portucalense institute for legal research () was created in 2007, thus complying with the new legal requirements established by the portuguese legal regime of higher education institutions. it is a result of the restructuring and redesign of the legal institute existing since 1987, who developed all extra-curricular activities of the department of law, from the preparotory course for admission to the centre for legal studies (cej), through the publication of portucalense law review (law journal), to the various postgraduate and specialization courses, conferences and debates. the portucalense institute for legal research presents itself now, with a new structure intending to give visibility to the research produced in the department of law of the university portucalense, promoting their dissemination and establishing partnerships with research units in portugal and overseas.