The Research Unit in Law (RUL) started the academic year 2018-2019 under new leadership, with Prof. Elise Poillot elected to the office by her colleagues.
Prof. Poillot joined the University of Luxembourg in September 2009 as a professor of civil law. Her research focuses on comparative law, European private law, European and national consumer law, European and national contract law and legal education. She took part in the national selection committee of Italian university professors (« Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale ») from 2015 to 2016 and was appointed by the Belgian Agency for Higher Education Teaching Quality (AEQES) as member of the evaluation committee of Belgian university study programmes in 2018.
At Uni.lu, she was Course Director of the Master in European Private Law until the summer semester 2018 when she decided to share this post with Associate Prof. Isabelle Corbisier in anticipation of her appointment as Head of RUL. She continues as Co-Course Director.
A major achievement by Prof. Poillot at the University of Luxembourg was the creation of the “Clinique du Droit”, a pioneer legal education programme in Europe. Working for the Consumer Law Clinic, Master-level students advise real-life clients in consumer disputes. The programme is supported by the Barreau de Luxembourg who help coach and train students. Founded in 2015, the Clinique gained European Commission funding in 2017 to help build a European network of legal clinics and advance this teaching method at universities across the EU. Prof. Poillot has also notably presented to clinic to delegations from the University of Kyoto, Japan.
Prof. Poillot currently works on the impact of mediation in the field of consumer law. In the frame of the « Clinique du Droit » she is carrying out research on legal training as well as on legal research methodology. Her research also focuses on the transformation of the concept of civil law (« droit civil ») in civil law jurisdictions.
‘Ambitions to develop talent’
Outside of research and teaching, Prof. Poillot established a new tradition for the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance in 2012 when she organised the first FDEF team for the ING Night Marathon. The Faculty has since fielded a team of staff and students every year with proceeds raised going to a charitable cause.
Prof. Poillot was elected to the office by her colleagues during the past academic year, allowing her to take office in September 2018. She succeeds Prof. Johan van der Walt for a mandate of four years.
“I’m thankful to my colleagues who elected me as the Head of the Research Unit in Law, a flourishing department, reflected in its incredibly dynamic staff. Our department has great ambitions to develop talent and support researchers and lecturers in both European and Luxembourg law. As the Head of the Research Unit in Law I will commit myself to reflect the true voice of independent academic research and teaching, and am very honoured to be given the possibility to do this.”