Centre for the Study of English and European Law

(The ‘British Law Centre’)

www.britishlawcentre.co.uk

The Centre for the Study of English and European Law (also known as the “British Law Centre”) was created in 1992 as a joint academic venture between an English educational charity Juris Angliae Scientia, the University of Cambridge and the University of Warsaw. The aim of the Centre is to allow Polish students to familiarise themselves with the methodology and structure of a common law system by undertaking courses in  selected areas of English and European law and at, simultaneously, to prepare themselves for future cooperation with international colleagues. The Diploma Course places great emphasis on the practical application of law and the resolution of legal problems, as opposed to merely legal theory.

The BLC Diploma Course
The Centre offers a two-year Diploma Course in English and EU law, beginning in the October of a given academic year and concluding prior to the summer break of the following academic year. It is possible, if necessary, to suspend studies at the Centre for a one year period (e.g. in order to take advantage of the Erasmus scheme or other foreign-study schemes), but the Course must be completed by all students within 3 years of initial registration. Upon successful completion of the course, students receive a joint Diploma from the University of Warsaw and Juris Angliae Scientia, the English educational charity and founder of the British Law Centre.

The course modules are as follows:

FIRST YEAR SUBJECTS
ENGLISH LEGAL SYSTEM
CRIMINAL LAW
LAW OF CONTRACT
CONTRACT DRAFTING AND SALE OF GOODS LAW
LAW OF TORT
LAW OF TRUSTS/PROPERTY

SECOND YEAR SUBJECTS
EU CONSTITUTIONAL AND SUBSTANTIVE LAW
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW
LAW OF BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS (with specific reference to English Company Law) LAW
INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW (including International Commercial Litigation)

Each of these subjects is taught on the basis of lectures and classes, all of which are conducted in English and are compulsory. Students receive a series of lectures (90 minutes each), following which they divide into smaller groups to discuss and apply the law they have learned. These smaller classes are of two different types: seminars (approx. 16 students and lasting 90 minutes) and tutorials (approx. 6-8 students and lasting 60 minutes). In any given “lecture week” (of which there are between 8-10 per year), students will have one lecture each day from Monday-Friday. In any given “class week” (of which there are between 8-10 per year) each student is required to attend one seminar and one tutorial.

Since there are always two years of students enrolled on the Diploma Course at any given time (i.e. 1st year and 2nd year students), not every week will involve lectures or classes for all students. For example, during weeks when 1st year students are being lectured, 2nd students will not have any lectures. A detailed timetable of lectures and classes will be made available to students in September of each academic year (this may be subject to revision in January of the following year as regards 2nd semester lectures).

The BLC also welcomes applications from students of all academic backgrounds (including non-law students) and from persons currently in employment. Lectures are held in the evening (normally between 18.30-20.00) and classes are arranged throughout the day (with the latest classes beginning at 16.45-18.15) so as to facilitate the attendance of students who also have other work or academic commitments. Equally, the Centre will attempt to accommodate the schedules of students and workers when creating the timetable for students’ class attendance.


Teaching
All teaching is conducted, in English, either by visiting academics/professionals from the University of Cambridge or other common law Universities, EU institutions, International Law Firms based in Warsaw or by the BLC academic staff based in Warsaw. Teaching and evaluation standards are supervised by the Cambridge based charity Juris Angliae Scientia and the functioning of the Course is supervised by an Academic Committee comprising representatives of the charity, academic staff from the University of Cambridge and the University of Warsaw.

The course is sponsored by the international law firms Allen & Overy, Cameron McKenna, Clifford Chance and Linklaters. BLC students receive lectures practical skills advice from the staff of each of these firms and have the opportunity to attend skills-based workshops and summer placement schemes organised by these firms.
 
All BLC students are registered on an interactive web-site, known as “Moodle”, which allows students to download course materials, check their assignment grades, communicate with the Centre’s academic staff or other students, and keep up-to-date with announcements concerning the Course.

Assessment
Each module is assessed either by
1. A Written assignment, prepared by students at home, submitted through the Moodle web-site and marked and returned to students with detailed feedback; or
2. An “open book” written exam (meaning that students may use their notes and materials during the exam); or
3. Practical exercises such as contract drafting, mooting/debates, drafting of court pleadings etc; or
4. Mini thesis- it may also be possible to publish students’ theses in the BLC newsletter ‘Obiter Dicta’ (see below) 

The lectures, classes and course materials are designed to assist students in preparation for such assessment and the academic tutors are available to assist students with any particular problems they may be encountering and to generally develop their legal writing skills.


Applications

The BLC Diploma Course demands a good command of the English language and a sufficient level of commitment in terms of effort and time. Places on the BLC Diploma Course are limited so early applications are encouraged. Places will be offered to the best qualified and most keenly motivated candidates. All interested candidates are invited to apply by sending a completed application form (found at the bottom of this page), a recent curriculum vitae and a written statement of no longer than 300 words (“motivation leter”) indicating why you wish to study at the BLC. These should be sent to the Kierownik of the Centre (Dr Steve Terrett) on or before 3rd October 2011. The application process lasts throughout the summer and will be finalised during an initial course meeting, shortly prior to the start of the Diploma course.

The initial course meeting concerning the 2011-2013 Diploma Course will be held on Monday 3rd  October 2011 at 18:30 in lecture room A2 in Biblioteka Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego (ul. Dobra 56/66, 00-312 Warszawa).  During this meeting, prospective students will have an opportunity to meet the Warsaw-based academic staff and to hear more details about the organisation of the Course, or to ask questions about the Course.

Course Fees
See the link below for details of Course Fees.
Students achieving the best marks during the first year of the 2-year Diploma Course are entitled to a 50% reduction in course fees for the second year of the course. Those students who receive distinctions upon completion of the course shall be awarded book prizes.

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