Intended Level of Study
5 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
120 credits
Duration
2 years
Training Structure
School of Law and Political Science
Overview
Major in Public Law
- Master's in Public Law and Litigation
Academic Directors: Pascale Idoux - Fanny Tarlet - Master's in Theory and Practice of Constitutional Law
Academic Director: J. Arlettaz
The transformations in contemporary public law—linked in particular to the restructuring of the legal field brought about by the interpenetration of domestic, European, and international legal systems and by the constitutionalization of the various branches of law, but also to the growing “demand for law” in the most technical areas of public policy, require that 21st-century public law scholars possess both a solid general legal foundation—including mastery of the fundamental disciplines of public law (administrative law, constitutional law, European law, and international law)—and “specialized” knowledge of the specific academic field in which they intend to specialize.
This observation and this necessity justify the consolidation of the existing Master’s programs in Public Law and European Law into a single Master’s program in General Public Law.
The Master 2 with a concentration in Public Law offers two tracks:
Public Law and Litigation Track
Theory and Practice of Constitutional Law Track
Content:
The University of Montpellier’s Master 2 program in “Public Law” offers students a high-level education in public law.
It provides a “customized” curriculum, meaning it is tailored to students’ professional goals. At the beginning of the year, each student can choose “elective courses” and “seminars” that will allow them to specialize in administrative law, European law, or constitutional law.
Instruction is delivered through lectures, case studies, and practical exercises. Students have the opportunity to complete an internship at a company, a local government agency, or a law firm. They must also write and defend an end-of-year thesis on a topic chosen in consultation with a faculty member. Emphasis is also placed on student participation in various moot court competitions, such as the Cassin Competition in European law or the Vedel Competition in constitutional law.
The faculty members of the Master 2 program in “Public Law” are academics and practitioners specializing in French and comparative public law, litigation law, and the law of fundamental freedoms.
To train generalist legal professionals capable of practicing in all branches of public law (general administrative law, constitutional law, European law, legal theory, public business law—including public procurement law, local government law, environmental and sustainable development law, urban planning law, civil service law, public property law, public finance law, etc.) in the areas of legal counsel, defense, adjudication, conciliation, or arbitration; drafting official documents; legal monitoring; and providing legal education at the university or non-university level—including professional training—as well as conducting legal research, whether to become a legal counsel for a company or a local government (legal affairs department), a lawyer (after passing the CRFPA entrance exam), or to take competitive exams for entry into the civil service—particularly those for recruitment as administrative court advisors or for entry into an academic career (in the latter case, after completing a Ph.D.). To provide students with a high-level education in public law.
Expertise and Skills
Organization
Open on an alternating basis
This program is offered as a work-study program.
Program
Select a program
Master's in Public Law and Litigation
Major in Public Law
- Master's in Public Law and Litigation
Academic Directors: Pascale Idoux and Fanny Tarlet
Generalist Master’s Program. The new Master’s in Public Law at Montpellier is a selective, high-level program that aims to train generalists in public law who are immediately ready to enter the professional world. We believe that the most effective approach to public law is a comprehensive one; that is why the Public Law and Litigation track offers in-depth instruction in all areas of public law—both theoretical and practical—and covers all levels of legislation and litigation.
Course Content. Our goal is to provide our students with both fundamental knowledge and a broad legal education, as well as specialized expertise in fields currently undergoing change. With this in mind, courses are devoted to sustainable development law and public digital law, and seminars focus on issues related to the future of public law. The litigation component of the Master’s program is, of course, particularly comprehensive and well-developed, covering all levels of the judicial system. The program thus offers a truly broad foundation in public law.
Continuity Between M1 and M2. The two years of the Master’s program are designed as a single, cohesive unit, with a progressive curriculum that guides students toward greater autonomy each semester. In this way, our students develop and tailor their projects through a process of collaborative knowledge creation over the course of two years. We therefore implement an innovative teaching approach that encourages student initiative.
Practical Experience. Our students participate in the Legal Clinic and work on supervised projects. In addition to core coursework, they benefit from methodology lectures and a wide range of practical seminars and case studies, particularly in the Public Affairs Practice module.
In addition, the Master’s in Public Law is compatible with the Magistère in Applied Public Law at the University of Montpellier.
Customized curriculum in the M2 program. Students can choose from three alternative tracks in the M2 program. They have a flexible schedule that allows them to select one of the following three projects:
- Writing a research thesis: The master’s program is directly affiliated with our laboratory, CREAM (Montpellier Center for Research and Administrative Studies), and students regularly work there alongside doctoral students and their faculty members when they are not working in the master’s program’s own office, located on the same premises.
- Preparation for competitive exams: CRFPA for future attorneys, TACAA advisors for future administrative judges, senior civil service positions, etc.
- Internship: Every other week is spent at a government agency, court, law firm, or company to help students gain professional experience; during this time, they sign an employment contract and are paid for 12 months.
Faculty. The faculty and instructors in the Master’s in Public Law program include academics, faculty members engaged in research, administrative judges, and public law specialists from a variety of backgrounds who share their unique career paths and experiences with our students.
Admissions. Student selection for the Master’s program is based on simple criteria: while strong undergraduate grades are expected, each student’s personal goals and motivation are key factors for us, regardless of the applicant’s home university. Admissions interviews are held in June or July.
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Litigation System (ST)
Administrative Law of Local Governments (ST)
EU Urban Planning Law
6 creditsEU Public Economic Law 1
6 creditsEU EU Litigation System
6 creditsInternational Environmental Law and Sustainable Development (ST)
EU Language
Digital Skills - In-Depth Research
EU Environmental Law
6 creditsMaster's in Environmental Law
4 creditsTD Environmental Law
2 credits
Digital Skills - Pix+Droit Prep
EU Public Economic Law 2
6 creditsPublic Law of Digital Technology (ST)
Legal Theories of the State (ST)
EU Public Procurement Law
6 creditsConstitutional Litigation Practice (ST)
Optional
Public Business Law
6 creditsPublic Economic Law
6 creditsPublic Litigation
6 creditsPublic Affairs Practice
6 creditsAnticipating Changes in the Fundamentals of Public Law
6 credits
Language - Legal English
Supervised Project/Thesis
15 creditsChoose one of the following two options:
Supervised Project
Thesis
15 credits
Promoting Sustainable Development
9 creditsEU Options
Choose one of the following two options:
Master's Degree in Constitutional Law: Theory and Practice
Major in Public Law
- Master's in Theory and Practice of Constitutional Law
Academic Director: Jordane ARLETTAZ
The Master’s program in “Theory and Practice of Constitutional Law ” (TPDC) within the “Public Law” track at the University of Montpellier draws primarily on the Center for Constitutional, Comparative, and Political Studies and Research (CERCOP) for constitutional law and the philosophy of law, which enjoys well-established national recognition and whose members have authored numerous reference works.
The faculty members of the Constitutional Studies Track are academics and practitioners specializing in French and comparative constitutional law, legal theory, constitutional litigation, and the law of fundamental freedoms. Courses are taught through a combination of lectures, case studies, and scenario-based exercises. For several years now, the program has also been leading the Montpellier student team that participates in the “Georges Vedel” moot court competition sponsored by the Constitutional Council.
Major Schools of Legal Thought (ST)
5 creditsEU Litigation System (ST)
3 creditsPublic Economic Law (ST)
Environment and Policy (ST)
EU Comparative Constitutional Law
7 creditsCM Comparative Constitutional Law
5 creditsTD: Comparative Constitutional Law
2 credits
EU language
EU: The ECHR Litigation System
7 creditsDigital Skills - In-Depth Research
Optional
Research (workshops)
Contemporary Challenges
10 creditsPre-professional skills
19 creditsChoose one of the following two options:
Search
19 creditsResearch + Engagement
19 creditsSearch
17 creditsStudent Engagement