A group of six Kent law students with a shared passion for French – and legal – culture plan to reinvigorate the University’s French Society for 2020/21.
Pauline Bourgeonnier Cesari, Fleur Deyaert, Nathan Furdin, Zoé Hustin, Malvina Marcellin and Anaïs Medina are all studying a linked award programme in English Law and French Law, the product of an agreement established in 2017 between Aix-Marseille Université (AMU) and Kent Law School.
Having completed the first two years of their four-year programme at AMU in southern France, the students are now beginning their study of the LLB at Kent Law School.
Anaïs, the Society’s Head of Communications, said: ‘The programme has given us the opportunity to live and study in both countries and to gain a comparative perspective on each lifestyle, culture and legal thinking. With the UKC French Society, we decided to re-enact our common heritage and vision by sharing our experience and passion for the French culture (food, art, territory and more).’
The Society is keen to point out that it’s not just about French people coming together – it’s for anyone interested in French culture. Anaïs (who is French-Mexican) said: ‘For instance, our secretary is British-Israeli and not a French native speaker and our Head Chef is French-Belgian!’ Society members can look forward to French ‘apéros’, dinners and other social events linked with the French culture throughout the seasons (including Chandleur, Christmas, Pâques etc). Anaïs said: ‘It will be an opportunity to discuss, create connections and share French traditions we love so much with anyone interested!
Given the current Coronavirus pandemic, the Society also aims to create a ‘safe space’ for new students, helping them to feel “welcome and surrounded.” On Saturday, @UKCFrenchSociety is hosting a Q&A on Instagram for students facing the prospect of quarantine after arriving from France.
With most of the Society’s committee members being law students this year, UKC French Society events will offer an opportunity to critically explore the differences and similarities between not just two legal systems (ie the French and English) but two legal cultures – the civil and common law. All this, of course, with opportunities to sample some wine and cheese!
Follow the UKC French Society on Instagram to find out more about individual committee members:
- President: Zoé Hustin
- Vice-President: Malvina Marcellin
- Head of Communications: Anaïs Median
- Head of Events: Pauline Bourgeonnier Cesari
- Treasurer: Nathan Furdin
- Head Chef: Fleur Deyaert
The four-year linked award programme is for students wanting to study English Law and French Law but who also want to spend more time in France and achieve a formal qualification in French Law. Through an agreement between AMU and Kent, students can study for two years at AMU in Aix-en-Provence before progressing to Kent’s Canterbury campus to study the LLB in the final two years of the degree. The programme offers the opportunity to graduate with a Master 1 Droit international et européen, and an LLB in Law.