ELSA ACTIVITIES
ELSA provides young, active individuals with the skills, experience and perspectives necessary to be tomorrow's effective leaders in the international legal and business world. ELSA's mark and influence lies in the diversity of our activities. To help link those different activities into our network, three key areas have been defined.
1. AA - Academic Activities: involving the development of legal knowledge through guided practical activities.
Academic Activities are a tool for providing legal information and assist the development of the legal profession in Europe . Through the Academic Activities ELSA makes a direct contribution to legal education.
History
“Scientific Activities " (now " Academic Activities "), included ideas such as the review-programme. This was to provide legal assistance by using the ELSA network to collect information and juridical knowledge (later "the ELSA Law Web"), and the "European Yearbook of Law" published by students and consisting of articles by professors and students (later the "ELSA Law Review", then "ELSA SPEL").
By 1995, new activities were included: Moot courts, especially the Philip C. Jessup, started to play an important role. ELSA intensified its co-operation with the United Nations and the European Union, the Human Rights Programme and the International Focus Programme were started. In 1994, the first edition of the Guide to Legal Studies in Europe was published, after a pilot version in 1992/93.
Today
ELSA has during the years developed a considerable number of different projects. Publications such as ELSA Selected Papers on European Law (SPEL) and ELSA Guide to Legal Studies in Europe (GLSE) are an important part of ELSA's activities. The GLSE is also a part of the Studies Abroad Programme, which has as objective to encourage students to study in foreign countries. Furthermore, there are competitions such as Moot Court Competitions and Essay Competitions, and events organised with professional life in mind within the Lawyers at Work events.
In order to enable individuals to make use of the widespread ELSA network to obtain scientific legal information that may not be available in their own countries ELSA focuses on legal research. This research can be done with the help of the Legal Research Groups and the ELSA Law Web.
2. S&C - Seminars and Conferences: involving the acquisition of knowledge through exposure to professionals and foreign cultures. Seminars and Conferences- S&C
ELSA's Seminars and Conferences key area serves to complement the formal university curriculum by raising students' consciousness and understanding of global, legal, social, economic and environmental issues.
History
" Seminars and Conferences " got off to an early start with the first international seminar organised in Tannenfelde , Germany , less than a year from the founding of ELSA.
By 1991, the number of seminars was rising steadily and the year 1990 gave a real boost with 27 seminars in 14 countries within one year. Contacts had been established with ILSA and other international student organisations and two annual international meetings did not suffice anymore.
By 1995, the number of seminars to about 35 each year ELSA intensified its co-operation with the United Nations and the European Union, the Human Rights Programme was started.
Today
Seminars and Conferences includes
§ Seminars
§ Conferences
§ Law schools
§ Study visits
International Seminars and Conferences are events that deal with a legal topic of high international interest and provide additional skills and knowledge to its participants. While on a seminar, topics are discussed in a plenary. Conferences entail more individual participation and scientific contribution, therefore topics are discussed in workshops to be finally reported in plenary.
An international seminar or conference provides accommodation for the participants and lasts at least 3 days. More than 50 international seminars and conferences are held annually.
Study visits are organised by at least one local group. Study visits may be single, bilateral, multilateral, or institutional. Institutional study visits are study visits to international governmental or non-governmental organisations, public administrations or private institutions.
An ELSA Law School is an event that aims to be annual and has a scientific programme with a legal topic. An ELSA Law School is organised in close co-operation with the academic or institutional partner(s), i.e. with the law faculty, law institutes etc. The scientific programme includes lectures followed by workshops, which deepen and emphasise different areas of the lecture. (ELSA İstanbul Law School on M&A www.elsaistanbul-ls.com)
ELSA Istanbul, one more time, is getting ready to welcome you for an unforgettable experience in Istanbul where Europe meets Asia and proudly welcomes you this summer to Istanbul for Law School on Mergers& Acquisitions, Fourth Edition will be held in Istanbul from 7 to 13 July 2008, during which, 50 lucky participants will have opportunity to improve their knowledge on latest developments on Mergers & Acquisitions, along with the beauty of Istanbul and a strong but well-balanced academic programme. We will host you at Istanbul Bilgi University's new campus and dorms. The academic programme has been renewed to offer you a broader range of lectures; there will 2 different classes, with some optional lessons, which means there is the possibility to chose your classes according to your interests. Finally, participants will receive a certificate for their attendance to lectures. Let us remind you that ELSA Istanbul doesn't only promise a very strong academic program but also guarantee a week full of fun and surprises! Everyday, after lectures, you will have the chance to discover the ancient city and the nightlife of Istanbul.
Therefore, if you want to seize the innovations in law & business life, in other words; if you are willing to improve your knowledge on M& A while spending a week full of enjoyment through beauties of Istanbul , we ensure you that this is the program that you are looking for!
For further questions please contact us by vpsc@elsa-istanbul.org or ls@elsa-istanbul.org
A Seminar:
Pursuant to the current IFP, ELSA Istanbul organized the Seminar on "Innovation and Patent Law" which between 22nd and 25th April 2008. Academic programme was focused on the role of Patent Law and Innovation in the economic development of countries. It is worth to mention that a lecturer from the WIPO Worldwide Academy hadattended the seminar to deliver lectures.
3. STEP - Student Trainee Exchange Programme: providing opportunities for law students and young lawyers to gain work experience in a foreign legal system while learning about other cultures.
History
" Short-Term Exchange Programme " (now " Student Trainee Exchange Programme ") developed through the "Canadian Training Programme". In 1984 and 1985, 13 trainees from 8 different countries were sent to Canada . At the council meeting in Groningen in October 1985, the abbreviation STEP was born.
By 1991, ELSA had almost 30 members and observers. The number of STEP trainees per year had increased to around 100.
By 1995, the amount of STEP trainees had increased to some 400 and the number of seminars to about 35 each year.
What started in 1997 as a plan to organise the STEP application-process via the Internet, for instance, developed into the most ambitious ELSA project. Through this the entire network and all ELSA programmes shall profit from the vast possibilities of the Internet. For the 20th anniversary celebrations of ELSA, a new website of ELSA International, the front page of the database backbone of ELSA ONLINE was launched, and from summer 2001 the first STEP traineeships will be matched in ELSA ONLINE .
Today
The Student Trainee Exchange Programme (STEP) enables law students and young lawyers to spend a period of time working abroad in a law related area. Thus introducing them to a different legal system and enabling them to gain valuable professional experience. ELSA supplements the traineeship schemes of law firms, companies, banks, universities, public and private institutions, and provides suitable trainees for both short and long-term placements.
However, traineeship exchange is not simply a process of bringing one university student or graduate from one country to another and placing them in a job. It includes an involvement in the community and in different ELSA activities, thus creating a powerful opportunity to learn by interacting with new situations and perspectives.
For promoting and supervising the ELSA activities, there are four supporting area in ELSA which are; President, Secretary General, Treasurer and Marketing.
