A Letter from London

Dear UK Law,

Top of the morning from London!

I am fortunate enough to be one of five UK Law students studying abroad with the London Law Consortium this semester. We are studying international and comparative law with about 20 other American law students from a handful of law schools across the United States.

We are taking a wide range of courses including: British Legal Methods, European Union Law, International Family Law, Comparative Inequality, and Election Law. Our courses are instructed by three American law professors (including UK Law's own Professor Joshua Douglas), a professor from King's College, London, and a practicing Queen's Council barrister.

Perhaps most exciting, a number of us are participating in a barrister shadowing program. We are matched with practicing barristers and observe them in court. Just this week, my barrister invited me to watch an oral argument before the UK Supreme Court!

Outside of the classroom, the LLC has graciously arranged legal and cultural activities for us. We received an inside tour of Parliament, spent a day touring Oxford, and dined at The Inner Temple, one of the Inns of Court.

Living in London is a wonderful experience in itself. Our classroom is about 100 yards from the British Museum, we can choose from any of a dozen West End shows and we have continued more than one after-class debate in a pub.

I can speak for all of us when I say the last two months have been amazing – but they have gone by too fast (not the usual law school lament). This once in a lifetime opportunity has broadened my legal perspective and challenged me to rethink my worldview.

On behalf of my classmates, I would like to thank Dean Michael, Dean Brennen, and the UK College of Law for making this opportunity possible. See you in May!

Cheers,
Jack Phillips