Institute of Law

Birzeit University established the Institute of Law (IoL) in 1993 in order to contribute to the evolution of legal structures and the rule of law in Palestine. The establishment of a Palestinian administration and legislative activity has created a need for a venue in which academics and professionals can think systematically and creatively about the challenges facing legal institutions in Palestine, and contribute to building them.

Due to the constitutional and legal history of the West Bank and Gaza, inherited legislation urgently needs review and the individuals whose function it is to study, control or implement them need to upgrade their skills.

As a contribution to the building of human capacities, IoL conducts applied legal research and offers continuing legal education through conferences, workshops, seminars and training courses. On the academic level, IoL offers a Masters' degree in Law and is a partner with the Women's Studies Institute, and the Development Studies Program in the "Gender, Law and Development" Masters program.

IoL has also been able to contribute to the emerging rule of law through the creation of a Palestinian Legal and Judicial Databank, "Al-Muqtafi". Developed since 1995, it contains integrated referential, full text and facsimile image databases of all legislation enacted in Palestine over the last 150 years.

IoL also maintains an active website and, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice - Diwan al-Fatwa wa al-Tashri', now publishes the Palestine Gazette online.

The IoL also houses the 'Montesquieu Law Library', which is already the largest law library in the Palestinian Territories. Its goal is to meet the information requirements of lawmakers, legal practitioners, teachers, researchers as well as students in the West Bank and Gaza, and others interested individuals and institutions abroad, through its online catalogue and remote services.

For more information about the IoL, please visit the Institute's website at: http://lawcenter.birzeit.edu/