Seeking justice - UWL law students visit international courts in The Hague
Intro
Philip Ells, Head of UWL’s School of Law, and Senior Lecturer Michael Derks accompanied 11 law students on a three-day visit to the Netherlands last month.
Article body
After an early flight, they arrived in Amsterdam on a Sunday and walked around the historic city, taking in its concentric canals, museums and striking 17th century mixed with ultra-modern architecture.
On the Monday, the group travelled to The Hague, home of the International Criminal Court as well as the Peace Palace, which houses the world’s oldest institution for settling international disputes, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, and the United Nations’ highest judicial body, the International Court of Justice.
At the International Criminal Court (ICC), the students heard about some of the political issues involved in seeking justice against alleged perpetrators of crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes and crimes of aggression. They also explored the protection afforded to both judges and witnesses, and the processes engaged from issue of arrest warrant to appeal against conviction.
The group then attended the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) established by an agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone. Here they heard from the Prosecution and Legal/Evidence Adviser about the complex history of the region. They discovered the reasons for its civil war, the vast array of personnel engaged in the court’s creation and the successful prosecution of perpetrators of crimes.
On the final day, students attended a talk at the International Court of Justice, often known as the World Court. It hears cases brought by one nation state against another to determine international disputes and has the power to issue advisory opinions as well as judgements following trial.
This was a unique opportunity for students to learn about the work of these highly specialised, international courts from court staff and prosecutors,”
says Philip Ells.
It enabled them to put their own studies into perspective and to be informed of the possibilities of international work in the future and of internships offered by the ICC.”
Gabriela Sanz, a student on the new LLB (Hons) at Ruskin College who went on the trip, says,
Thank you so much for this amazing experience. It was fun! I'm so happy to be part of UWL.”
Related news
-
Seeking justice - UWL law students visit international courts in The Hague
Philip Ells, Head of UWL’s School of Law, and Senior Lecturer Michael Derks accompanied 11 law students on a three-day visit to the Netherlands last month.
-
University of West London visiting professor appointed as new Commissioner of the Judicial Appointments Commission
Deputy Senior District Judge (Chief Magistrate) and social mobility ambassador Tan Ikram CBE works with the School of Law (SoL) at UWL.
-
Law Careers Fair brings legal firms and other employers in the sector to UWL students
Attendees connected with 23 law firms and other employers, charities and organisations as well as UWL’s careers, study support and volunteering teams.
-
UWL law student gains valuable experience from placement at city law firm Macfarlanes
Macfarlanes began a placement scheme for first year LLB students in 2021 with six universities including UWL. Our School of Law shortlists up to eight candidates, which Macfarlanes then further shortlist for interview.
-
UWL students spend a week seeing the law in action at ten magistrates’ courts
Twenty one students from UWL’s School of Law recently spent a week attending ten different court sites in the southeast of England, as part of a placement scheme with HM Courts & Tribunals Service.
-
2023 graduation celebrations begin for UWL students!
Across two days and eight ceremonies featuring thousands of students, 15 honorary degrees and countless handshakes and hugs, it is time for the University of West London’s graduation festivities to begin!
-
Law students visit Sky offices to learn about working as an in-house lawyer
A group of 25 students from UWL’s School of Law visited the media and entertainment company’s offices in Isleworth, accompanied by lecturers Karen Shury, Ori Igwe and Susan McGlamery.
-
Law students immersed in mock law firm environment at Assessment Centre Workshop
UWL’s School of Law, in partnership with the UWL Careers Team, held their first Assessment Centre Workshop recently to enhance students’ employability skills by giving them the opportunity to experience what it is like to be interviewed and assessed by a law firm.
-
President of the Law Society Lubna Shuja joins Clive Coleman for a conversation at UWL
Lubna Shuja, the 7th female to become President of the Law Society of England and Wales joined the BBC’s former legal affairs correspondent, Clive Coleman, for a conversation and Q&A at UWL on Tuesday 10 May.
-
Alumni Spotlight - Lee John Charles, CBE
Find out more about UWL alumnus, Lee John Charles, CBE, and his UWL experience and journey.
-
A couple of graduates share legal internship at UWL
UWL Law graduates, Luana Medalha and Maciej Scislowski, are now sharing an internship within the School of Law working on research projects with their former lecturers.
-
Law students gain valuable insight on visit to Sky HQ
Law students from the University of West London (UWL) have been given the inside scoop on what it is like to work in media law following a visit to the Headquarters of Sky Television in Isleworth.
-
Senior Judge calls for increased diversity in the legal profession
A Deputy Senior Judge has called for greater diversity in the field of law, in an address to alumni from the University of West London’s (UWL) School of Law.
-
New Year honour for ‘inspirational’ senior judge
A leading judge who has spent years inspiring UWL’s law students has been recognised for his outstanding work on diversity within the legal profession on this year’s New Year Honours list.