Hello Prof. Mendelsohn, what do you teach and research?
How law shapes our economy and our lives. What freedoms we have and how these are limited by power relations.
What excites you about your subject?
I find it exciting to understand the complexities of our economic systems and the interaction between law and business.
Is your field related to sustainability?
I think that business law can no longer ignore the sustainability issue. We cannot continue to drive and shape our economy without thinking about fundamental change.
What does your daily teaching and research routine look like at the TU Ilmenau?
I sit a lot in the office, where I read and write. I go to the cafeteria with my colleagues and meet students who are writing seminar papers or qualification theses. Most afternoons I am in the lecture hall or seminar rooms.
What motivated you to pursue a career in science?
The idea of living a free life and devoting myself to the questions I find important.
What hurdles have you personally experienced in your scientific career that men are less likely to encounter?
None.
How do you feel about your decision today, and what advice would you give to female colleagues who are also pursuing a career in science?
I still consider it a stroke of luck and a privilege to be involved in science. My advice: being there is everything, ignoring concerns and hurdles as much as possible.
Why do you think more women are needed in science?
Because anything else is absurd and unfair.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I think a lot. I like to go for walks and hikes, to museums, and I'm always up for an evening of discussion with lots of wine and steep theses.
Do you have a favorite place on campus and if so, what do you like most about it?
I love the lecture halls. I always enjoyed attending lectures as a student and feel transported to that time there. I especially like the old Helmholtz lecture hall with the wooden benches and the piano.
What's coming up for you in April?
Teaching has started again! In addition, I am looking forward to some conferences. On April 13 & 14, Lukas Breide and I will be discussing sustainability and innovation with economists and philosophers. On April 21, I'm at a nice conference in Budapest where the topic is economic crises, and on April 24, the University of Jena is hosting a conference on platform regulation, where I'll be talking about the power of internet giants.
Personal details:
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Juliane Mendelsohn grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, and studied law at the Freie Universität Berlin and the University of Connecticut, School of Law. She then completed her doctorate under Prof. Dr. Heike Schweitzer, LL.M (Yale), on the topic of "Systemic Risk and Competition Regulation in the Banking Sector - Towards the End of Too Big To Fail," also at Freie Universität Berlin. She then completed her legal clerkship, which included stints at the German Federal Ministry of Finance, the law firm Linklaters LLP in Frankfurt, and the NGO "Lawyers for Human Rights" in Johannesburg.
From the end of 2018 to mid-2021, Jun.-Prof. Dr. Juliane Mendelsohn led a renowned English-language master's program in competition and regulatory law at Freie Universität Berlin, devoting more time to the topics of competition policy, law and economics, and digitalization. Since September, the scholar has headed the Law and Economics of Digitization Group, which focuses on the interface between private law and economics. Research interests include competition law and policy, digitization and private law, law & economics, and legal theory. Selected publications: www.tu-ilmenau.de/universitaet/fakultaeten/fakultaet-wirtschaftswissenschaften-und-medien/profil/institute-und-fachgebiete/fachgebiet-law-and-economics-of-digitization/publikationen
