Jean Monnet Module “Legal Approximation Laboratory” (LegAL) (2019-2022)

Jean Monnet Module “Laboratory of Approximation of Armenian Legislation to the EU Acquis” / “Legal Approximation Laboratory” (LegAL) was created as a hub of knowledge on EU Law and methodology of approximation of domestic legal orders to the EU acquis. LegAL aims to contribute to the implementation of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by equipping graduates with relevant knowledge and skills of law- and policy-making, stimulating academic debate on the issues of legal approximation and providing methodological support to practitioners in governmental and non-governmental sectors.

The Module consists of the following components:

1. Legal Approximation Laboratory (LegAL) course offered to students of Political Science, Law, Public Administration, European Studies and other related disciplines. The course is open to students from different universities, as well as to practitioners in the format of life-long learning. It is based on the model of a legal clinic and includes:
   a) Theoretical part (sub-courses “Issues in EU Law” and “Theory and Methodology of Legal Approximation”) and
2. b) Practicum aiming to develop participants’ skills in the areas of law- and policy making;
3. Annual Summer School addressing specific issues of theory and methodology of legal approximation;
4. Annual Workshops on methodology of legal approximation for practitioners involved in the processes of law- and policy-making and implementation of approximated legislation;
5. Research project “Europeanisation of Armenian Legal Order: Challenges and Perspectives”; and
6. Annual International Academic Roundtables on the issues of legal approximation involving leading scholars and practitioners in the field and open to the public.

The project aims to:

1. Enrich the university curriculum with the innovative professionally-oriented teaching course (LegAL) providing students with theoretical knowledge on legal approximation, stimulating in-depth studying of relevant fields of EU law and policies and developing relevant professional skills;
2. Enhance research and stimulate international academic debate on the issues of legal approximation;
3. Stimulate dialogue with and provide expert support and training to policy-, law-makers and judges.

The Module is coordinated and taught by Anna Khvorostiankina, PhD, Associate Professor of Law, UNESCO Chair on Human Rights, Democracy and Political Science, in cooperation with established international scholars and experts in the areas of EU Law and legal approximation.

Anna Khvorostiankina holds a PhD in Legal Theory (Legislation Institute of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, 2012); Second Level Master in “Advanced Studies in European and Transnational Law” (University of Trento, Italy, 2006); and LL.M. degree with the focus on law-making theory (National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”, Ukraine, 2005).

She had been working for National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy" as Associate Professor at the Department of General Jurisprudence and Public Law (2008-2019). In 2017, she was a Visiting Associate Professor at Stanford University, USA, teaching a course “Constitutional Cultures in Transition: Constitutional Values and Identities in Post-Soviet Space”.

Anna's research interests include Europeanisation of post-Soviet legal systems, recent developments in theory and practice of judicial argumentation in post-Soviet countries, and particularities of the Rule of Law in societies in transition. Her current research projects focus on Europeanisation of Armenian legal system and constitutional change in Armenia.

Dr. Khvorostiankina is a Member of the Management Board of the Association of European Studies for the Caucasus (AESC).

Contacts:

e-mail: legal.jeanmonnet@gmail.com

Project number: Jean Monnet Module 610880-EPP-1-2019-1-AM-EPPJMO-MODULE Project period: 01.09.2019-31.08.2022