Introduction to the UK legal system through on-site exploration
On Sunday, 6 April, 20 first-year Bucerius Law School students eagerly boarded a flight to London, where they would spend the next five days drinking in the sights and sounds of the UK capital city’s bustling legal scene on this year’s Foreign Language Communication Programme Legal London Trip.
First up on Monday morning was a walking tour of the City of London, during which students took a stroll through the world-famous “Square Mile” and got a close-up view of the central business district. They also learned about the barrister’s profession while ambling through the historic Inns of Court with their charming interlocking courtyards and beautifully manicured lawns.
Later that day, students got to see real-life legal eagles plying their trade in some of London’s most important courts, including the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand (where important civil matters are heard) and the Old Bailey (the city’s highest criminal court).
Understanding judicial procedures at the local level
On Tuesday morning, it was off to Wimbledon – not to watch top-class tennis, but rather to visit the local magistrate’s court, the lowest court in the land that hears mostly minor criminal matters. Here students saw accused persons remanded in custody applying for bail and witnessed the manifold contributions of judges, prosecutors and defence lawyers to the effective functioning of the criminal justice system.
Students were also fortunate to be addressed by a District Judge Sushil Kumar about his work at the court, as well as the highs and lows of being a fast-paced criminal barrister.
Insights into parliamentary operations and legislative debate
Then it was back on the District line to central London for a tour of the Houses of Parliament, set on the north bank of the River Thames. Thankfully, the House of Commons was in session when we visited, and students were privileged to sit in the lower chamber’s public gallery and see various MPs in action, putting questions to government ministers and debating the issues of the day.
Visit to the Supreme Court and interaction with judges
A highlight of the trip was our visit to the Supreme Court on Wednesday morning. Students heard judges of the highest court in the land deliver rulings in two matters – but there was a treat in store for them.
Quite unexpectedly, two of the judges – Lady Rose and Lady Simler – came back into the courtroom after judgment had been handed down and spoke directly to the students, asking them about what and where they were studying, and wishing them all the best for their future careers.
Legal education and professional training at Middle Temple
Another standout event was our Thursday morning visit to Middle Temple, one of the Inns of Court the students had seen only the outside of on Monday’s walking tour. Now they got to venture inside its walls and hear from director of education at Middle Temple Christa Richmond about the work they do in preparing aspiring barristers for their future careers.
This talk was followed by a splendid three-course lunch in Middle Temple’s magnificent Elizabethan dining hall, where Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is said to have first been performed in 1602. To impress on them that not all legal disputes necessarily need to go to court, on Thursday afternoon students were given a most informative talk by Andy Rogers of the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution, who addressed them on mediation as an alternative to litigation.
Cultural enrichment complements academic learning
The object of the Legal London trip is social as well as educational, and to that end students were also treated to a night at the theatre on Thursday evening. This year, students got to see a stage adaptation of the Agatha Christie classic Witness for the Prosecution – in a theatre built to resemble a courtroom, complete with bewigged barristers cross-examining up a storm under the watchful eye of a presiding judge.
Conclusion and acknowledgments
Friday morning was a chance for students to do some sightseeing, and they returned to Hamburg on Friday evening both inspired and enriched by the previous five days’ activities. Firm friendships and fond memories were made on the trip, and as usual our time in London was a thoroughly delightful experience for both teachers and students alike.
The Foreign Language Communication Programme would like to sincerely thank the law firm Greenflag for their financial support, which enabled two of our students to take part in this year’s trip. We are also grateful for the continued financial aid support of the Bucerius Alumni Association, which made it possible for one additional student to participate.
The following students participated in this year’s trip: Emma Barchanski, Max Bodenseh, Martha Bremer, Cosima Enders, Noa Fuchs, Laura Garrn, Leander Graff, Henrik Holke, Michaela Idawain, Nis Janus, Jannis König, Lena Langeloh, Richard Mützel, Jonah Röhl, Maximilian Rudloff, Vincent Strobl, Sofie Tillmann, Anna Völker, Lara Vomweg, and Rasul Zarchamatov.
Lezel Roddeck and James Linscott, Foreign Language Communication Programme
