Guest Lecture by Assist. Prof. Swati Rani (Acropolis Institute of Law, INDIA)
The Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Gdańsk, is pleased to invite you to a Guest Lecture by Assist. Prof. Swati Rani from Acropolis Institute of Law, India.
📖 Lecture Topic: "Beyond Human-Centred Law: Rethinking Legal Personality in the 21st century in light of animals, AI, nature, corporations and legal personality.”
📅 Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
⏰ Time: 17:15 – 19:00 CET
💻 Format: Online
The traditional legal system has been constructed with human beings as the main subjects of rights and duties. However, recent developments increasingly problematize this anthropocentric approach. In this lecture we look at the changing idea of legal personality as animals, artificial intelligence, nature and corporations are increasingly seen as things that can be given legal rights, protections or duties. It examines the juridical foundations of personhood, questions the boundaries between legal subjects and objects, and asks if current legal structures are able to accommodate non-human entities. Ultimately the lecture asks whether the future of law requires a broader and more inclusive understanding of legal personality.
Join us to gain valuable insights into the Beyond Human-Centred Law: Rethinking Legal Personality in the 21st century in light of animals, AI, nature, corporations and legal personality, presented by an experienced academic with a global perspective.
How to Participate:
If you wish to attend, please contact us at siapl@ug.edu.pl to receive the event link.
We warmly welcome all members and friends of our Faculty community to this engaging and thought-provoking session!
Swati Rani is an Assistant Professor of Law at Acropolis Institute of Law, Indore, affiliated with Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV), and a doctoral researcher at Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya. She holds an LL.B. from the University of Delhi, an LL.M. in Constitutional and Administrative Law from Gujarat National Law University, and a B.Com. (Hons.) from the University of Delhi. She has qualified the UGC-NET in Law and has more than seven years of teaching and academic experience across leading law institutions.Her academic and research interests span Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Fundamental Rights, Artificial Intelligence and Law, Environmental Law, Human Rights, Technology and Data Protection, and emerging questions of legal personality and animal rights. Her doctoral research focuses on the evolving jurisprudence of pet custody in India, with comparative perspectives.She has presented research at numerous national and international conferences and World Congresses, addressing AI governance, fundamental rights, climate governance, judicial independence, international trade, children’s rights, gender justice, and sustainable development. Her publications include research on AI regulation, environmental transparency, judicial independence, women’s participation in international trade, consumer protection, and natural justice, including Scopus-indexed publications and 2026 IEEE conference publication.She has served as a keynote speaker, invited resource person, moot court judge, curriculum coordinator, and faculty coordinator for various academic committees. Her academic contributions have been recognized through the Top Achiever Award for Best Professor of 2025 and the Lifetime Legacy Award 2025 for Emerging Star Educationist.