ELGS Master’s Students Visit the Supreme Administrative Court of Portugal

Lisbon, 5 May 2025 — As part of their academic curriculum, the students of the Master’s Program in Global Rule of Law and Democracy at the European Law and Governance School (ELGS) had the distinguished opportunity to visit the Supreme Administrative Court of Portugal.

The delegation was received by Judge Pedro Marchão Marques, from the Administrative Litigation Section, representing the President of the Court, Judge Jorge Aragão Seia, and by Judge António Mendes Oliveira, Head of the Office. Judge Pedro Marchão Marques delivered an insightful presentation on the structure and function of the Supreme Administrative Court, offering a comprehensive overview of Portugal’s administrative and tax judiciary.

The visit included an engaging discussion on the independence of the judiciary and the emerging role of artificial intelligence in court processes, topics closely aligned with the themes of the ELGS postgraduate program. Students were also given a guided tour of the Court’s historic seat at the Palace of Laranjeiras, including the courtrooms, working chambers, and the library, where they had the rare opportunity to view Portugal’s oldest legal reference manuscript, containing the nation’s earliest laws transcribed by hand.

This academic visit underscores the ELGS commitment to experiential legal education and transnational exposure, providing students with unique insights into judicial systems across Europe.

Read the full article published by the Supreme Administrative Court of Portugal here.