New Perspectives of Legal Education in Europe

March 18/19, 2010

Deutsche Bank Forum, Unter den Linden 13/15,

(Eingang: Charlottenstr. 37/38), 10117 Berlin, Germany

The objective of this conference was to look for new international perspectives in
academic legal education in Europe and in Germany. A major issue was whether
the Bologna Process’ two-cycle degree structure is suitable to accommodate the
specific needs and international demands of professional legal education and
training in the 21st century. Reforming legal education and the need for
accommodating respective state guidelines are issues of intensive and
controversial debates, not only in Germany, but in many countries. Thus,
the discussion took into consideration the rich experience in all European
countries – especially since many internal controversies have been triggered
in the context of implementing the Bologna Process.

The conference discussed whether a national design of law study programmes is helpful, especially in the long term, as it tends to pose obstacles to students’ mobility and mutual recognition in the common European Higher Education Area. Selected examples of good practice from Bologna countries serve to provide more transparency and comparability, increase awareness for possible and desirable changes and promote the feasibility of reforming legal education. The distribution of responsibilities between university education and professional training varies enormously across Europe. In most countries besides Germany, Austria or Spain, professional training is organised completely independent from university education. In the UK and Ireland, it does not even require a university degree. Therefore, a key question was which minimum education is needed to qualify for professional training to become a judge, solicitor or barrister.

Target groups for the conference included teachers, researchers, academics, students, representatives of European law faculties and legal associations, research organisations, national and regional law and education ministries, EU Commission, representatives of state and private employers, lawyers and other legal professions, firms and companies, and the interested public.

March 18, 2010

9:30 hrs
Registration


10:30 hrs
Welcome address
Deutsche Bank (Host)


10:40 hrs
Introduction
Prof. Dr. Margret Wintermantel, President of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK)


11:00 uhr
Panel: Views from Inside
Expectations in and Promises of Law Studies
Chair: Ulrich Grothus, Deputy Secretary General of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Panel: 4 Students – 4 Teachers from Eight European Universities


12:30 hrs
Impulse
Law Studies in Europe: An Overview
Prof. Dr. Heribert Hirte, LL.M. (Berkeley), University of Hamburg, Germany
Discussion


13:00 hrs
Lunch


14:00 hrs
Discussion
Reforming Law Studies in Europe: The Employers' View
Panellists:
Prof. Dr. Peter M. Huber, Minister of the Interior of Thuringia, Erfurt, Germany
Dr. Michael Lappe, German Senior Partner, Linklaters LLP, Munich, Germany
Dr. RA Daniel Petitpierre, President of the Association of Swiss Corporate Counsels
N.N., Representative of a European Bar Association
Chair: Prof. Dr. Andreas Schlüter, Secretary General of the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft, Essen


15:30 hrs
Coffe Break


15:45 hrs
Parallel Workshop sessions:
1: What does it mean to be and to think as a lawyer?
2: How to teach and examine in Law Studies
3: How to integrate international experience?
4: Which skills beyond legal knowledge are required?
5: How to enhance research competences?


19:00 hrs
Conference Dinner

March 19, 2010

9:00 hrs
Reflection: Similarities and differences in Legal Education in Europe and the US
Prof. Richard J. Wilson, American Society of International Law, American University, Washington D.C.


9:20 hrs
Lessons learned and Steps ahead:
a) Presentation and discussion of the workshop results
b) Working on common suggestions for a long-term political agenda
Conference Rapporteur: Chris Trott, European Liaison, Group of Eight Australia, Australian Embassy Berlin
Chair: Prof. Dr. Franz Werro (Georgetown University Law Center), Faculty Director - Centre for Transnational Legal Studies, London


10:30 hrs
Coffee Break
Poster Presentation


11:15 hrs
Debate: The Bologna process is the opportunity for the overdue modernization of Legal Education
Chair: Prof. Dr. R. Alexander Lorz, LL.M., University of Düsseldorf
Panellists:
Laura Schmitt, Free University of Berlin, ELSA
Jakub Cech, University of Prague, ELSA
Dr. Arad Reisberg, D.Phil, Vice Dean for Research, Faculty of Laws, University College London


12:30 hrs
Lunch

End of the Conference



13:30 hrs
National Discussion for German Participants
Theme: Reforming Legal Education in Germany
Chair: Peter Greisler, Director, Institutions of Higher Education, Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Impulse: Harald Schomburg, International Centre for Higher Education Research, Kassel (INCHER)