CONFERENCE
The Latvian chapter, “Methodology of Law and Methodology of Legal Scholarship in the Law School Curricula – Latvia”, was prepared by Associate Professor Jānis Pleps of the Faculty of Law of the University of Latvia, together with Dita Plepa and Kalvis Engīzers. It is the only chapter representing the Baltic States included in this Europe-wide study.
The contribution by the Latvian authors examines the development of legal methodology following the restoration of Latvia’s independence, highlighting the transition from the Soviet legal system to the Western legal tradition. Particular attention is paid to the direct application of the Satversme (the Constitution of Latvia), the role of general principles of law, and the integration of European Union and international law in legal argumentation. The chapter also analyses the place of legal theory and methodology within Latvian legal education and practice, emphasising their importance for the proper and high-quality application of law.
The book serves as both a practical and academic resource, offering a structured overview of legal methods in Europe, promoting coherent legal reasoning and enabling comparisons between different national approaches to legal theory and methodology.
The volume is edited by Tomáš Gábriš and Katarzyna Žák Krzyžanková, bringing together leading experts in legal theory and methodology from more than ten European countries. Each national chapter follows a unified methodological framework, analysing how legal methodology is taught, applied in practice and developed in legal scholarship.
The book is available in open access.
