Academic Activities
Academic Activities are a tool for providing legal information and
assist the development of the legal profession in Europe. Through the
Academic Activities ELSA makes a direct contribution to legal
education.
ELSA has during the years developed a considerable number of different
projects. Publications such as ELSA Selected Papers on European Law
(SPEL) and ELSA Guide to Legal Studies in Europe (GLSE) are an
important part of ELSA's activities. The GLSE is also a part of the
Studies Abroad Programme, which has as objective to encourage students
to study in foreign countries. Furthermore, there are competitions such
as Moot Court Competitions and Essay Competitions, and events organised
with professional life in mind within the Lawyers at Work events.
In order to enable individuals to make use of the widespread ELSA
network to obtain scientific legal information that may not be
available in their own countries ELSA focuses on legal research. This
research can be done with the help of the Legal Research Groups and the
ELSA Law Web.
Publications
ELSA produces several high quality publications that are read by law
students, lawyers, universities and institutions across the world.
The aim and scope of the different publications is to give law students
and young lawyers a possibility to publish their articles and academic
work, as well as provide them with information about other legal
systems and cultures. Furthermore, some publications aim at gathering
information in order to help law students with their choice of legal
studies across Europe, as well as gather information about past and
present projects of ELSA and ELSA's involvements in different
international organisations.
ELSA Guide to Legal Studies in Europe
The ELSA Guide to Legal Studies in Europe (ELSA GLSE) is the only
publication of its kind. It provides detailed information on courses of
legal studies at doctorate, undergraduate and postgraduate level
offered by 300 universities in Europe. Furthermore, it contains
background information about the featured countries, their legal
systems and professions.
ELSA Selected Papers on European Law
The ELSA Selected Papers on European Law (ELSA SPEL) periodically
provides a compilation of legal papers in the field of public European
law, European integration and relations between the EU and other
countries in Europe.
Synergy
Synergy is the international members' magazine. It is a high profile,
high quality publication, informing ELSA members regularly on topics of
interest to them and to the association. The magazine is produced twice
a year and is distributed across the 35 countries in Europe where ELSA
is represented.
International Focus Programme Book
After each International Focus Programme (IFP) ELSA produces a
publication to evaluate the activities and conclude the respective
period.
"A Just World; Legal Education, Law in Development and the New Role for Lawyers" is the result of the IFP 1995-1997.
"International Law as we Enter the 21st Century" is the result of the IFP 1997-1999.
International Criminal Court Handbook
Building on the experiences from the United Nations Preparatory
Committees, ELSA members have written a handbook on the draft statue
for the International Criminal Court, in order to facilitate the
involvement of states and NGOs.
Since 1995 ELSA has participated in the work of the United Nations for the establishment of the International Criminal Court.
UN and Council of Europe Reports
The UN and the Council of Europe reports are written by individual
students representing ELSA at the various meetings related to the work
of the United Nations and its institutions and bodies, as well as the
Council of Europe. The reports bring together the proceedings,
discussions and conclusions of these events.
The reports are of a value both to the ELSA network as well as to
anyone interested in the work of these international organisations. For
more information please contact ELSA International.
Moot Court Competitions
The idea of moot court comes from the Anglo-Saxon academic tradition.
Originally they came from American universities where they are a
constant and official part of legal education. Nowadays many other
countries have adopted this kind of legal education as well.
The aim of a moot court is to improve the legal knowledge of students.
It is of primary importance to prepare and train them for proper and
successful acting in court, the use of rhetoric gestures, speaking
without notes, self confidence and intellectual flexibility. A moot
court will teach the kind of knowledge that is important for the
practical aspects of a lawyer's life - to create links between theory
and practice.
Moot Courts are a very good exercise in which students can put the
academic knowledge acquired at the universities to practice while
enhancing their presentation and public speaking skills. It is for this
reason that ELSA encourages moot court competitions.
Every year several national moot court competitions are organised by
national ELSA Groups. Competitions taking place at local level are even
more numerous. Furthermore, ELSA International arranges an
international ELSA moot court competition.
For more information on national and/or local competitions please contact the respective ELSA group.
For information about the international competition please contact ELSA International.
Lawyers at Work (LAW) events
ELSA is organising Lawyers at Work (LAW) events at each level of the
organisation. The events are a good complement to the theoretical
education of law students. Furthermore, it gives students and young
lawyers an impression of how the various jobs of a lawyer can look
like.
The professionals taking part in Lawyers at Work events range from classical legal professions to much less considered options.
Aim
The aim of organising Lawyers at Work events is to provide students and
young graduates with the opportunity to understand the different career
opportunities that are open to law students at the end of their
studies. LAW events are thus creating a direct link between students
and the professional world, which is of benefits to both parties.
Benefits
Lawyers at Work events contribute to the legal education of students
and young lawyers. The participants of such an event have the
possibility to interact and receive career information from experts in
the various professions related to law or which are open to law
graduates even if they are not directly law related careers. Lack of
information on the existing opportunities is often the main obstacle to
finding a job.
Professionals are usually eager to participate in LAW events since
these events give them a possibility to present their company.
Furthermore, by dedicating time to young people they are investing in
the future of the company.
For more information about current LAW events please contact the nearest ELSA group.
Legal Research
ELSA assists law students and young lawyers in performing legal
research in various areas of law. Research is what being a legal
professional is all about. Regardless of which field of law one has
chosen to specialise in, no lawyer can succeed in his or her career
without constant research. Regulations increase and change, there are
more and more cases to be taken into consideration, in beginners' eyes
the jungle of legal norms can seem to be scary and unpredictable.
It is highly beneficial to learn the crucial skills of legal research
while studying since these skills will become helpful in the future
life of any law student. Universities do not always give students the
necessary practice in carrying out a research. This is why ELSA has
established a field of activity in legal research. This provides
students with opportunities to improve their academic skills, as well
as increase their knowledge and know-how.
The core of the activities within Legal Research in ELSA, are the Legal
Research Groups. ELSA offers students the chance to form Legal Research
Groups, which work independently but report about their work to ELSA.
The group carries out the research according to the plan and timeframe
it has set for itself.
Click here to read more about Legal Research Groups
The International Focus Programme
The International Focus Programme (IFP) was introduced in 1994 to give
a global dimension to the work of ELSA. The idea was to present a
specific theme, on which the entire ELSA Network could focus its
efforts over a three-year period, providing a forum that allows
continuity within ELSA, and setting a common focus to work towards.
The theme covering a "hot legal topic" gives ELSA the chance on local,
national and international level to have an impact on law students,
society and the international community.
The IFP includes organisation of a series of local, national and
international events, such as seminars, conferences, legal research
groups, debates, moot court competitions, publications and
traineeships. During the final year of a given IFP, ELSA organises an
International IFP Final Conference based on the work of the previous
two and half years, with each theme culminating into a publication.
The IFP also gives the possibility to law students and young lawyers to
work with major law-related institutions and non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) in the world.
