Mr Renato Saeger Magalhaes Costa
Renato Costa joined the T. C. Beirne School of Law as an LLM student in 2018. Before undertaking his studies at the University of Queensland, he practised as a lawyer in one of Brazil's most prominent law firms. Renato specialises in Jurisprudence, Constitutional, Comparative and Administrative Law.
Renato graduated with an LLB from the Faculty of Law at the Catholic University of Pernambuco, in Brazil. He holds an LLM from T. C. Beirne School of Law at the University of Queensland, where he studied as an Endeavour Awards Postgraduate Scholar. Renato is currently a PhD candidate, casual academic, and RTP scholar at T.C. Beirne School of Law. Renato is the Associate Editor of the University of Queensland Law Journal - UQLJ. He teaches Public and Constitutional Law and has been a guest lecturer in courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Renato's thesis investigates the nature of constitutions. Renato believes it is possible to formulate a 'central case' definition of constitutions by analysing constitutions from both normative and positive standpoints. Identifying this constitutional ontology leads to a proper understanding of the distinctive aspects of 'genuine' and 'pseudo' constitutions. Renato's research proposes a new theoretical framework in constitutional theory based primarily on John Finnis's philosophy of law.
HDR project title: The Nature of Constitutions: A Theory of Genuine and Pseudo Constitutionalism
Supervisors: Prof Nicholas Aroney and Dr Rebecca Ananian-Welsh
Researcher biography
Renato Costa joined the T. C. Beirne School of Law as an LLM student in 2018. Before undertaking his studies at the University of Queensland, he practised as a lawyer in one of Brazil's most prominent law firms. Renato specialises in jurisprudence, constitutional and comparative law.
Renato graduated with an LLB from the Faculty of Law at the Catholic University of Pernambuco, in Brazil. He holds an LLM from T. C. Beirne School of Law at the University of Queensland, where he studied as an Endeavour Awards Postgraduate Scholar. Renato is currently an Associate Lecturer and PhD candidate (RTP scholar) at T.C. Beirne School of Law. Renato is the Associate Editor of the University of Queensland Law Journal - UQLJ. He teaches Public and Constitutional Law and has been a guest lecturer in courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Renato's main research area is public law, including constitutional, administrative, and comparative law. His research focus is constitutional theory and specific aspects of the Australian constitutional system, including but not limited to the rule of law, federalism, constitutional history, religious freedom and human rights, responsible government, political and legal theology, and jurisprudence.