On Friday, 7 September 2012 a group of Bond University law masters students were given a guided tour of the Queensland Parliament and Supreme Court as part of their legal training. The ten students from the French Bar School are all studying a Master of Laws (International Legal Practice) at Bond University. French students often study at the Faculty of Law to gain international experience and knowledge of the common law system which is significantly different from the civil law system used in France.
The students were taken to Brisbane for a full day excursion as part of their subject Introduction to Common Law. They began with “High Tea” in the Strangers Dining Room at Parliament house before being given a tour of the Legislative Assembly Chamber, Members Library and the old Legislative Council Chamber.
The Students were then taken by Senior Teaching Fellow Joe Crowley to the new Queensland Supreme and District Court Building where Justice Douglas spoke on the Courts system in Australia. His Honour, who is fluent in French, kindly showed the students his chambers where he prepares his judgments, on the secure floor of the courts. Afterward the students mingled with some young Queensland lawyers at a Friday night social function.
Since 2006 the Faculty of Law has partnered with the French Bar School of Paris providing their students the opportunity to undertake part of their studies at Bond and obtain a Master of Laws (International Legal Practice). This degree is an innovative program which combines a coursework master’s degree with a practical legal placement. The program is taken over 1 year and 4 months and is structured with four components covering an intensive subject, compulsory subjects, electives and an internship placement.