Doctoral programme "Civil Procedure"

Brief Description

Graduates in Law from Bulgarian and foreign universities may pursue doctoral studies leading to the educational and scientific degree of Doctor in professional field 3.6 Law, specialising in Civil Procedure. For graduates of foreign universities, the diploma must be recognised in accordance with the applicable procedure in the Republic of Bulgaria.

The programme aims to provide fundamental theoretical knowledge of civil procedure, including the relationship between substantive and procedural law and the links between civil procedure and other branches of law.

It also focuses on the analytical study of case law relating to civil procedure and the relevant substantive-law disciplines, while providing opportunities to acquire practical skills.

Another key objective is to develop mastery of research methodology and academic legal writing, as well as to prepare doctoral candidates for teaching civil procedure at higher education institutions.

The programme aims to achieve the following learning outcomes:

• Acquisition of knowledge of the methodology of legal research.
• Improvement of skills in the precise use of academic terminology.
• Development of skills in identifying, defining and analysing theoretical and practical problems.
• Development of the ability to apply a scientific approach to research and use appropriate research methods and tools.
• Development of skills in working with information sources, together with the necessary computer and foreign-language proficiency.
• Acquisition of specialised and systematic knowledge for conducting critical analysis and synthesising new ideas.
• Contribution of new knowledge to legal scholarship and facilitation of other specialists’ access to new findings and contemporary academic advances.

Professional Competences Acquired upon Completion

Graduates are expected to be highly qualified specialists with in-depth theoretical knowledge of the complex field of civil procedure and the related areas of civil law in the broad sense. They should have developed the fundamental skills required for academic research, teaching civil procedure at higher education institutions and contributing to the legislative process. Successful completion of the programme also presupposes substantial practical skills relevant to the application of the law.

Graduates develop the following competences:

• Mastery of the methodology of legal research.
• Ability to apply a scientific approach to a specific research problem in civil procedure. This includes formulating the research problem, examining existing domestic and foreign sources of legal scholarship, working with the collected research material, developing theoretical arguments through critical analysis, defending research conclusions, formulating new hypotheses and proposing solutions with practical and societal relevance.
• Ability to produce research findings with practical applications, including proposals for improving legislation and judicial practice.
• Ability to implement research projects and participate in academic life.
• Acquisition of in-depth professional knowledge in civil law, enabling the development of new ideas within the field.
• Academic writing skills and the ability to publish scholarly articles and other academic work.
• Development of teaching skills and knowledge of contemporary teaching methods and tools.
• Ability to prepare legal opinions for public authorities and private-law entities.
• Advanced computer and foreign-language proficiency.

Potential Career Opportunities

Graduates who successfully complete the programme acquire highly specialised qualifications that enable them to address even the most complex theoretical and practical problems arising in the application of the law.

They may pursue careers in academic research and teaching at higher education institutions in the field of law, or work as judges, lawyers, in-house legal counsel, notaries, enforcement agents and other legal professionals.