ELSA is back in town
ELSA is back in town ... London, that is!
In March 2005 a local chapter of ELSA - the European Law Students' Association - was launched in London at a meeting called by King's College law student, Carol Thompson. Although the meeting had only been publicised via email two days before, some seventy plus law students braved the rain and snow to attend. They came from a wide range of London universities and colleges including Queen Mary, UCL, KCL, LSE, SOAS, London South Bank, London Metropolitan, City Law School, BPP Law School, the College of Law and Westminster University.
They listened while Carol, (Marketing Director for ELSA UK 04/05), Mairtin O'Duinnin (Sec Gen, ELSA UK 04/05), Will Page (VP STEP, ELSA UK 04/05) and Peter Reid (S&C director, ELSA UK 04/05) explained the history of ELSA as told to them some months earlier by "the man from Brussels",Tiago (IB member, 04/05). This association, run by and for law students, was established on the continent 25 years ago. It started off back in the days of the Iron Curtain, before the likes of Ryan Air and Easy Jet made air travel cheap and commonplace. In those days, students used to travel by rail. You could buy an Inter-Rail ticket which allowed you to travel all over Europe visiting an unlimited number of countries, making as many stops as you wanted. Inter-railing was a great way to spend the summer holiday - if you had a month to spare. The trains were always crowded with young people and rucksacks but you got to see beautiful countryside and meet interesting or not so interesting people who happened to be in the same compartment as you.
How it all began
According to Tiago, it was during one of these train journeys that five students happened to find themselves sharing the same compartment. There are many versions to the story but let's just say the train was hurtling somewhere through picturesque Euroland. Anyway, these five students got talking and it turned out that they were all studying law. They all came from different countries (Austria, Germany, Hungary and Poland) so they communicated in English, a language they all could speak. After several hours travelling together drinking beer, smoking unfiltered cigarettes, discussing politics (remember this was in the time when the world was divided into East and West) discussing their courses and how the law differed in their various legal systems, these five students hit upon the idea of creating an association of law students that would cross the Iron Curtain and lead to a better understanding between East and West. These idealistic students also shared a common belief in Human Rights and so the idea of an international law students' association which also focussed on international human rights and civil liberties issues was born.
This was back in 1981 and from the idealistic dreams of a few young people ELSA was formed.
It is now 2006 and ELSA is established in 35 countries throughout continental Europe. There are 25,000 members spread in groups located at universities and legal institutions in cities as diverse as Helsinki and St Petersburg to Zurich, Paris and Rome.
The aim of ELSA is to encourage an exchange of ideas and experiences between law students, legal trainees and young lawyers. It is to encourage a better understanding of the different legal systems and cultures that exist. It is to build an international network of law students who in turn will become an international network of lawyers, business people, academics, consultants, NGO executives, politicians etc. It is to develop legal skills and put those skills to practical use.
What can ELSA London offer students?
Apart from the fellowship of other law students, ELSA aims to further your academic studies by offering additional seminars and conferences on subjects that may not be taught at your colleges or that you may wish to gain a deeper understanding in. Members will be entitled to attend seminars, conferences and summer schools wherever they may take place - not just here in London but anywhere throughout 35 countries! All international courses are heavily subsidised (currently 29 euros per day inclusive).
Through its activities and commitment within the international community, ELSA has gained a special status with several international institutions. For example, ELSA was granted consultative status with UNESCO in 1994 and is also a member of NGO Collective Consultation on Higher Education. ELSA also has consultative status with several UN bodies due its commitment to improve norms of International Trade Law with special emphasis on Human Rights and the needs and values of civil society. So, as an ELSA London member you can apply to be an observer at various international UN conferences. ELSA London already has four students chosen for the working group on Security Interests and a further three chosen to participate in the working group for Arbitration in Vienna. Other ELSA London members have been selected to participate in delegations attending a Human Rights symposium in Italy and UNCITRAL in New York. So far, all delegates have come from King's College, UCL or LSE but it is the aim of ELSA London to promote students from all of London's law schools and so we encourage our active members to apply for whichever international opportunities they feel qualified for.
EMC2 - the ELSA Moot Court Competition
Further international exposure can be gained by participating in ELSA's own WTO Moot Competition, EMC2. Finalists get to compete in Geneva at the WTO headquarters against top class competition from all over the world. London teams have won this international competition (or placed second) every year that they have competed.
Pro Bono and Training
ELSA London also intends to offer practical training not readily available to the bulk of university students (e.g. client interviewing, pro bono experience). Also, mooting and debating for beginners through to advanced levels. We shall also do our best to provide opportunities for our members to gain pro bono experience.
STEP
Unique to ELSA is STEP (the Student Trainee Exchange Programme) where members get the opportunity for paid work experience abroad in an international law firm or NGO or other body requiring legal trainees. Although competition for places is extremely high, application is open to all ELSA members whether you may be in your first year or writing your doctoral thesis.
STUDY VISITS/EXCHANGES
Members also get the opportunity to travel around the network staying with members from other groups. So if, for example, you fancied a few days or a week in Copenhagen or Milan ELSA London can get in contact with the local ELSA group and arrange a mutual exchange. ELSA London also plan to arrange visits to legal institutions as we feel that that it is important for students to actually get out of their classrooms and visit the places they read about in their text books.
This is only some of what ELSA can do for law students and trainees. As London's first and only truly inter-collegiate Association, we want to address some of the inequities in the British education system by providing all London law students with the same opportunities and access to top quality lecturers and trainers through our extra-curricular academic activities. If you feel that you can contribute to the development of ELSA London in some way please contact us. If you are ready to become a member of our Association please see below.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of ELSA London is open to the following groups:
- Anyone studying law or undertaking legal training in the Greater London area or its neighbouring counties
- Anyone studying law or undertaking legal training anywhere in the UK (as long as there is NO other ELSA group established at the applicant's own law school!)
- Enrolled part-time students including those studying at the Open University or taking London University external degrees.
- Lawyers, legal practitioners, lecturers, paralegals anyone involved in an area of law who supports the aims and philosophy of ELSA London.
- Any other interested persons who have provided help, advice or support to ELSA London.
N.B. Membership is not automatic and can be refused at the discretion of the Board.
If you would like to join ELSA London, please download the membership application from the link below. Please note, two email addresses are required, one of which must be a college email address (failing this, a work email address may be substituted). If you are unable to provide an academic email address you will need to explain why.
Click here for more information about ELSA INTERNATIONAL.
