Maximo Carvajal Contreras, The Association of Departments, Schools and
Institutes of Law of Latin America (afeidal) and of the National Association of
Law Departments and Schools, Mexico
Before entering into the specific topics contained in the program for this meeting, I think I must briefly mention the first law lectureship in the Americas, which is intimately connected with the founding of what is now the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
The university was inaugurated on January 25, 1553, and the first class in law on our continent was presented on June 5 of that same year with the reading of the "Chair of Decretals" by Doctor Pedro Morones, Prosecutor of the Royal Court. Likewise, on July 12 of that year the lawyer, Bartolomé de Frías began to lecture on laws and institutes (see attachment 1).
I. STRUCTURE OF LEGAL EDUCATION IN MEXICO
The National Autonomous University of Mexico is the most important educational institution in Mexico, and by article 3 of the Constitution of Mexico it enjoys autonomy, which means that it must govern itself, so as to educate, research and defend our culture through freedom of teaching and research, free examination and discussion of ideas. To that end, it determines its curricula and programs and sets the terms for entry, promotion, and tenure of its academic staff and administers its assets. As part of this institution, the Law School has the same rights and obligations; moreover, many private schools are incorporated into it and follow the same curricula.
II. WHO ARE THE STUDENTS?
Students enter the law program by taking an entry examination based on general knowledge; candidates for graduate work take that examination and have an interview which determines the research they intend to carry out and their calling for teaching and research.
Turning to graduate and non-graduate students, in accordance with the ideas of this association, non-graduate students are those who have covered the credits of the curricula for the law degree and have presented and defended their thesis. The term “graduate student” is understood to mean a student who has completed and obtained a masters’ degree or doctorate in law.
This Law School also has a system for distance learning, whereby students prepare through tutorials taught by specialized teachers, with material prepared specifically for them, on all subject matters included in the curricula.
Student enrollment is 12,315, distributed as follows: regular classes 7,963; distance learning 3,667, who are studying for a college law degree; and graduate studies, 685.
III. FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME STUDENTS
Most students in the school are studying part-time. Some are full-time if they have a scholarship. This latter case is generally true of graduate studies, but it is true of very few who are simply pursuing a law degree
IV. CORPS OF TEACHERS AND THEIR SELECTION
On the teaching staff 204 hold a doctorate degree, 13 hold a masters’ degree, and 638 hold law degrees -- comprising 865 professors in all. This staff is chosen in accordance with the university's By-laws for Academic Personnel, which contain specific requirements for teachers, including:
§ specialization in particular disciplines
§ pedagogical and educational training
§ proven experience
§ training and/or refresher courses
§ national and international visits and exchanges
§ participation in academic activities, including teaching and research
Likewise, the Law School gives incentives to its academic staff through programs organized by the university whereby pay is increased with scholarships for teaching performance, research, publication, and participation in academic events.
Through these programs, professors are encouraged to stay current and in touch with scholarly and technological advances so that they can convey what they learn to students with a vision wherein training takes precedence over mere information.
V. CURRICULA AND THE BODY APPROVING THEM
Preparation and approval of curricula (see attachment 2) is complex because various bodies are involved in them. First, they are prepared by various experts in each of the areas of law, social sciences and philosophy. Then they are presented for consideration to the department's Technical Council, which is the body responsible for approving and/or modifying the curricula submitted to it. The council is headed by the director and is composed of teachers and students. Curricula in the area of social sciences are subsequently ratified by the academic council, which gives final authorization for implementation.
A description of the Law School’s objectives, its entrant profile, prerequisites for entry, graduate profile, field of work, possible activities and student requirements for the curriculum are found in attachment 3.
VI. WORK FOR WHICH GRADUATES ARE QUALIFIED
Graduates are prepared to do extremely varied kinds of work, for example, serving as:
1 Providers of professional services to the government in public administration by applying and controlling the legal process in government agencies and entities.
2 Commissioners in Judicial Branch agencies that deal with jurisdictional matters, in both local or federal spheres, in administrative matters, such as the nation’s attorney general, administrative conflicts, labor courts, designated Federal and Local Conciliation and Arbitration Boards and so forth.
3 Public prosecutors, as social representatives of the public ministry, in forming part of the prosecutor's office in either the national government or the federal district or the states.
4 Lawmakers in the legislative branch participating politically as deputies, assembly members or senators.
5 Representatives of the country in consulates, embassies and international bodies, both public and private.
6 Depositories of the public trust, working as notaries and registrars in registry agencies for property and trade, in brokerages or customs agencies.
7 Defenders of social, labor, agrarian or resident associations, etc.
8 Lawyers in private practice before various courts.
9 Teachers in public or private schools at middle school, secondary school or advanced levels.
10 Researchers in various areas of knowledge in institutions of higher learning.
11 Consultants or advisers to public or private institutions.
12 Employees in banking institutions and brokerage firms.
13 Legal advisers and attorneys for individuals, companies and public and private institutions.
14 Advocates for human rights and the environment.
VII. THE LEGAL SYSTEM IN MEXICO AND THE REGION
The Mexican legal system comes from Roman, Germanic and canonical systems of law, the one that predominates in our country's region and elsewhere in Latin America, with some exceptions.