. Josipa Čaval, int. dean |
| 1978. – 1982. | Prof. Dr. Zoran Kompanjet |
| 1982. – 1983. | Prof. Dr. Željko Horvatić |
| 1983. – 1984. | Prof. Dr. Vladimir Đ. Degan |
| 1984. – 1986. | Prof. Dr. Josipa Čaval |
| 1986. – 1988. | Prof. Dr. Petar Šarčević |
| 1988. – 1989. | Assist. Prof. Dr. Ivan Padjen, int. dean |
| 1989. – 1991. | Prof. Dr. Mladen Montana |
| 1991. – 1995. | Prof. Dr. Vinko Hlača |
| 1995. – 1999. | Prof. Dr. Berislav Pavišić |
| 1999. – 2001. | Prof. Dr. Mladen Montana |
| 2001. – 2003. | Prof. Dr. Berislav Pavišić |
| 2003. – 2011. | Prof. Dr. Miomir Matulović |
| 2011. – 2017. | Prof. Dr. Eduard Kunštek |
| 2017. – 2023. | Prof. Dr. Vesna Crnić-Grotić |
| 2023. – | Prof. Dr. Dario Đerđa |
Mission
The Faculty of Law in Rijeka is a higher education institution that, through its innovation and critical approach, contributes to science and education in the field of law and other social sciences, as part of the European university of the future.
Vision
The Faculty of Law in Rijeka is recognized in both domestic and international circles as a source of excellent, open, sustainable, and interconnected research and education, where students, staff, and external stakeholders foster a relationship of collaboration and trust.
Values
Openness, ethics, innovation, connectivity
Goals
The Faculty of Law in Rijeka has set a total of 17 specific strategic goals that it aims to achieve in the period from 2021 to 2025, in line with its mission and vision, while respecting its fundamental values.
Emeriti and academics
We take great pride in the fact that our academic staff includes distinguished scholars who have been honored with titles such as Academician and Professor Emeritus, recognizing their significant contributions to the field of legal science.
Lujo Margetić (1920 – 2010)
Lujo Margetić (1920 – 2010), a renowned scholar holding a doctor of legal science degree, esteemed Academician and Professor Emeritus, has made indelible contributions to the field of legal science through his unwavering dedication and invaluable writings. Throughout his illustrious and prolific career, he authored over 400 scientific papers, discussions, and reviews, including more than 50 monographs. His primary areas of expertise encompassed Greek, Roman and Byzantine law, as well as medieval legal history, which constituted the bulk of his scholarly output. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, he was elected as a full member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts in 1991, and in the same year, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the City of Rijeka. Due to his exceptional scholarly achievements and esteemed international standing, the University of Rijeka conferred upon him the title of Professor Emeritus in 1995. Subsequently, in 1998, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Republic of Croatia.
Vladimir Đ. Degan (1935 – 2022)
Vladimir Đ. Degan (1935 – 2022), a distinguished scholar holding a doctor of legal science degree and the esteemed title of Professor Emeritus, is widely recognized for his prolific contributions to the field of international law. He has authored numerous monographs, textbooks and scholarly articles, establishing himself as a leading authority in his field. A member of the prestigious Institute of International Law in Geneva, he has also served as an esteemed educator, teaching courses on comparative political systems and international law at the University of Sarajevo and the University of Rijeka. Additionally, he has organized courses in International Law and International Relations at the Inter University Centre in Dubrovnik, and has delivered lectures in various countries including France, the Netherlands, Finland, China, and others. He has been actively involved in expert groups focusing on human and minority rights, as well as those addressing the succession of the former Yugoslavia, showcasing his commitment to advancing global justice and peace. His remarkable contributions have earned him several accolades, including medals from the French Republic, and in 2013, the Republic of Croatia bestowed upon him the prestigious Annual Science Award. In recognition of his outstanding scholarship and dedication to academia, the University of Rijeka honored him with the title of Professor Emeritus in 2007.
Berislav Pavišić (1943 – 2016)
Berislav Pavišić (1943 – 2016), a distinguished scholar holding a doctor of legal science degree and the esteemed title of Professor Emeritus, is widely acclaimed for his seminal contributions to the field of criminal law. As the Head of the Institute of Criminal Sciences at our Faculty, he has authored books and articles that have significantly advanced scholarship in this area. Throughout his illustrious career, he has held professorial positions in various branches of criminal law, including Criminal Procedure, Criminal Law, Comparative and International Criminal Law, and Criminalistics. His expertise has been sought internationally, leading him to serve as a visiting professor and lecturer in Italy, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and other countries. He has also made substantial contributions to legal education and management, while he served as Dean of the Faculty of Law in Rijeka in three terms. Additionally, he has held judicial positions at a municipal court, a district court and the Supreme Court of the Republic of Croatia, bringing a wealth of practical experience to his academic endeavors. His involvement in the State Judicial Council and participation in law drafting further attest to his profound impact on legal reform and development. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to academia and the legal profession, the University of Rijeka conferred upon him the title of Professor Emeritus in 2013, underscoring his enduring legacy and profound influence in the field of criminal law.