A Visit to Strasbourg for Law Students
A visit to one of the most inspiring places for anyone aspiring to make international law their mission and profession. Following a well-established tradition, students from the advanced modules of the Law degree program at Bocconi University, as part of the Criminal Procedure course, had the opportunity to visit the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
"This initiative, which each year garners increasing enthusiasm and participation from students, aims to give them firsthand experience of the adversarial proceedings that precede a ruling—a ruling that will mark a crucial turning point in the interpretation of the fundamental rights enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), and which, as the students have studied in class, will inevitably have repercussions on the Italian legal system as well," explains Simone Lonati, Associate Professor of Criminal Procedural Law, who organizes the initiative alongside Alessandro Nascimbeni and Giulia Angiolini.
"This year, in particular, students attended a public hearing before the Grand Chamber, where the issue of judges' freedom of expression was being debated. Additionally, they had the honor of meeting Raffaele Sabato, the Italian judge at the European Court of Human Rights, who shared insights into his experience," Lonati continues. "Students always express great emotion in experiencing a day at the European Court in Strasbourg—feeling part of the jurisprudence they study daily, engaging with those who make these landmark decisions, and gaining an understanding of the intricate mechanisms behind them, thanks to the invaluable testimonies of those involved." This excitement is also reflected in the words of those who participated for the first time, aware that they were attending a truly unique "lesson" that they will likely never forget.
"This initiative, which for years has enriched the academic journey of aspiring international jurists, brought us to the heart of Europe's legal system," says Leonardo Lamberto Scaglione, a fourth-year Law student. "But we didn't stop at the Court; many of us also visited the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, immersing ourselves in the history and role of European institutions. It felt like experiencing a law lecture while also finding inspiration for our future."
"Attending a hearing with 17 judges of the European Court of Human Rights was a stimulating way to conclude our advanced Criminal Procedure courses, particularly for those of us who had studied the Court's jurisprudence on key articles of the European Convention on Human Rights," says Ester Barel, also a fourth-year student. "It was striking to think that these 17 judges, who share a common legal heritage but also significant differences, will now deliberate on the case we witnessed, seeking a compromise. This experience made me reflect on how spaces for dialogue and cooperation are, on the one hand, complex but, on the other, absolutely necessary."