European Law Students' Association: Difference between revisions
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*Encouraging law students and young lawyers to act for the good of society. |
*Encouraging law students and young lawyers to act for the good of society. |
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During the second half of the 1990ties, the organisation developed significant activities in the field of human rights and international justice, thus contributing to the progressive development of international law and the protection of human dignity. Projects such as the ELSA Law School on Peace in Bosnia Herzegovina (University of Sarajevo, 1995), the Arusha School on International Criminal Law, International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Tanzania, 1995, 1996 and 1998) and the Salzburg Law School on International Criminal Law (University of Salzburg, 1999) attested the impact that ELSA was having in promoting the Rule of Law in the international legal order. At the Rome Diplomatic Conference for the Establishment of an International Criminal Court of the UN (FAO, Rome, 1998), ELSA participated with the largest delegation (over 80 law students and young lawyers) sent by any organisation accredited to that conference(see the |
During the second half of the 1990ties, the organisation developed significant activities in the field of human rights and international justice, thus contributing to the progressive development of international law and the protection of human dignity. Projects such as the ELSA Law School on Peace in Bosnia Herzegovina (University of Sarajevo, 1995), the Arusha School on International Criminal Law, International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Tanzania, 1995, 1996 and 1998) and the Salzburg Law School on International Criminal Law (University of Salzburg, 1999) attested the impact that ELSA was having in promoting the Rule of Law in the international legal order. At the Rome Diplomatic Conference for the Establishment of an International Criminal Court of the UN (FAO, Rome, 1998), ELSA participated with the largest delegation (over 80 law students and young lawyers) sent by any organisation accredited to that conference (see the [http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N98/241/85/PDF/N9824185.pdf?OpenElement Final Act of the Rome Diplomatic Conference]). |
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==Institutional relations== |
==Institutional relations== |
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Revision as of 00:57, 4 April 2010
| File:ELSA Logo.png | |
| Abbreviation | ELSA |
|---|---|
| Formation | May 4, 1981 |
| Type | INGO |
| Purpose | To contribute to legal education, to foster mutual understanding and to promote social responsibility of law students and young lawyers |
| Headquarters | ELSA International |
| Location |
|
Region served | Mainly Europe – projects world wide |
Official language | English |
Main organ | Council of ELSA |
| Volunteers | 30,000 members in 41 countries |
| Website | www.elsa.org |
| Remarks | ELSA is the world's largest independent, non-political and non-profit making law students' association |
The European Law Students' Association (also known as ELSA) is an international, independent, non-political, non-profit-making organisation run by and for students. ELSA-activities comprise a large variety of academic and professional events that are organised to fulfil the vision of ELSA.
History
Five law students from Austria, Hungary, Poland and West Germany founded ELSA on 4th of May 1981. Today ELSA is the world's largest independent law students association and it is represented at nearly 200 law faculties in 41 countries across Europe with membership in excess of 30,000 students and young lawyers.
ELSA-activities comprise a large variety of academic and professional events that are organised to fulfill the vision of ELSA and in order to provide our members opportunities to enhance their skills and to interact with each other.
Identity
Being established in 1981 The European Law Students' Association – ELSA is today the world's largest independent, non-political and non-profit making law students' association comprising membership of in total 30,000 members.
ELSA members are open-minded, internationally oriented/targeted and multilingual and acquire a broader cultural understanding than other law students. The associations aim is to give direct experiences with foreign legal systems and business practices.
ELSA's 200 university-based local groups and 41 national groups as well as the international board are entirely student-managed and administered. Similar to a small franchise, each group creates its own plan of operation in line with the overall goals of the association. Each group recruits and trains its volunteer executives and markets ELSA's programmes to the academic and business community. In combination with the university curriculum, ELSA prepares its members for their future entry into professional life, especially when working in an international environment.
Vision:
"A just world in which there is respect for human dignity and cultural diversity."
Purpose:
"To contribute to legal education, to foster mutual understanding and to promote social responsibility of law students and young lawyers."
Means:
- Providing opportunities for law students and young lawyers to learn about other cultures and legal systems in a spirit of critical dialogue and scientific co-operation.
- Assisting law students and young lawyers to be internationally minded and professionally skilled.
- Encouraging law students and young lawyers to act for the good of society.
During the second half of the 1990ties, the organisation developed significant activities in the field of human rights and international justice, thus contributing to the progressive development of international law and the protection of human dignity. Projects such as the ELSA Law School on Peace in Bosnia Herzegovina (University of Sarajevo, 1995), the Arusha School on International Criminal Law, International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Tanzania, 1995, 1996 and 1998) and the Salzburg Law School on International Criminal Law (University of Salzburg, 1999) attested the impact that ELSA was having in promoting the Rule of Law in the international legal order. At the Rome Diplomatic Conference for the Establishment of an International Criminal Court of the UN (FAO, Rome, 1998), ELSA participated with the largest delegation (over 80 law students and young lawyers) sent by any organisation accredited to that conference (see the Final Act of the Rome Diplomatic Conference).
Institutional relations
ELSA has gained consultative status with several United Nations bodies. In 1994, ELSA was granted Consultative Status in Category C in UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), and in 1997 ELSA obtained Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Council). In addition UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law) is inviting ELSA delegations to participate in their sessions.
In 2000, ELSA was granted Participatory Status with the Council of Europe. This cooperation was further widened with the signing of a Human Rights Partnership between Council of Europe and ELSA in 2008.
Furthermore, ELSA has a co-operation agreement with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). In October 2005, ELSA obtained Observer Status with WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization).
Activities
ELSA's activities fall into three key areas:
- Seminars & Conferences (S&C)
- Lectures
- Panel discussions
- Seminars and conferences (both local and international)
- Law schools
- Study visits
- Institutional visits
- Academic Activities (AA)
- "Lawyers at Work" (L@W) events
- Study abroad programme
- Legal research group
- Essay competitions
- Moot courts
- ELSA Moot Court Competition
- Student Trainee Exchange Programme (STEP)
The Student Trainee Exchange Programme (STEP), makes it possible for law students and young lawyers to gain working experience abroad.
It is a trainee exchange programme that enables law students and young lawyers to gain first hand experience of the substantive and procedural law as well as the culture of another country. The traineeships are between 2 weeks and 18 months and can take place in any law related area; law firms, courts, public institutions, banks, in-house legal departments, consulting firms and international organisations.
Before and during the traineeship, ELSA provides assistance with finding accommodation, applying for visas, when necessary, and organising social events to involve the trainee in the daily life of the local community.
Delegations
ELSA sends delegations to:
- United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Sub-commission on Human Rights
- Commission for Social Development
- Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
- United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
- Session I – Working Group on Procurement
- Session II – Working Group on International Arbitration and Conciliation
- Session III – Working Group on Transport Law
- Session VI – Working Group on Insolvency Law
- Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court (ICC)
- Council of Europe – International Non Governmental Organisations (INGO)
- Committees
- Civil Society and Democracy
- Culture, Science and Education
- Human Rights
- Europe and Global Challenges
- Gender Equality
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
- Standing Committee on the Law of Patents
- Provisional Committee on Proposals Related to the WIPO Development Agenda
ELSA International
ELSA International consists of an international board and directors.
The international board is the supreme executive body of the association. Its members are elected at the Spring Council Meeting for a one-year period. The international board is responsible for the overall co-ordination of the organisation as a whole; including the support of member groups both locally and nationally, the collection and redistribution of information throughout the network to ensure the fullest participation possible at events.
The international board also co-ordinates and develops ELSA's collaboration with various international organisations and institutions, governments, law firms and companies across Europe. The board consists of seven positions being; President, Secretary General, Treasurer, Vice President Academic Activities, Vice President Seminars & Conferences, Vice President Student Trainee Exchange Programme and Vice President Marketing.
The members of the international board work full-time at the international headquarter in Brussels on a voluntary basis.
ELSA network
ELSA is a unique and growing network of close to 30 000 young people from more than 200 universities in 41 countries across Europe. ELSA currently has members and observers in: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
Furthermore, ELSA co-operates with other student organisations across the world, for instance Asian Law Students' Association in Asia.
Publications
Synergy
Synergy is a biannual publication that is printed in 10,000 copies and distributed throughout the network. It contains articles written by members, academics and institutions. The magazine was first published as a newsletter back in 1987.
Selected Papers on European Law (ELSA SPEL)
ELSA Selected Papers on European Law (ELSA SPEL) provides a compilation of legal papers concerning law with European aspects. ELSA SPEL provides an international readership with a source of literature that rarely finds its way to the regular legal periodicals: High quality papers written by students in the scope of their legal courses as well as academics.
Marraine and patron
- Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe
- Chang-fa Lo, professor of Law at National Taiwan University and Member of the WTO Permanent Group of Experts for Subsidies
Partners
ELSA holds several high-profile partnerships, among them CMS Legal, Council of Europe, European Voice, Thomson Reuters, Westlaw, World Trade Institute and WTO.
See also
External links and references
- ELSA International
- ELSA Moot Court Competition
- ELSA Albania
- ELSA Austria
- ELSA Belgium
- ELSA Bulgaria
- ELSA Czech Republic
- ELSA Denmark
- ELSA Estonia
- ELSA Finland
- ELSA Georgia
- ELSA Germany
- ELSA Greece
- ELSA Hungary
- ELSA Italy
- ELSA Lithuania
- ELSA Malta
- ELSA Montenegro
- ELSA The Netherlands
- ELSA Norway
- ELSA Poland
- ELSA Portugal
- ELSA Republic of Macedonia
- ELSA Romania
- ELSA Slovak Republic
- ELSA Spain
- ELSA Sweden
- ELSA Switzerland
- ELSA Turkey
- ELSA Ukraine