For the first
time, teaching institutions in Germany, England and France have put together a
coordinated program for an undergraduate degree program.Previously, all such efforts were only
bilateral, usually including participation from only one side, or the programs
were not undergraduate programs. This was easier because there are far fewer
national restrictions in post-graduate studies. Conversely, however, this meant
that opportunities to create networks came very late in a student’s studies and
then for only in a very short period - the time between their studies and their
career in the workforce. The core program of the European Lawyer, formed by the
triangle Berlin, London and Paris, is the solid network between these three
institutions. The curriculum was developed in an intense process of meetings,
discussions and negotiations, which lasted almost one year.The goal was to enable the parallel coverage
of the respective areas of specialization and to create a professional degree
which qualified young lawyers in three countries. Furthermore, the core of this
network was to serve as the foundation for the creation of a larger network of
top institutions.
In the future the
program will be opened to one or two further universities in partner nations, for
example, in the United Kingdom to the London School of Economics and Political
Science (LSE) and to Oxford University. Above all, however, the program aims to
expand into more countries, preferably in the capitals. Universities in Rome,
Amsterdam, Leuven (Brussels), Vienna and Prague (Charles University) have
already signaled their desire to join the network; discussion in this direction
have begun with universities in Warsaw, Madrid, Barcelona and Utrecht. Three or
four more will follow. This extended network will consist of about 15 top
institutions in Europe, comprising a "European Law School Network".
This could open up the European Law School to students from other countries,
for example, from Vienne or Prague, who, in addition to Berliners, study in their
fourth and fifth year in London and Paris, or those from Rome or Spain who study
in Berlin and London or those from Amsterdam who study in Berlin and Paris.
Countries outside of the triangle would "'ride on the ticket” of one of
the partner countries.”
