Research

FEFU School of Law Dissertation Councils award Ph.D. degrees in Law to postgraduate students in the following areas of law: Municipal Law, Civil Law, Business Law, Family Law, International Private Law, Criminal Law, Criminology, Criminal Prosecution, Criminalistics, Forensic Expert Activities, Investigation, Civil Process, and Arbitration Procedure. 

The School awards upper-Ph.D. degrees in Law (Russian "Doctor of Legal Science" degree) in Criminal Law, Criminology, and Criminal Prosecution Law. 



Many research papers of the School’s professors have been published in English, including "Russia and APEC: Prospects of Cooperation", "Framework of the ASEAN Plus Three Mechanisms Operating in the Sphere of Economic Cooperation", "The Environment of Legal System for Business in the Russian Far East", "Mediation in Experience and Vision of the Pacific Russia","Artificial intelligence legal policy: limits of use of some kinds of AI", "Future Legal Development in the Arctic: Prerequisites and Prospects", "Russian Arctic Policy", and others. 

One of the largest research and publishing projects of recent years was an encyclopedia-like book series titled “Russia in the Asia-Pacific”, funded by a grant of the Russian Humanitarian Research Foundation. It is an unprecedented, comprehensive series in Russian history on opportunities for Russian cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region. In 2012, this series won 1st place in “The Best Business Literature Publishing Project” nomination of the Association of Russian Publishers, a special award of the Russian Commerce Chamber, and the diploma “For the Best Publishing Project” of the “University Book” All-Russian contest.

In 2013, this series was nominated for the Russian Federation Government Premium in Research and Techniques. 

Since 1999, the School has been the primary participant and core of the editorial board of the “Asia-Pacific Region: Economics, Politics, and Law”, a distinguished journal peer reviewed by the Russian Attestation Committee (VAK). 



  In the last 5 years, faculty members of the School have published 75 monographs, over 200 papers in leading national peered journals, and more than 50 papers abroad. 

The School's areas of research include legal issues of Russia's integration in the Asia-Pacific region, comparative law, criminal law, organized crime in the Russian Far East, transnational organized crime, malfeasance, legal issues of unemployment status and social support of unemployed people, illegal international migration, precedents in criminal law, forensic dermatoglyphics, forensic methods of crime prevention, legal regulation of governmental measures to cope with the global economic crisis, law and criminal sub-culture, international law problems of detaining sea ships, Internet crime, and others. Facing the modern world’s challenges, FEFU researchers also study such topical areas as Cyber Security Law and legal grounds of using AI systems in different spheres. Mediation and arbitration as modern ways of dispute resolution are also among the School’s research priorities. 
In 2018 in collaboration with Dalhousie University (Canada) FEFU School of Law started a Joint Study on Legal Issues of Arctic Development. The research program includes several areas of legal support for the activities of states in the Arctic: borders and territories, shipping, fishing, hydrocarbon production, environmental protection, indigenous peoples' rights, the status of floating nuclear power plants, the use of drones, and other advanced technologies. The result was a series of research materials in the special issue of one of the world's leading legal journals or the publication of a joint monograph. 
In partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, in 2015 FEFU School of Law has created a Joint Institute on Research of Borderline Seas and the Arctic, which conducts theoretic and applied research in the sphere of application of international maritime law with specific focus on the Arctic and seas of the North-East coast of Asia.
FEFU School of Law was one of the first in Russia to create clinical law education, the “Ephorus” Law Clinics established in 2000. FEFU law students provide assistance to people in legal consulting, drafting legal documents and representing cases in courts and other institutions. These activities are important not only for education. Thanks to these student volunteers, people who cannot afford services of professional lawyers may address their legal issues to law students free of charge. These services are provided under the supervision of law faculty. In total, Law Clinics have consulted about 5,000 citizens. Its activities increase practical skills of law students and their value for the professions in Law.