Dual Legal Education: A Case Study on Teaching and Learning in Law with French Law Degrees LILAC 2009 University of Warwick 24 January 2009 Dr. Marie-Luce Paris-Dobozy School of Law, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland [email_address]

Introduction Law, a country-specific discipline Demands of globalisation Developments in the European context Multiculturalism? French legal education in a common law environment

Law, a country-specific discipline

Demands of globalisation

Developments in the European context

Multiculturalism?

French legal education in a common law environment

Object of Study BCL/ Maîtrise (2005) Two last years of Degree in University Panthéon-Assas Irish and French students Dual or double degree BCL Law with French Law (1999) One year in France Irish students A national degree + Common aspects to both degrees

BCL/ Maîtrise (2005)

Two last years of Degree in University Panthéon-Assas

Irish and French students

Dual or double degree

BCL Law with French Law (1999)

One year in France

Irish students

A national degree +

Common aspects to both degrees

What about the experience? Very positive overall in spite (thanks to?) lots of problems and challenges… Research question : sustainability of Hiberno-French integrated legal education in the European context?

Very positive overall in spite (thanks to?) lots of problems and challenges…

Research question : sustainability of Hiberno-French integrated legal education in the European context?

Delivering a Dual Legal Education: Curriculum Design Issues What to teach? Selection of French and Irish Law courses The ‘functionalist’ and skills-oriented curriculum And how? Parlez-vous comme un juriste ? Differences in legal methodology

What to teach?

Selection of French and Irish Law courses

The ‘functionalist’ and skills-oriented curriculum

And how?

Parlez-vous comme un juriste ?

Differences in legal methodology

Promoting Legal Diversity: Degree Programme Issues So many benefits… Student’s perspective Small group teaching Comparative dimension/Different approaches to teaching and learning the discipline Career advantages Lecturer’s perspective Reflection as a teaching practitioner and as a lawyer Transsytemic method, European jus commune and Global Law Institution’s perspective Competitive spirit Exchanges between students and academics from partner universities involved

So many benefits…

Student’s perspective

Small group teaching

Comparative dimension/Different approaches to teaching and learning the discipline

Career advantages

Lecturer’s perspective

Reflection as a teaching practitioner and as a lawyer

Transsytemic method, European jus commune and Global Law

Institution’s perspective

Competitive spirit

Exchanges between students and academics from partner universities involved

… but so many questions too Nature of legal education EU policy input : ‘a unity of differences’ Sustainability of bicultural legal education Coexistence of a range of programmes involving French legal studies Recruitment problem (level of French) Future reforms at national level

… but so many questions too

Nature of legal education

EU policy input : ‘a unity of differences’

Sustainability of bicultural legal education

Coexistence of a range of programmes involving French legal studies

Recruitment problem (level of French)

Future reforms at national level

Conclusion The study of another legal culture is a valuable academic pursuit in itself Intertwined issues involving the nature of legal education (vocational v. academic) and the development of European Law itself (harmonization through diversity)

The study of another legal culture is a valuable academic pursuit in itself

Intertwined issues involving the nature of legal education (vocational v. academic) and the development of European Law itself (harmonization through diversity)

Discussion Should all Common Law students be exposed to Civil Law system? (and vice & versa) Is it appropriate to combine the study of two legal systems at u/g level?

Should all Common Law students be exposed to Civil Law system? (and vice & versa)

Is it appropriate to combine the study of two legal systems at u/g level?