In a recent visit to the Court of Justice of the European Union, our bachelor students had the fantastic opportunity to get a closer look at this important EU institution.
Being present at a hearing at the Grande Salle, touring the Court of Justice of the European Union and hearing from the daily work of refendaires and current EU court judges, is an invaluable immersive learning experience any LLB student can imagine.
Students from the LLB and Dual programs traveled to Luxembourg with European Union Law professor, Charlotte Leskinen, to attend an important hearing and learn first-hand what it´s like to work in this important institution.
During this insightful visit, students took part in different activities, including a short tour of the Court’s building and a briefing session at the Petite Salle of the Court with Fabian Zivy, referendaire (Legal Secretary) at the Court. Mr. Zivy explained to students the main factual aspects of the case they attended and the legal issues under discussion, aspects that provided students a unique and first-hand learning experience.
After the briefing sessions, IE students attended the 3-hour hearing at the Grande Salle, with a panel of 15 judges (the Grand Chamber), and the Advocate General Mr. Melchior Wathelet. After the hearing, IE students toured the Court’s library.
During the afternoon, students met Paschalis Paschalidis, organizer of the Europa Moot Court Competition and referendaire at the Court, who shared insights and exposed students to his daily work at the Court.
LLB students later met Judge Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo Ibañez-Martin, former IE professor and current judge at the General Court. Leopoldo shared his opinion on the current events concerning the European Union and gave students a clear glimpse of what his daily day and work are like at the General Court.
To end this complete visit, IE law students toured the Court building, where Mohammed Mahandi, from the protocol department at the Court, explained the history and evolution of the former European Court of Justice, now Court of Justice of the European Union.
“The visit was amazing and we truly enjoyed knowing more about how such an important EU institution works. After my visit at the Court of Justice, I think working at a European Union institution could be a very interesting career option” – Luis, a fifth-year student of the Dual Bachelor Degree in Law and Business Administration.
About Luis
As an IE Law School student, and having interned at a few law firms, Luis says he has discovered that one of the fields of law he is most interested in is European Union Law.
“I would like to become a lawyer, but I am not sure yet, whether I want to practice in the public sector, in a law firm or a corporation. Throughout my last year at IE University, I will decide whether to pursue a career in law in the public sector, or study my Master´s Degree in Lawyering at IE Law School”, says Luis.
To conclude, Luis strongly encourages students at IE Law School to take part in all the academic experiences IE Law School offers such as Law Without Walls, and the Europe Moot Court Competition in Kavala, Greece.
“These extracurricular activities have enabled me to work with people from different universities around the world, to be involved in innovative projects, and to learn to be flexible and collaborative”, he concludes.
Article is written in collaboration with Luis Moyano, Dual BBA-LLB student
