Max Planck Summer Academy for Legal History 2026

The Max Planck Summer Academy for Legal History 2026 is an intensive two-week program designed for early-stage research students, primarily PhD candidates, to explore traditional and contemporary methodologies in legal history. Organized by the Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Theory, the academy will be held from July 6 to July 17, 2026, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

This year's theme, "Legal Literacy," focuses on understanding law as a knowledge-based social practice. Participants will engage in discussions about the nature of legal knowledge, its reconstruction, and the various forms it takes, including black-letter law, practitioners' law, and the background knowledge held by diverse societal actors. The program aims to shed light on the diverse media through which legal knowledge is expressed and transmitted.

The academy comprises three parts: introductory courses led by institute members and guest speakers on fundamental issues of legal history; participant presentations of their own research projects related to the year's theme; and opportunities for participants to develop their research further using the institute's resources and engaging with experts in the field.

Early-stage research students, especially those pursuing PhDs, are encouraged to apply. A working knowledge of English is required, while German language skills are not necessary. Applications should include a CV, a project summary of approximately 10 pages, and a letter of motivation, submitted via email by January 31, 2026.