This year, the Faculty of Law of Vilnius University (VU) celebrates its 385th anniversary. Nearly four centuries have passed – a period during which states, their borders and societies, legal systems, and the legal profession itself have undergone profound changes. Throughout this time, the Faculty of Law has experienced numerous historical transformations, yet it has remained a place where legal scholarship is advanced and generations of legal professionals are educated.
“385 years is more than just a number. It represents nearly four centuries of people, ideas, law, and the history of the state. It reflects a respect for scholarship, academic freedom, the law, and human dignity passed down from generation to generation,” says Prof. Vigita Vėbraitė, Dean of the VU Faculty of Law.
From 1641 to Modern Lithuania
The Faculty of Law is one of the oldest faculties at Vilnius University. Its history dates back to 11 October 1641, when the Faculty was established at Vilnius University by a royal privilege granted by Władysław Vasa, Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland. Kazimierz Leon Sapieha played an important role in the Faculty’s establishment. His donation of real estate, an extensive book collection known as Bibliotheca Sapiehana, and financial contributions helped ensure long-term funding for research and studies, as well as the Faculty’s economic independence.
Over its 385-year history, the Faculty of Law has experienced many challenging periods – times of growth, closure, return, and revival. This long history has also been shaped by members of the Faculty community across different generations. Among them were contemporaries Juliusz Słowacki and Simonas Daukantas, both of whom studied law at the Faculty. Nobel Prize in Literature laureate Czesław Miłosz also studied law at Vilnius University, explaining his choice of alma mater by saying that “law is better in Vilnius than at other universities.”
The history of the Faculty of Law is also closely intertwined with the development of the modern Lithuanian state. Among the signatories of the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania on 11 March 1990 were prominent Lithuanian legal professionals Jonas Prapiestis, Kęstutis Lapinskas, Kazimieras Motieka, Česlav Okinčic, and others.
The restoration of independence marked the beginning of an exceptional period. Alongside the transformation of the state’s political system, the entire legal system underwent fundamental changes. It was necessary to establish the legal foundations of a democratic state and develop new laws and institutions.
The first decade of independence was particularly intensive, with the Faculty of Law community actively involved in these processes. Academics who had previously focused primarily on teaching and research began applying their knowledge and experience far beyond the university, contributing to the development of the state’s legal system while continuing their academic work at VU.
Faculty researchers and alumni contributed to the drafting and improvement of Lithuania’s legal codes and other fundamental legislation. However, this period also presented considerable challenges for the Faculty itself. It was essential to maintain and strengthen the academic community, ensuring that its members’ active involvement in state-building did not draw them away from the Faculty’s core missions – teaching and research.
The Legal Profession in a Changing World
Over the years, not only has the Faculty of Law changed, but so has the understanding of what it means to be a legal professional.
“Society, technologies, and business models are changing, but the need for law is not disappearing. On the contrary, it is often becoming even greater,” says Dean Prof. Vėbraitė.
These changes are also reflected in the choices made by today’s students. Law remains one of the most popular fields of study in Lithuania, with approximately 300–330 first-year students beginning their studies at the Faculty of Law each September.
Today, a law degree opens the door to a wide range of career paths – from the public sector, courts, prosecution services, and notarial practice to business, international organisations, and the technology sector.
Students’ expectations of their future profession have also evolved. Increasingly, they are asking questions about work-life balance, opportunities to work internationally, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the legal profession. Yet one of the most frequently raised questions today is particularly significant: Will my work be meaningful?
This perspective is also reflected in students’ choices of specialisation and career paths. Students are interested in human rights, international law, criminal law, and criminology, while commercial and civil law remain popular.
Increasingly, students seek internships not only in traditional legal institutions but also in ministries, international organisations, human rights institutions, and non-governmental organisations. After graduation, they also pursue careers in business, the financial sector, technology companies, and start-ups.
Looking Ahead
The Faculty of Law celebrates its 385th anniversary at a time that can hardly be described as calm or predictable. Its previous milestone, the 380th anniversary, was marked amid the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, while today the reality of war has become an inseparable part of everyday life. At the same time, challenges to the rule of law and academic freedom are being discussed with increasing frequency.
“Our duty, as legal scholars and practitioners, is to demonstrate that we stand with society and that law is not merely a collection of rules. It protects human rights, freedoms, and justice, while research helps us understand how to strengthen that protection,” emphasises Prof. Vėbraitė.
Over the past 385 years, society’s expectations of legal professionals and students’ expectations of universities have changed. Yet the need to ask questions, think critically, seek solutions, and contribute to the development of society and the state remains unchanged.