The law school where I am doing my semester is Bucerius Law School, the first private law school in Germany. From what I understand it's a big deal to have a private law school, and I believe it's attempting to wrest some control of the legal field from the exclusive domain of the State. Which compares interestingly to the United States, where the tension between public and private interests manifests in different places.
But one thing this law school emphasizes particularly is training a cosmopolitan, internationally-aware lawyer. Towards that end all their pupils go away one semester to some other country for their studies, and in return law schools around the world (like mine) send their students to Germany for a semester. The school then runs a special program for us. We could, if we wanted to and spoke enough German, take classes with the German students. And I think they can, if they want, take classes with us, with our special catalog of English-speaking classes to choose from.
The school itself is in an old building – a former botanical institute, I think – settled in a park area with a large, quiet lawn and a fully modern interior. It is also within easy walking distance from downtown and its shops, restaurants, and train stations. And it's an easy subway ride from our apartment.
I'm sure I'll have more to add about the school and the experience, but I will save it for other posts.
Posted 9/2/05.