Faculty of Law

The Program of Law and Philosophy Studies at Bar-Ilan University

Director: Hanoch Sheinman

The Program and its Objectives

The Bar-Ilan Faculty School of Law (BIU Law) and Department of General Philosophy (BIU Philosophy) offer an integrated program for the study of law and philosophy.  Philosophical training helps students develop analytic, argumentative, and writing skills that are tremendously important for any career in law.  The value of such training for graduate or postgraduate studies and teaching or academic career is particularly high.

Participants in the program will study toward a law degree (LL.B.) and simultaneously toward a direct master's degree in philosophy (MA), without having to take a first degree in philosophy.

The Program's Tracks

The program can be taken in two tracks:

Track A: Law degree and Philosophy MA without thesis.  This track must be completed within four years of study.

Track B: Law degree and Philosophy MA with thesis.  This track must be completed within five years of study.

Track A is designed for students who intend to start their law internship ("stage") shortly after completing their law degree.  Track B is particularly suitable for students who consider pursuing doctoral studies.

The Program's Stages

The program has two stages: stage 1 (years 1-2) and stage 2 (years 3-4/5).

Stage 1 Requirements (years 1-2)

In addition to the mandatory law courses, the participants in the program are required to complete 24 semesterial hours of Supplementary Philosophy Studies (SPS) by the end of their second year of studies with an average grade of 85.

The SPS courses are as follows:

Year 1: Logic (4 hours); Ancient Philosophy (4 hours)

Year 2: Modern Philosophy (4 hours); Ethics (4 hours); Jurisprudence (4 hours); Law and Philosophy (4 hours)

• The Ethics course can be taken at the Faculty of Law ("Ethics Theory") or Department of General Philosophy ("Introduction to Moral Philosophy").
• Law and Philosophy is the capstone seminar of the study program. The seminar students will be expected to teach or lead the discussion on texts of their choosing or present their own work.

Stage 2 Requirements (years 3-4)

The number of hours required for completing the direct master's degree are as follows:

Track A (w/o thesis): 44 semesterial hours (68 with the SPS)

Track B (with thesis): 36 semesterial hours (60 with SPS)

A student can satisfy two courses (or 8 hours) of these requirements by taking courses at the Faculty of Law, with advance approval from the program's director.

Registration

Registration for the Program of Law and Philosophy Studies will take place right at the very beginning of Year 1.

Registration for the MA in Philosophy will take place by the end of Year 2 and only after the student has satisfied completed her SPS.