The Institute offers a wide array of institutionalised forums facilitating academic exchange.
The "Wissenschaftliche Konzil", to which all research fellows, doctoral candidates and, moreover, international guest scholars and scholarship holders are invited, represents a cornerstone of the academic interaction taking place at the Institute. Occurring at approximately six week intervals, the Konzil features topics of general interest in the form of status reports from doctoral candidtates or research updates from senior fellows. International guest scholars also participate, discussing their research work or current legal developments in their home countries.
On the initiative of younger research fellows, the "Club Mittelweg" has been formed. An informal discussion group focusing on current questions of European private law, the significant decisions of the European and national high courts are presented on a two to four week cycle.
Additionally, an ongoing Thursday seminar "Aktuelle Stunde" is open to all Institute academic staff.