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"Exploring differences primarily helps us understand ourselves and practice self-reflection" – this insight opened the MCC School of Law’s semester-closing OKH event at the Modul University in Vienna. Nearly fifty students had the opportunity to explore the perspectives of comparative law through lectures and discussions with both domestic and international professors. They examined the differences between legal families and cultures, as well as the unique ways of thinking in various branches of law. The academic sessions were complemented by a quiz competition and community activities, and the Centers also had a chance to showcase their work.
The focus of the semester-closing OKH event organized by the School of Law at MCC in Vienna was on comparative law. Lectures, panel discussions, and a quiz competition helped explore the role, significance but also the limitations of comparative law in the contemporary world. In the opening lecture of the weekend, Lénárd Sándor, the head of the School of Law, emphasized that revealing differences primarily serves to better understand and know ourselves. In legal science, the application of the comparative method is enabled by the permanent characteristics present in the laws of individual countries—such as the unique vocabulary, categories, structure, interpretative methods, and the role of law in society. Following this—and underscoring the contemporary rise of comparative constitutional law—Luca Vanoni, Professor of Comparative Law at the University of Milan, examined the concept of the rule of law and the meaning of legality, considering its treatment in legal literature as well as the development of different legal families and systems.
Péter Darák, Judge of the Curia and former President of the Supreme Court, in his plenary and interactive lecture, surveyed the distinctive modes of thinking across various branches of law. Drawing on concrete cases and examples, he explored the divergent meanings and interpretations of legal concepts—such as presumptions—within different legal fields. The plenary lecture was followed by a panel discussion led by the heads of the different Centers, including the Center for Private Law, Center for State Leadership and Public Law, Center for International Law and Center for Law and Society. In addition to showcasing the workshops’ diverse programs and research areas, the discussions emphasized that while recognizing distinctions between branches of law is important for grounding research and future specialization, a holistic perspective is essential for addressing contemporary legal challenges. Furthermore, the unity of legal education and scholarship, alongside the mission of the profession, serves to connect the legal community. The professional program concluded with a lecture by Zhixing Fu, head of the Vienna office of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC). He presented both the characteristics of the Far Eastern legal family and CIETAC’s role in arbitration. The academic sessions, panel discussions, and quiz competition were complemented by community programs, museum visits, and a visit to the Christmas market.
