After I had decided that I wanted to make an exchange part of my time at law school, a question arose: where?
My priority was a place where I could engage critically with the divergent paths of legal development followed in a different common-law country. Canadian law, British law, American law, and Australian law spring from the same source. What decisions have been made since the fall of the British Empire? I did not want to study in continental Europe and get dropped into civil law. However, the European Union is a fascinating concept in political organisation. Eventually, the choice became clear.
Heading to exchange in Northern Ireland
During the fall semester, I attended Queen’s University of Belfast in Northern Ireland. The region has one foot in each polity; it is part of the UK but enjoys free movement with the European Union country of the Republic of Ireland. All of my weighing of legal systems and politics proved unimportant. My exchange was more than school. It was a return to undergrad in many of the best ways: living in a dorm; a course load that gave me a tonne of opportunity to explore the school, city, and continent; and a strong emphasis on student clubs.
Dorm living can be grating. At least, it could have been if there had been any problem with my floormates sharing the kitchen, bathrooms, and common area. From the first day, the people I met were amazing. They were all other exchange students from around Europe. They were kind, thoughtful, fun, hilarious, and passionate about their causes. I had friends who made sure to teach me the essential German before I visited their home country, and I had friends who never would let me skip a morning run around campus. When I return to Europe someday, I will have happy hosts all over.
What to do on exchange?
A significant amount of my time in Belfast was spent looking around. I looked for signs of the city’s history. I looked for places to eat and drink. I looked for things to learn outside of the classroom. Belfast is a city whose troubled and proud history is written on street names, street corners, and prominent flags. Universities help define cities, but they are never the whole story. To find that, you’ll need to bring your best pair of walking shoes. (Anyone who is thinking of doing an exchange, take that suggestion seriously.) I went through two pairs before returning to my good old Blundstones! Murals, street art, vendors, cozy study spots, and charming little shops — the best of a city — might not appear in the guidebook.
Reflecting on the law school exchange experience
My exchange was one of the best parts of law school. I hope you do not think that I was happy to get away from Weldon. I could not have engaged with the experience without what this law school gave me. Law school taught me the communication and networking skills to make immediate connections at my Belfast dorm. When I felt homesick, I would call up my friends in Halifax and know they would support me no matter what. In classes at Queen’s, I provided a Canadian perspective on topics as widely varied as export cartel prohibition, statutes of limitations on claims against government, and whisk(e)y. I would go back to the British Isles in a heartbeat, but I can never go like that again. I am OK with that; I made the most of it.
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