Open Lex, Sed Lex ?

Open Legal Databases in Switzerland

Conference – 03.06.2026

University of Fribourg

In an academic context focused on open data, the legal sciences seem to have been somewhat left behind. Consequently, the quality of database management is fast becoming a major strategic issue for public institutions, law firms, businesses and researchers. Ensuring data accuracy, reliability, continuity and accessibility is no longer merely a technical requirement: it is an essential prerequisite for transparency, legal security and the effectiveness of professional practices and academic research.

This conference brings together experts, practitioners, researchers and information systems managers in order to share experiences and best practices relating to the structuring, updating, governance and use of legal databases. Over the course of the conference, as a basis for analysing current challenges in the legal sciences, industry professionals will deliver thematic presentations and share their experiences, and interdisciplinary discussions will be held on various topics.

This event aims to provide a space for collective discussion and open dialogue, fostering a better understanding of the technical, methodological and ethical issues associated with legal information management in Switzerland. Together, we will help to build practices that are more FAIR and better suited to the needs of a constantly evolving legal ecosystem.