Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law jobs and careers

About Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law

The Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law (MPIL) examines the legal frameworks that govern state interaction, global governance, and individual rights. Since its founding in 1924, the Institute has investigated the structural transformations of public law, linking historical analysis with contemporary challenges in international adjudication and constitutional design. Researchers at MPIL analyze how legal norms function under pressure, from the erosion of democratic institutions to the regulation of armed conflict. The Institute’s work frequently intersects with practice, providing doctrinal clarity to international courts, parliaments, and policy-makers grappling with crises of legitimacy and enforcement. Located in Heidelberg, the Institute hosts a rotating community of international fellows who utilize one of the world's most comprehensive libraries for public international law. This infrastructure supports rigorous, doctrinal scholarship intended to clarify—rather than merely describe—the evolving architecture of global order.