The Law School of the University of São Paulo (Portuguese: ''Faculdade de Direito da Universidade São Paulo'', or also ''Faculdade de Direito do Largo de São Francisco'') is an institution of

higher education Tertiary education (higher education, or post-secondary education) is the educational level following the completion of secondary education. The World Bank defines tertiary education as including universities, colleges, and vocational schools ...

and

research Research is creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge. It involves the collection, organization, and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular attentiveness to ...

in the field of

law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior, with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been variously described as a science and as the ar ...

located in

São Paulo São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

. It joined the

University of São Paulo The Universidade de São Paulo (, USP) is a public research university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, and the largest public university in Brazil. The university was founded on 25 January 1934, regrouping already existing schools in ...

(USP) in 1934, when the latter was established.

History

One of the oldest establishments of higher education in

, and the oldest law school, the São Francisco Law School (in Portuguese: "Faculdade de Direito do Largo de São Francisco"), was founded together with the Olinda Law School (later moved and renamed Recife Law School), by Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro I on August 11, 1827, but its classes began earlier than Olinda's. As it was founded a few years after the proclamation of the

Independence of Brazil The independence of Brazil comprised a series of political and military events that led to the independence of the Kingdom of Brazil from the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves as the Empire of Brazil, Brazilian Empire. It is c ...

, it was essential for the administration of the Brazilian Empire, having taught most of those who would later be part of the Brazilian government. The school was first installed in a

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...

building from the

Franciscan The Franciscans are a group of related organizations in the Catholic Church, founded or inspired by the Italian saint Francis of Assisi. They include three independent Religious institute, religious orders for men (the Order of Friars Minor bei ...

order, which has been rebuilt several times since, for instance, after a fire. The most recent construction dates from 1934. A number of Brazilian politicians and famous writers have studied at Largo de São Francisco since its foundation, such as Castro Alves,

Álvares de Azevedo Manuel Antônio Álvares de Azevedo (September 12, 1831 – April 25, 1852), affectionately called "Maneco" by his close friends, relatives and admirers, was a Brazilian Romantic poet, short story writer, playwright and essayist, considered to b ...

Fagundes Varela Luís Nicolau Fagundes Varela (August 17, 1841 – February 18, 1875) was a Brazilian Romantic poet, adept of the " Ultra-Romanticism" movement. He is patron of the 11th chair of the Brazilian Academy of Letters. Biography Luís Nicolau Fag ...

, Ruy Barbosa, Monteiro Lobato. There is a statue of

in front of the building with this quote: "Foi poeta, sonhou e amou na vida", which translates to "He was a poet, dreamed and loved in life". Students come from all over the country to study at São Francisco and contribute with bohemian and cultural lifestyle to the Brazilian most cosmopolitan city of São Paulo. There is a gravestone in its patio, where Julius Frank, a German professor dear to students, was buried in 1841. Because Frank was a Protestant, he could not be buried in any of the Catholic graveyards in São Paulo, so the students chose to bury him inside the school as homage.

Ranking

Consistently ranked as the best Law School in Brazil, São Francisco Law School has been the ''alma mater'' to 13 Brazilian presidents and many outstanding public officers, diplomats, scholars, writers, politicians and businessmen. Each year São Francisco Law School admits 460 new students in its undergraduate (LL.B.) program, from roughly 10,000 to 15,000 applicants.http://www.fuvest.br/estat/insreg.html?anofuv=2016 Graduate programs ( LL.M. and SJD) are also available.

References

{{Authority control University of São Paulo Law schools in Brazil Educational institutions established in 1827 Universities and colleges in São Paulo 1827 establishments in Brazil