About the Journal

Focus and Scope

The publication of the Journal of Law- City began in 2006 as a printed edition, but , after 2011 , as an effect of new information technologies adopted the on line format. As a Project of Research and Extension of the Graduate Program – Master and Doctorate - of the School of Law of UERJ is oriented by the principle of the connection between teaching, research and extension, aiming the construction of a critical eye and an the excellence of the extension practice. Fulfilling its objectives, is linked the command of the Article 207 of the Constitution of 1988; "Didactic, scientific , administrative and financial and asset management autonomies are guaranteed to the universities and they must follow the principle of the connection between teaching, research and extension." (text marked added by us).It is important to remember that the Program of City Law was the pioneer one in the Graduate Program of the School of Law of UERJ , starting its activities in 1991 with a focus on City Law. In the very beginning , it tried to develop a theoretical reflection and a research concerning on issues arising from configuration historically assimilated by the process of urbanization, especially in Brazil , and is founded on the need to create new legal resources able to respond effectively to the conflicts and problems relating to contemporary social and urban needs , with emphasis on those related to urban land use , urban planning , environmental protection , the particularities of violence and crime in the context of cities improving the relationship between legal instruments and public policies for managing efficient city.Since its creation, the Journal of Law City is presented as a proposal to the forefront in education ,providing researchers with a multidisciplinary plot of disciplines , dialoguing with economy , philosophy , sociology , architecture and other related areas. As a consequence of its profile, the current academic debates developed in the Program of City Law gained significant proportions preserving the interdisciplinary focus, as an example, questions on environmental issues , public policy and democracy , urban planning and urban organization ; all with strong links with law.To celebrate this new era of the journal, we chose to make a tribute in the cover of this edition to the architect Oscar Niemeyer , who died in 2012, but still present between us, who provided the world not only with the legacy of his architectural work , recognized here and worldwide, but , above all, a great love for the City.In the book titled " Rio - From Province to the metropolis ", published in 1980 , with drawings sketches , Oscar Niemeyer takes us to a time when the city of Rio de Janeiro seemed more calm and friendly . Written as a letter, the architect´s text recalls how was the city of Rio de Janeiro in his childhood and youth , but the aim is to conceive architectural proposals in order to improve the life quality in the city . Far from being a wistful book, the Architect invites the reader to reflect on how architecture can influence the growth of a metropolis , an architectonic pattern that is not only practical, but also beautiful and democratic .It is with this spirit of reflection and love for City that we present the new era of the Journal of Law City . A reviewed project, aiming to provide the most modern dissemination of the work produced by the actors involved in the process , based on the connnection between the various kinds of academic knowledge that are attached to the issues involving the Law and the City .Regarding the publishing schedule, the objective is to organize two editions per year , one per semester, including the collaboration of a permanent editorial board and selection of articles, that will assure academic quality to the publication and recognition of its excellence and quality.We hope that the unsettling spirit of Architect will inspire the debate on the Law City, contributing for a more fair and democratic city .We thank Oscar Niemeyer Foundation for the cession of copyrights and use of images with no charge, for use in the cover of this edition.

Yours faithfully ;

Maurício Mota – Chief-Editor

Claudia Gurgel – Assistant-Editor