And by that, I certainly don’t mean to belittle any “traditional” courses- I merely
wish to highlight the fact that some areas of the law (like everything in life)
are so distinctive, so far-removed from our “daily” experiences, that they oft
go unnoticed. Take, for example, comparative constitutional law. Narrow the topic
a little more, confine it to the European continent. How many of us can foresee
this genre popping up in our day-to-day lives, post law school?
Probably not many.
However, this doesn’t eradicate the need to offer courses like this one- in
fact, I would argue that courses focused in more obscure areas are
just as important
as courses like torts, contracts, and criminal law.
At WVU, this course is considered a “perspective”. For four weeks, we met three nights a week, for two hours an evening, to analyze and discuss legal issues in the European Union, the Russian Federation, and the United States.
For those of you shrugging your shoulders about the EU, consider that one of the highlights of the course was the ability to choose your research area for the final essay.
Second year student Dustin Blankenship chose to examine the role of privacy in both judicial systems:
“The United States and Europe have similar fundamental beliefs. Basic, universal
human rights extend to all people within the borders of these regions. One
of the most important rights protected by the US Constitution and the treaties
and constitutions of Europe is the fundamental right to privacy. In both countries,
this right to privacy has come into scrutiny many ways. One such attempt at
defining the right to privacy is in the context of strip searches. Strip searches
involve the removal of clothing and the inspection of body cavities for drugs,
weapons, and other contraband. Both the Supreme Court of the United States
of America (hereinafter, SCOTUS) and the European Court of Human Rights
(hereinafter, ECHR) have upheld the right to strip search an individual
in the proper context for safety reasons. However, the two judicial bodies
vary in their ways of deeming a search appropriate or inappropriate.”
(Group photo, right after our final exam, week four)
Maybe because it was a smaller class, maybe it was because we were stuck sitting next to each other almost every evening, but there was a certain sense of comradery. We shared laughs, good beer, and better company:
(Class dinner at the Brew Pub)
In sum, in the words of second year student, Brackett Smith:
“IT IS ALWAYS A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM A RENOWNED SCHOLAR. TAKING PROFESSOR DAVIDYAN’S CLASS GAVE US THE CHANCE TO HEAR FROM A TOP RUSSIAN LAW PROFESSOR ON HOW HER COUNTRY’S CONSTITUTION COMPARES TO OURS. IT ALSO OFFERED INSIGHT ON HOW THE EUROPEAN AND RUSSIAN LEGAL SYSTEMS OPERATE FROM A PERSPECTIVE YOU CAN’T GET IN A REGULAR INTERNATIONAL LAW CLASS. IT WAS AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE FOR WHICH I’M GRATEFUL.”
(Emily Miller, Professor Davidyan, and myself, at a Women’s Law Caucus event)
