João Freitas Mendes

João Freitas Mendes is a researcher at the Faculty of Law and Criminology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, focusing on contextual legal research. He is affiliated with the Metajuridica initiative, exploring intersections of legal philosophy, criminology, and socio-legal studies.

• PhD in Contextual Research in Law
• Active in organizing international academic events (e.g., 'Law without Lawyers' conference, 2025)

His research interests include:

• Legal philosophy, critical theory, and semiotics
• Temporal and conventional dimensions of legal systems
• Socio-legal analysis of normativity and judicial processes

Recent trends in his publications emphasize:

• Metaphorical interpretations of legal structures
• Common sense as a legal epistemological tool
• Temporal slowness in conventional legal frameworks

Scientific awards include:

• 6-months Fellowship at Max Planck Institute (2023)
• FCT Portugal Doctoral Grant (2021)
• Multiple grants from Doctoral School Humanities VUB (2023-2024)

He has participated in over 38 academic activities (2022-2025), including workshops, seminars, and public debates, with recent media engagements on topics like 'Sozialisierbar/Sozialbar' and 'Medien der Rechtsprechung'.