Law and Economics

The program seeks to bridge the knowledge gap among law, economic and financial sciences graduates, in particular those who contribute to the formulation of economic and financial policies through advancing legal cadres with high level of knowledge and qualification in economic sciences, and, in contrast, building economic cadres with high ranking knowledge and training in legal science, so that they would occupy a prominent and leading role in building economic and legal policies that are founded on sound science-based integrated knowledge between both fields in a manner that positively guarantees having in place economic development and a well examined and balanced legal regulation of the phenomena and activities in question. 

  • Building and upgrading the intellectual capabilities and scientific research skills of the target groups in the fields of law and economics, particularly those who work in the economic affairs for the public and private sectors; 
  • Contributing to the in-depth understanding of the phenomena and economic matters which are subject to regulation and codification through legislation issued for these purposes, by means of strengthening economic understanding of legal regulation per phenomenon in one-pot synthesis;
  • Promotion of employment opportunities in the public and private sectors through preparation of specialists who gather knowledge in the fields of law and economics at the same time;
  • Providing those enrolled in the programme, particularly the practitioners of legal and judicial professions in the public and private sectors, with a new legal/economic knowledge that is closely related to their daily work and contributes to achieving higher efficiency and better achievement for the requirements of their positions;
  • Developing the legislative mechanisms governing the various economic activities in line with the needs of the Palestinian circumstances, and in a consistency with international best practices; and
  • Advancement of distinguished specialists who are capable to participate in deepening the model of multidisciplinary educational approach in the field of law and economics that reflects the reality of the relationship between these two fields.

General outcomes

 

Providing the Palestinian public and private sectors with professional, high knowledgeable and qualified cadres who own profound skills in legal critique and analysis; these cadres are expected to contribute effectively to the preparation and implementation of the comprehensive national-legal and economic plans to upgrade economic sector and the legal frameworks attached thereto in quest of a sound legal drafting for successful and sustainable economic policies. 

 

Intended outcomes

 

  • Graduates with specialized scientific research skills in the field of law and economy obtain high abilities to conduct legal and economic research and studies; 
  • Graduates who are capable of performing inclusive scientific analysis of economic policies and legislative frameworks attached thereto to assist upgrading the implementation of policies, assessment of performance and adjusting it where applicable;
  • Graduates who are able to transmit knowledge gained in terms of creating, implementing and evaluating Palestinian economic policies and its legal statues through enhancement the capacity of linking theory to practice;
  • Establishment of legal cadres who are capable of understanding economic phenomena, and presenting creative legal scenarios and solutions to the economic issues they face while performing their functions in the public and private sectors;
  • High qualified graduates in the field of economics with profound legal knowledge that ensure an appropriate understanding of law; its philosophy and substance to apply it in their careers;
  • Cadres who enjoy analysis and critique skills, highly capable of handling and responding to the requirements of legal reform and bearing professional and functional responsibilities in line with recent developments in their respective areas of specialization; and
  • Graduates who are capable and enthusiastic to pursue higher studies, i.e. Ph.D., to furnish local and national institutions with further accumulative knowledge and expertise in the field of law and economics at once. 
  • Public and private sectors’ institutions;
  • Consultations for local and international public and private institutions, NGOs and international organizations working in the field;
  • Universities, research centers and civil society; and
  • Judiciary, public prosecution, legal profession, financial and monetary institutions.
Program requirements

Students are required to complete no less than 36 credit hours distributed as follows:

 

The remedial coursemust be taken before the third semester of enrolment in the Program, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the School of Graduate Studies at Birzeit University 

 

Compulsory Courses: (18 credit hours) ​

Course No.

Course Title

Prerequisite(s)

LECO630

Research Methodology

 

LECO631

Microeconomic Analysis of Law

 

LECO632

Macroeconomic Analysis of Law

 

JURI633

Competition Law

 

JURI7312

Banking and Securities Law

 

JURI7315

Financial Leasing and Mortgage Laws

 

 

Elective Courses:(12 credit hours)

Course No.

Course Title

Prerequisite(s)

ECON732

Industrial Economy

 

ECON734

Labor Economics

 

ECON735

Economic Development

 

JURI7325

Investment Law

 

JURI7332

Specialized Commercial Contracts

 

JURI7335

Palestinian Economic Agreements

 

JURI7345

International Economic Law

 

JURI7353

Consumer Protection Law

 

JURI7354

Customs and Taxation Laws

 

JURI7355

Islamic Finance

 

LECO713

Special Topic LECO7131LECO7132LECO7133

 

LECO730

Microfinance

 

LECO731

Economic Crimes

 

LECO732

Selected Topics in Law and Economics

 

 

Track “A” or Track “B” 6 Credit Hours; Thesis or two Seminars

Track

Track Title

Course No.

Prerequisite(s)

Track A

Thesis

JURI860

Complete no less than 15 credit hours from the program

Track B

Seminars

LECO830

LECO831

 

The Academic Plan is available only in Arabic.

  1. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in law either in Economics or in other fields approved by the Program Council from a university recognized by Birzeit University. 
  2. Students must successfully pass an exam that aims at assessing students’ legal knowledge and analytical skills. 
  3. A personal interview with the Program Committee. 
  4. Applicants are required to complete the remedial courses determined by the program.  Students are required to take the English language test specified by the program. According to the results of this test, the need to register for a remedial course in English language ENGC 530 will be determined. Students are required to complete this course before the beginning of the third semester, according to the applied academic regulation related to remedial courses.