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Signe Kalniņa

Acting Lecturer

Dr. iur. Signe Kalniņa

signe.skutele@lu.lv

Courses: History of Latvian Law; Current Issues in Legal Theory, Philosophy, Sociology and the History of Latvian Law; Philosophy of Law; Legal Theory

Consultation times available here.

Research interests:

The genesis and evolution of the judiciary in Latvia; the history of Latvian law and the role of the judiciary; the history of criminal procedure; the impact of fundamental principles related to the judiciary on the development of a socially active and cohesive society in Latvia; prevention of money laundering.

Professional experience and achievements:

  • Assistant to a sworn advocate Edgars Nikels, office of sworn advocates “Krasts un Nikels”, since 2024.
  • Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) since 2022.
  • The Supreme court of the Republic of Latvia, Division of Case-law and Research, , consultant on the law enforcement questions, 2024.-2025.
  • Expert, University of Latvia, the institute of philosophy and sociology, participating in a project “Vectors of societal cohesion: from cohesion around the nation-state (2012-2018) to a cohesive civic community for the security of the state, society and individuals (2024-2025)” (No. VPP-KM-SPASA-2023/1-0002), 2024-2025.
  • Assistant to a sworn advocate Vilis Sruoģis, office of sworn advocates “Rusanovs & Partneri”, 2021-2024.
  • Lawyer, office of sworn advocates “Rusanovs & Partneri”, 2019-2021, and office of sworn advocates “Visa Vērte”, 2018-2019.
  • University of Latvia, Director of the Department of the Student Union, 2017-2018, University of Latvia, Senator, 2016-2019, University of Latvia, Member of the Academic ethics committee, 2016-2019, University of Latvia, member of the Quality assurance committee, 2016-2018
  • Parliament of the Republic of Latvia, Assistant to the deputy, 2016-2017

Publications: 

International conferences 

  • Jagiellonian University XX International Conference “From The History of Law” – “Iurisprudentia est divinarum atque humanarum rerum notitia – legacy of great jurists” (2026), Jagiellonian University, Poland.

    Participation in a section with the paper  – The Role of the Baltic Governor-General Pyotr Albedinsky in the Transformation of the Baltic Judicial and Legal System in the Second Half of the 19th Century

  • The 84th International Scientific conference of the University of Latvia, 2026, University of Latvia, Latvia

    Poster presentation: “Distinguishing Between the Type and Form of Legal Acts as an Effective Means of Systematizing Law in the Russian Empire”

  • Jagiellonian University XIX International Conference “From The History of Law” – “Evolution of family law through the ages – Hominum Causa omne ius constitutum sit” (2025), Jagiellonian University, Poland.

    Participation in a section with the paper  – The development of Family Law in the Baltic Governorates: The Impact of the Judicial Reform of 9 July 1889 on Substantive and Procedural Law, and the Institutional Framework

  • 12th International Conference of PhD Students and Young Researchers “Fight for Your Rights Club: Human Rights in a Democracy of the Digital Age” International Network of Doctoral studies in Law. Vilnius University, Faculty of Law (2025)

    Participation in a section with the paper  – Using Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Judicial Efficiency from the Perspective of the Right to a Fair Trial.

  • The 83rd International Scientific conference of the University of Latvia, 2025, University of Latvia, Latvia
    Participation in a section “For the Future of Law” with a paper – “The Aims of the 1889 Judicial Reform in the Baltic Provinces and the Prerequisites for Its Implementation”
    Participation in a section “Vectors of United Understanding for the Development of a Civically Active Society” with a paper – “Possibilities for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Judicial System”
  • The 82nd International Scientific conference of the University of Latvia, 2024, University of Latvia, Latvia. Participation in a section “For the future of Law” with a paper – “Considerations of the need for judicial reform of the Russian Empire of November 20, 1864, and prerequisites for its implementation in Latvia”.  Participation in a section “Vectors of united understanding for the development of a civically active society” with a paper – “The impact of the fundamental principles related to the judiciary on a socially active, cohesive society in the Republic of Latvia”
  • The 81st International Scientific conference of the University of Latvia, 2023, University of Latvia, Latvia.
    Participation and leading a doctoral student section – “For the future of Law”. Participation with the paper – “The theoretical discourse of police inquiry and its implementation problematics in the Republic of Latvia during the interwar period”
  • The XVI International Conference from the series “From The History of Law” – “The evolution of criminal law over the centuries – Malorum poena praesidium est bonis”, 2022, Jagiellonian University, Poland. 
    Participation in a section with the paper – “The genesis of the preliminary investigation stages of criminal procedure in the interwar period of Latvia (1918-1940): creation, reforms, and perspectives”
  • The 80th International Scientific conference of the University of Latvia. 2022, University of Latvia, Latvia. 
    Participation in a doctoral student section – “For the future of Law” with the paper –“Motives, Objectives and Prospects of the Reform of Preliminary Investigation of Criminal Proceedings in the Russian Empire in the 1860s”
  • The 79th International Scientific conference of the University of Latvia. 2021, University of Latvia, Latvia. 
    Participation in a doctoral student section – “For the future of Law” with the paper –“Impact of French law on establishment of examining magistrate institute in framework of 1863 judicial reform in Russian Empire” 

INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

  • Skutele S. Using Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Judicial Efficiency from the Perspective of the Right to a Fair Trial. Scientific Journal of the University of Vilnius. “Teise”, No. 137., 2026. ISSN 1392-1274
  • Lazdiņš J., Skutele S. Russification and Legal Policy of Alexander II in the Baltic Region.  Scientific Journal of the University of Latvia. “Law”, No. 18., 2025., pp. 18.-31. ISSN 2592-9364.
  • Skutele S. Genesis of Privileges of Baltiv Provinces As a Precondition for Implementation of Judicial Reform of 1889 in Baltic Provinces. In – Individual, Law, and Courts: Perspectives of Legal Areas. Proceedings in Legal Science of the 83rd International Scientific Conference of the University of Latvia. Rīga: UL Academic Press, 2025. ISBN 978-9934-36-80-1.
  • Skutele S. The Impact of the Fundamental Principles Related to the Judiciary on a Socially Active, Cohesive Society in the Republic of Latvia. In – Vectors of Cohesion Understanding for the Development of a Civically Active Society. Rīga: Latvijas Universitātes Humanitāro zinātņu fakultāte, Filozofijas un socioloģijas institūts, 2024. ISBN 978-9934-507-754-1.
  • Skutele S. The theoretical discourse of police inquiry and its implementation problematics in the Republic of Latvia during the interwar period. In: Admissibility and Justifiability of Restrictions of Rights in a Democratic State Governed by the Rule of Law. Article collection in legal science, the 81st international scientific conference of the University of Latvia. Riga: The University of Latvia Press, 2023. https://doi.org/10.22364/juzk.81
  • Skutele S. Motives, Objectives and Prospects of the Reform of Preliminary Investigation of Criminal Proceedings in the Russian Empire in the 1860s. In: The Constitution of the Republic of Latvia – 100. Collection of research papers of the 80th International Scientific Conference of the University of Latvia. Riga: University of Latvia Press, 2022. https://doi.org/10.22364/juzk.80.33
  • Skutele S. Impact of French law on establishment of examining magistrate institute in framework of 1863 judicial reform in Russian Empire”. In: Collection of research papers of the 79th International Scientific Conference of the University of Latvia. Riga: University of Latvia Press, 2021. https://doi.org/10.22364/juzk.79.38

Popular scientific publications 

  • Rusanovs E., Skutele S. “Herberts Packer’s doctrine of two models of the criminal process”. [Orig. – “Herberta Pakera divu kriminālprocesa modeļu doktrīna.”] Riga: Rusanovs & Partneri, zvērinātu advokātu birojs SIA, 2021. ISBN 978-9934-9006-3-1
  • Rusanovs E., Skutele S. “Analysis of the question “…em., when did you remember better?”” [Orig. – “Jautājuma “…a, kad Jūs labāk atcerējāties” analīze””] Riga: Rusanovs & Partneri, zvērinātu advokātu birojs SIA, 2021. ISBN 978-9934-9006-2-4
  • Rusanovs E., Skutele S. “Conservatism in the view of Roger Scruton”. [Orig. – “Konservatīvisms Rodžera Skrūtona izpratnē”.] Riga: Rusanovs & Partneri, zvērinātu advokātu birojs SIA, 2021. ISB 978-9934-9006-1-7.
  • Rusanovs E., Skutele S. “Some considerations about asking questions in the court”. [Orig. – “Daži apsvērumi par jautājumu uzdošanu”.] Jurista Vārds, 21.07.2020., No. 29 (1139).
  • “How was the criminal process in Vidzeme at the end of the 18th century happening”. Series of articles (11 articles/essays). https://juristavards.lv/eseja/278755-eseja-par-pazuduso-delu-fridrihu-ludi-jeb-ka-18-gadsimta-beigas-vidzeme-noriteja-kriminalprocess-xi-/ 
    “Some considerations about asking question in the court” https://juristavards.lv/doc/276934-dazi-apsverumi-par-nederigiem-jautajumiem-jautajumu-uzdosana-un-noraidisana/