Humboldt European Law School

Network and Future

Within the network of institutions engaging in academic education, the structures known in England, France and Germany are adapted to each other for the first time, not only for post-graduate, but also for undergraduate studies, and not just bilaterally. The plurilateral arrangements so far, where they existed, all relate to the (much shorter) post-graduate phase, or offers are made unilaterally to students from (a multitude of) other universities or countries. In postgraduate studies this is much easier, as national regulations are far less intrusive here. On the other hand, starting only at this phase meant that networks could be created only rather late and only during a rather short period of time, i.e. often rather loosely. Conversely, the European Lawyer programme, built by the triangle of Berlin, London and Paris, is the basis of a strong network between these three institutions. The educational contents have been adapted to each of the other schools in an intensive discussion of more than one year. The prime goal was to have really parallel coverage of the areas studied and the methods applied in the different countries and to allow for three parallel degrees qualifying for the profession in each of the three countries.

This core of the network, once established in the first half of 2006, will then be developed into a larger network of institutions of excellence. The design now adopted will be offered in each of the three participating countries to one or perhaps even two more institutions, in the United Kingdom to the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and to Oxford University. Even more important, however, the network will comprise one, in some cases two institutions of excellence in other countries as well, typically in their capitals: Rome, Amsterdam, Leuven (Brussels), Vienna and Prague (Charles University) have signalled their interest already, there talks taking place with Warsaw, Madrid, Barcelona and Utrecht. Three or four more will follow. This will lead to a network of approx. 15 institutions of excellence (‚European Law Schools Network’). This would open the programme to other countries, for instance for students in Vienna or Prague who will go to London and Paris in their 4th and 5th year, just like Berlin students do, or Italian or Spanish students going to Berlin and London, just as Paris students do, and Amsterdam students going to Berlin and Paris, just like London students do. Countries outside the initial triangle could thus travel ‘on the ticket’ of one of the partners.

A second network will be created between the students. Each student will have his ‘mate’ in the other two countries when going there. Moreover, the different nationalities will study the same subjects in one country, even though possibly in different years of their curriculum. Finally, summer academies or intensive courses of a few days or a week will be open to all students. All this allows for a network which might well be similar one day to those known on the national level in elite institutions, for instance the ENA in France or Oxford and prestige colleges in London. The European network of alumni will not be comparable to what exists in traditional LL.M. courses (the only existing alternative today). The reason is that alumni in this integrated programme really studied together and sat for the same exams in the home and in the host countries … and not just in parallel groups typically more or less isolated from eachother.

There is a third important network effect. As alumni are allowed to participate in the intensive courses of a few days, as they can have their continuous training there, a feeling of an ongoing relationship should be created. Moreover, students and those already practising are put into contact quite naturally, to the advantage certainly of all students. This brings university closer to life and practice, with all the advantages of mutual inspiration and potentially also of financial help.