We are pleased to present highlights of the activities of Max Planck Law in 2024. Though far from exhaustive, these examples provide a compelling glimpse of the network’s breadth and vitality.
Expanding Global Collaborations
A significant step forward in international collaboration came with the expansion of our exchange programmes. New partnerships with the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, the UCL Faculty of Laws, and the University of Oxford’s Institute of European and Comparative Law have provided fresh opportunities for academic exchange.
Advancing Legal Research
Another important highlight of the year was the introduction of a short residential course titled ‘Approaches to Legal Research’. Held at Harnack House in Berlin, the course marked a restructuring of the Max Planck Law Curriculum, offering participants insights into diverse methodologies. Feedback from attendees was very positive, with many noting how the course had broadened their horizons.
The year also saw a big rise in activity across Max Planck Law Initiatives, with nearly 50 scholarly events, ranging from talks, to reading groups, to conferences. While online meetings remained prevalent, 2024 featured an increase in in-person gatherings, enabling the participants to experience the enduring benefits of face-to-face academic exchange beyond the Max Planck Law Annual Conference.
Enhancing Outreach and Engagement
Max Planck Law’s outreach efforts reached new heights in 2024. At the ICON·S conference, where we hosted a Max Planck Law stand, there were over 2,000 participants and 500 panels. With the exceptional level of interaction and the presence of both alumni and current researchers, the event was the perfect stage to increase Max Planck Law’s visibility and engagement with global academic communities.
Another outreach success was the Open House aimed at prospective researchers. Moving this year to an online format with sessions held twice a year, it attracted over 500 registrants for the most recent event.
Strengthening Digital Presence
Max Planck Law’s digital presence evolved significantly in 2024. Our website introduced practical features such as ‘add to calendar’ buttons for events and a consolidated ‘What’s On at the Institutes’ section, offering an interactive overview of activities organized by Institute departments across the network. Additionally, a dedicated page has been deployed as a comprehensive platform for the Max Planck Lawcast series, featuring abstracts, SSRN links, and direct access to episodes on multiple channels.
Apropos, the Lawcast reached a notable milestone this year, with 20 episodes online and over 10,000 listeners. For the first time, the series featured contributions from Max Planck Law Fellows, further diversifying its content and audience appeal.
Our Instagram account was also reactivated and is thriving, providing regular updates and visually engaging insights for audiences on that platform. Meanwhile, our very new Bluesky account offers an alternative, Twitter-like platform for sharing research and news. If you haven’t already, we invite you to follow us on either or both channels.
Recognizing Scholarly Excellence
Among other milestones, Max Planck Law has achieved a remarkable position in the SSRN Top 500 International Law Schools rankings, securing first place across most metrics, including total downloads and new papers uploaded. This achievement reflects the network’s sustained contributions to global legal scholarship.
Building an Inclusive and Connected Community
Notably, two new roles were established within Max Planck Law: Zeynep Yazıcı Çağlar was appointed as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager, while Daniela Dora assumed the position of Alumni Relations Manager. These appointments highlight the network’s commitment to strengthening ties with former researchers and to advancing DEI.