A new society at Kent Law School, is offering students a practical approach to international law with a particular focus on developing skills in alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
Kent International Law Society (KILS), established earlier this summer, has planned a programme of Global Learning Online (GLO) events for students keen to develop interests in international law arbitration. The GLO events, created by Kent Law School Director of Studies Lisa Dickson, will enable Kent students to engage in mock dispute management activities online with law students studying at institutions across the globe.
The society’s President, Elizabeth Cunningham, said: ‘I initiated Kent International Law Society because I wanted a society that would touch base on all facets of international law, such as boundary conflicts, international airspace and water disputes, space law and humanitarian law.’
In addition to ADR opportunities, KILS also aims to provide a network of contacts for students interested in pursuing a career and/or further studies within the broad field of international law. Other events the society has planned for the coming year include a talk on the practice of Space Law by Dr Gbenga Oduntan and a two-day visit to the International Criminal Court in The Hague (with an opportunity to observe a hearing from the public gallery.)
From September, Elizabeth has also been appointed as Vice President of Events for the international board of the Network for International Law Students (NILS). She says this dual role, which involves the coordination and planning of all NILS events held in the UK, will provide a more extensive network of contacts for KILS along with a more diverse range of opportunities for Kent Law School students: ‘NILS will be collaborating with KILS on an annual international law conference held in London and has invited KILS to partake in an ADR Instruction-based event in Delhi. NILS spans 21 countries, vastly expanding the possibilities for Kent students.’
KILS’s inaugural committee also includes Sarah Wege (Vice President) and Paige MInnis (Treasurer). Elizabeth, Sarah and Paige are all from Canada and are all studying Kent’s two-year Senior Status LLB programme. Elizabeth, from Alberta, (pictured left) has a degree in Biological and Physical Sciences (BSc) from the University of Alberta, Sarah (pictured bottom right) is from Ontario and has a degree in Social Justice and Peace Studies (BA) from the University of Western Ontario and Paige (pictured top right), is from Nova Scotia and has a degree in Business Administration (BA) from Cape Breton University.
KILS is one of seven student societies at Kent Law School. More information about KILS and all its events is available on the KILS Facebook Page and via email from internationallawsoc@kent.ac.uk
