Albert Verheij receives Comenius Teaching Fellow grant for innovative curriculum on a human-centered rule of law

Professor of Private Law Albert Verheij has been awarded a Comenius Teaching Fellow grant. With this educational subsidy, he will develop an innovative curriculum titled ‘Towards a human-centered rule of law’. The project places the perspective of those seeking justice at the heart of legal education.

Personal experiences as an entry point to the law

Verheij aims to encourage students to approach the law not only from rules and structures but also from the experiences and emotions of people who interact with the legal system. This is done, among other ways, through meetings with experts by experience, such as victims of the childcare benefits scandal, people who have gone through contentious divorces, or those who suffered permanent injuries due to wrongful acts by others. Films and film clips are also used to confront students with the impact that the law and legal professionals have on citizens.

Reflection on the role of the lawyer in the rule of law

A key part of the curriculum is reflection: students are challenged to consider their own role and responsibility as future legal professionals within the rule of law. Guest lectures from legal professionals support this reflection. The project aims to educate future lawyers not only to be legally skilled but also socially aware.

This project aligns seamlessly with one of the strategic priorities of the Faculty of Law: strengthening the rule of law.

This article was published by the Faculty of Law.