FELLOWSHIP ON LEGAL PRAGMATISM AND REALISM

Call for Applications

Perelman Centre for Legal Philosophy

FELLOWSHIP ON LEGAL PRAGMATISM AND REALISM

The Perelman Centre for Legal Philosophy of the Université Libre de Bruxelles is calling
for applications for an 8 months full time Fellowship on Legal Pragmatism & Realism
in the framework of the Twining Llewellyn Fund.
1. FELLOWSHIP OF THE NATIONAL FUND FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
The fellowship will unfold as part of a research program sponsored by the Belgian
National Fund for Scientific Research. It has two key objectives. First, it aims at starting a
PhD research on legal pragmatism and realism focusing on the material of the Twining
Llewellyn Fund. Second, it seeks to facilitate the reception of the Twining-Llewellyn
collection at the Perelman Centre and to make it fit for public consultation. This involves
working hand in hand with different services at the ULB (library, archives, etc.) for
cataloguing, referencing and setting up online and onsite consultation services.
The fellowship position is initially available for 8 months (November 1, 2016 – June 30,
2017- see more below), during which the fellow will be enrolled as a doctoral student at
the Université Libre de Bruxelles. After such a period, the Perelman Centre may offer the
fellow the possibility to continue writing the doctoral dissertation. This offer is subject
to availability of funds and positive evaluation of the fellowship period.
2. TWINING- LLEWELLYN FUND
Karl Nickerson Llewellyn (1893-1962) was a preeminent American legal scholar based
at the University of Chicago who is particularly known for advancing the Realist
Movement of legal thought, and for his involvement in the development of the Uniform
Commercial Code. William Twining (1934-) is a British legal theorist and founder of the
Law in Context Movement. His contributions span across jurisprudence, evidence and
proof, legal method, and legal education. He is a leading scholar on the subject of legal
theory and globalization. William Twining made a significant donation of his personal
library to the Perelman Centre which includes (1) a shadow version of the Llewellyn
collection at Chicago, (2) The Soia Mentschikoff shadow collection; (3) a personal
collection of books owed by William Twining on American jurisprudence, realism,
globalisation and Jeremy Bentham, and (4) William Twining’s material, which
encompasses some of his academic correspondence, annotated material, and his
published and unpublished works.
3. REQUISITES
Applicants must hold a Master’s degree (120 ECTS) or equivalent, preferably in law. The
selection committee will evaluate on a case-by-case basis the eligibility of applicants
holding a Master’s degree in other disciplines than law. Applicants who already hold a
PhD are not eligible. Special consideration will be given to applicants with an
international academic profile and excellent academic results.
We are looking for enthusiastic candidates with aptitude for academic research,
collective research and teamwork. Candidates must be fully fluent in written and oral
English, and have good management and IT skills. Professional experience is not
required but can constitute a valuable asset in the application.
Contract start date 1/11/2016
A later starting date is possible. However, the end date of the contract will not change (30
June 2016). Please indicate in your application when will you be available to take up the
position.
Contract duration and salary
Eight-month scholarship. The grant amounts to around €1800 net.
Application
Applications must be sent to the Director of the Perelman Centre, Prof. Isabelle Rorive
(philodroit@ulb.ac.be). Please write as email subject “Fellowship vacancy – Candidate
your surname”.
Deadline for receiving applications is 20 October 2016. Shortlisted candidates will be
contacted for an interview.
The application must include the following documents:
• Applicant CV
• Motivation letter
• The candidate’s master thesis or, eventually, a paper written in the
framework of his/her studies.
The Perelman Centre for Legal Philosophy: For more information regarding the
framework of his/her studies.
Perelman Centre and its activities please visit the website www.phildroit.be