British Law Centre
The current British law centres retain their central administration in Warsaw. The Warsaw BLC has three resident tutors who also form part of the team of tutors who visit the other Polish and Central and Eastern European centres. Educational supervision comes from the members of the charity Juris Angliae Scientia Ltd and the Director and Deputy Director of Legal Projects who are also a fundamental part of the teaching team.
The teaching structure is based upon a system of lectures and workbooks, supported by regular class teaching in the form of seminars (normally 12-15 persons) and tutorials (normally 6-8 persons). Lectures are provided in the Warsaw centre both by visiting academics from the University of Cambridge (the regular visitors over the years have included Prof. Catherine Barnard, Dr Okeoghene Odudu, Dr Mika Oldham, Richard Fentiman, and Jonathan Morgan, as well as academics from other leading international universities), professional lectures from our commercial partners and by the resident Warsaw tutors.
The BLC course provides a one/ two year programme in which students are taught a number of the core subjects of the general English law degree – English legal system, criminal, contract, tort, and trusts before moving on in their second year to European Union
 |
law, International Trade, International Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property, Banking, and Company Law. Variations of this course are available in different centres.
Emphasis is placed on developing a practical approach to resolving legal disputes and assisting students in acquiring various practical skills, such as:
· critical analysis
· practical application of the law to factual circumstances
· presentation and advocacy
· drafting and legal writing
Students are generally required to undertake 4 modules (one year programme) or 8/9 modules (two year programme) and the course continues to emphasise the need for written analysis and essay skills, so students are required to complete a written assignment for each module taken.
Students are registered on a dedicated web site for the diploma programme, providing course information, centre timetables and essential course materials. The site is also used to provide general notices and details of additional events organised in each centre. All assignments are submitted to tutors via this site. In addition students may use the web site both to communicate with each other and directly with individual tutors.
HISTORY
The BLC started as a joint venture between the Law Faculties of the University of Cambridge and the University of Warsaw. It began in 1992 on the initiative of the Hon. George Dobry, QC, CBE and subsequently became organised under an Accord between the two Faculties, signed on behalf of the University of Cambridge by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip.
The primary objective was to provide a corps of Polish lawyers with sufficient knowledge of English law to meet the needs of English and Polish law firms. Since then its popularity and prestige have increased considerably and has led to its course being recognised, by its students and law firm sponsors, as ideal preparation for legal practice in an international law firm.
In 2009, the original British Centre for English and European Legal Studies at Warsaw University Faculty of Law and Administration held its sixteenth graduation ceremony in the presence of the current UK Judge to the European Communities, Sir Konrad Schiemann and in March 2010 graduates will be presented their awards by Sir Robert Carnwath (Lord Justice of Appeal).
Under the initial academic direction of Professor W.R. Cornish, FBA, and the current Academic Director Richard Nolan (both of the University of Cambridge) and through the medium of the charity Juris Angliae Scientia Ltd, the Centre developed its current programme of studies, which is taught entirely in English.
Demand for the limited number of places on the BLC’s courses has always been high. BLC students have included professional lawyers, judges, law students, social scientists, translators and many more. Some students even travel to the BLC’s partner Universities especially to study the course, such as a number of Ukrainian students who travelled to Warsaw University and studied the course thanks to the assistance of a grant from the British government’s Know How Fund.
The need for lawyers who have a background in Community law, as well as a working knowledge of different systems of law in different European countries, is certain to assist their country in its early years of membership in the European Union. Since its inception the BLC has seen some 2000 students pass through its centres, gaining on the way a background in both English law and Community law. Those graduates whilst continuing their varied careers in EU institutions, national ministries, universities or law firms (both national and international) have each in their way assisted in the transition of their countries during its early years of membership in the European Union. In helping to prepare them, the BLC has made, and continues to make, a significant contribution to the political and legal transformation in Central and Eastern Europe.
Although the programme was started initially in various Polish universities its teaching programmes have also taken place in co-operation with universities in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania and by mooting events in Ukraine and Croatia. The BLC teaching programmes are supported by a comprehensive e-learning structure with tutorial support.
JAS LTD (The Charity)
Juris Angliae Scientia Ltd is an charitable foundation set up in 1992 with the objects of promoting education links between the United Kingdom and Poland. JAS has functioned as the engine for promoting and supporting the activities of the BLC, initially in Poland and more recently in other parts of Central and Eastern Europe and the activities carried out under the auspices of the University of Cambridge, Institute of Continuing Education. The charity was originally managed by a committee of the international law firms who initially sponsored the Warsaw centre. The current managing committee includes Prof W.R. Cornish and Richard Nolan (both of the Law Faculty, University of Cambridge) and Joss Saunders (legal advisor and company secretary to Oxfam GB). Joss was also one of the first BLC tutors in Warsaw in 1992.
|
|