Ever wondered where Brazil’s legal eagles take flight? The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Faculty of Law stands before us. It is more than just a law school. It’s a cornerstone of Brazilian legal history.
Founded in 1920 it resulted from merging two private law schools. These schools dated back to the 1880s. The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Faculty of Law is the third oldest law school in Brazil. Only the University of São Paulo Faculty of Law and the Federal University of Pernambuco Faculty of Law are older. Both were founded in 1827.
But that’s not all. The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Faculty of Law is the largest public law school in Brazil. Almost three thousand students are enrolled. Imagine the lively debates echoing through these halls.
Its alumni reads like a who’s who of Brazilian legal minds. Many distinguished legal scholars and public officials studied here. Several members of the Supreme Court honed their skills here. Lafayette de Andrada served from 1945 to 1969. Assunção Galotti served from 1949 to 1974. Nélson Hungria served from 1951 to 1961. Cordeiro Guerra served from 1974 to 1986. Moreira Alves served from 1975 to 2003. Marco Aurélio Mello served from 1990 to the present.
The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Faculty of Law has an interesting home. It occupies the palace once dedicated to the Count of Arcos. From 1826 to 1924 the Brazilian Senate met here.
The creation of the National Faculty of Law ended a monopoly. Legal education had been almost exclusive to two other institutions. They are the Faculdade de Direito do Recife and the Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de São Paulo. The National Faculty of Law added needed diversity.
In 1945 the National Faculty of Law became part of a new university. This was the University of Brazil. During this time the faculty’s library was created.
The college’s magazine “A Época” was launched too. Also the Literary Guild and the Law Journal were created.
In the 1930s the National Faculty of Law held public contests for teachers. One notable contest was for Joaquim Pimenta in sociology. The class of 1937 produced José Honorio Rodrigues and Evaristo de Moraes Filho.
In the 1940s the National Faculty of Law moved to this building. Student mobilization was strong during this time. This was especially true as resistance to the Estado Novo grew.
The 1950s solidified the reputation of the National Faculty of Law. In 1955 San Tiago Dantas gave an inaugural lecture. It was entitled “Legal Education and the Brazilian crisis”. He presented new guidelines for legal education. He criticized the teaching methods. Dantas advocated for the case system. He argued for an interdisciplinary approach to law.
The National Faculty of Law faced challenges after the 1964 coup. The student union fought against the military regime.
The 1970s brought a crisis. Few entrance exams were conducted. Faculty staff was gradually reduced.
Since 2009 the National Faculty of Law has been undergoing changes. These changes aim to improve the school’s quality and reputation.
The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Faculty of Law has shaped Brazil. Its graduates have influenced law politics arts and sports. It remains a vital institution. It continues to contribute to Brazilian society.