The history of the Department of Law can be traced to the establishment of the
University of Turin, in 1404, and has followed its developments over the ensuing six centuries. In autumn 1404, a
bull issued by
Benedict XIII, the Avignon Pope, marked the actual birth of a centre of higher learning in Torino, formally ratified in 1412 by the Emperor Sigmund's certification and subsequently, in 1413, by a bull issued by
antipope John XXIII, the Pisan Pope, and probably by another issued in 1419 by
Martin V, Pope of Rome, and by a series of papal privileges. The new institution, which initially only held courses in
civil and
canon law, was authorized to confer both the academic "licentia" and "doctoratus" titles which were later to become a single "laurea" (degree) title. It was the Bishop, as Rector of Studies, who proclaimed and conferred the title on the new doctors. In 1436, ducal licenses established the three core faculties of Theology, Arts and Medicine, as well as Civil and Canon law. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the legal studies increasingly grew, giving the Department a national and international reputation. Notable academics contributed to the growth of the Department. During the years of the
Resurgence, when a numerous group of patriots and intellectuals took refuge in the
Savoy capital city, some of Italy's most remarkable names taught at the university and the Department of Law, like the jurist and statesman
Pasquale Stanislao Mancini, and the two economics professors
Antonio Scialoja and
Francesco Ferrara. In modern Italian history, the UNITO Department of Law was known for its central role in Italian national unification and cultural progressiveness. For instance, in 1881, the Department of Law graduated
Lidia Poët, who would become the controversial first female jurist in modern Italy. In the first half of 20th century some outstanding names in the history of the Department and the university include:
Luigi Einaudi, in the field of the financial studies;
Gaetano Mosca in public law;
Francesco Ruffini in
canon law and
Paolo Greco in
commercial law. Most recently should be mentioned at least
Norberto Bobbio, in legal philosophy;
Giovanni Conso, in criminal law;
Gastone Cottino in commercial law;
Marcello Gallo, in criminal law;
Giuseppe Grosso in
Roman law;
Rodolfo Sacco in civil and
comparative law. The Department of Law is located in
Turin, nearby the fascinating
Mole Antonelliana. It is one of the leading law departments in
Europe, with particular strengths in the fields of comparative law and private law. Additionally, the Department of Law has improved its physical facilities (including course offerings in
Cuneo and international exchange programs with a number of the world's leading research universities). The Department of Law coordinates the research work of more than 120 law professors in the different areas of law. ==Academics and degree programs==