Grounded in the gold standard for legal education, learning by doing, ONU Law conducted a two week intensive course in Advanced Comparative Advocacy in Reykjavik, Iceland during the summer of 2022.
Taught by subject matter experts from Scotland, Iceland, and the United States, students experienced an immersive educational experience focused on developing their own advocacy voice through the rubric of trial advocacy. They told stories, gave openings, examined witnesses, and made closing arguments. Their growth was phenomenal and each student became the advocate they hoped to become prior to attending. By the time the course ended each had been inducted into a broader advocacy family committed to excellence. They networked with their professors, developing skill sets and connections that will last for the rest of their professional life. Of course they not only worked hard, they played hard too.
Their course extended far beyond the boundaries of their classrooms. They visited the Icelandic Supreme Court, and were given a tour by the Chief Justice. He spent well over an hour with our students, and they came away with a unique understanding of Icelandic law, procedure, and their fundamental commitment to human rights and democracy. To stand in not only the court, but the chambers of the justices was an incredible gift and our students were blown away by the welcoming nature of the entire Icelandic legal community, and the commitment of their society to the Rule of Law and value of democracy.
Iceland is a magical place, and the students dove into experiencing all this special country had to offer. They immersed themselves in Icelandic culture and Icelandic water - both warm and cold. They visited the Blue Lagoon, thermal hot springs, and the volcanic countryside. They watched whales from boats in the bay, and ate fish fresh from the sea. During the night they experienced everything the capital city of Iceland has to offer.
On the weekends they scattered across the Icelandic countryside, visiting the South Coast, Vik, black volcanic sand beaches and magnificent waterfalls. They walked on glaciers and drank from the purest waters found on planet earth while watching geysers explode into the sky. Some visited the continental divide and stood between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Others watched seals swimming in a glacial lagoon with glaciers floating by. As you might imagine, the experience was life changing.
We are busy planning for next summer’s Icelandic excursion, with trips to the Golden Circle, the Blue Lagoon and downtown Reykjavik on our agenda. If you want to learn advocacy in one of the most magical settings on the planet, steeped in Icelandic history and mystery then you should join us. The course is taught by premier advocacy professors from around the world - it is an experience not to be missed if you truly wish to awaken the advocate that lives within you. Many people have ventured into Iceland to be transformed, why not you?
Space is limited, so if you hear the horn of adventure calling and think you might want to awaken your inner viking to become an advocate to be reckoned with reach out to us. You will never regret it. Just drop us a line at lawdean@onu.edu and we will get you on the next raiding party. Skol!
All the best,
Charles H. Rose III
Dean and Professor of Law
Claude W. Pettit College of Law
Ohio Northern University
