Studying Law Abroad: Notes from Suzanne Flynn

lectures. Comparing legal systems in each respective country with other Erasmus students is beneficial both socially and intellectually, as my interest in the legal systems of the world grows. The language is the most challenging component of studying law abroad for me. As part of the Law and German degree programme, we are required to spend a full year abroad in a German university studying Law purely through German. The German language itself is not the easiest to learn, and the German legal language is particularly challenging, but after just month of lectures, it has become easier and hopefully will continue to become more so. One of the most interesting things about studying Law abroad for me is studying EU Law from a German perspective. Given the political climate and Germany’s role in the EU, the lectures are compelling and invite students to do further research. The same goes for Human Rights Law, in which the evolvement of human rights is discussed at length, with Germany’s role in the first and second World Wars playing a part in the conversation. As a law student, I could not further recommend the Erasmus experience. Gaining a valuable insight into the legal systems of other countries is an extremely beneficial aspect of my degree that I know will serve me well as I continue my studies.

The Eagle’s Robyn Maher talked to recent Trinity Law Graduate Kevin FitzPatrick about his experience at King’s Inns

So far it’s absolutely exceeded expectations in pretty much every way. In terms of my general experience, it has been incredibly enjoyable so far. It’s not in fact too academic; it’s much more practice oriented, so it’s a lot less of just learning loads of statutes and case law and more teaching you how to be good barrister, which I’m finding really interesting. With regards the people I expected there to be a fair few insufferable ‘barrister’ types but all of the staff down the Inns are tremendous, my year group is lovely and the practising barristers I’ve come into contact with so far have been really willing to help. The workload itself is quite demanding to be honest, but I’m getting used to it and it’s nothing that can’t be done by putting in the hours. The extra curriculars, such as dining, have been such a great experience as well. There’s such a buzz for big dining nights and it’s great fun getting to dress up in your robes and have a fancy 3 course meal with your class, and with wine!

I’m doing the full-time course. On Mondays, we do court visits in the morning and then in the afternoon you have Irish classes-- don’t worry, there’s no exam!- - and then either ethics or conveyancing depending on the week. The rest of the week will be focused around one topic, such as negotiating, drafting, sentencing and so on. There’s an earlier and a later group, with the early group in class from 09:00-10:45 and 13:30-15:15, the late group in from 11:00-12:45 and 15:30-17:15. You’ll generally have a good bit of reading to do during the break in the middle of the day, which is usually necessary to get the most out of the class-- and this time they mean it, it’s not like seminars. You actually really have to do the reading. The classes themselves are very interactive. They’re done in small class groups and involve a lot of participation. You also have to attend 5 dinings a semester, with the ‘benchers’, that is the members of the Superior Courts and Bar Council, in the marvellous dining hall. Traditionally, this was when you learned the law by talking to judges and barristers, but nowadays