Distinguished guests from 34 countries, representing all continents and one common goal – to teach even more effectively, making that regardless of latitude, a law graduate begins his practice with a sense of service to justice. The challenge: skilful interpretation of regulations in the spirit of the new paradigm, which is internationalization and globalization.

For the first time in international history, the World Convention of Law Deans and the conference of the International Association of Law Schools were held in Poland. Thus, the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk joined the ranks of such universities and cities as Doha, San Francisco, Buenos Aires, Milan, Madrid, Singapore, Canberra and Montreal. Similarly, Olivia Business Centre, which is a partner of the event, because it is the 32nd floor of the prestigious Olivia TOP Star that has become a unique place to exchange views on the most current topics in the field of law.

– I believe that the view stretching from the windows of the tallest building in Pomerania Olivia Star will remain in your memory for a long time, becoming a kind of symbol of Polish openness, hospitality and the conviction that “the lamp is the command, and the light is the law” – assured the representatives of the bar Marta Kłos, Head of Sales & Marketing Olivia TOP Star at Olivia Business Centre.

As the participants of the Forum emphasized, the conclusions of the meeting open up new opportunities, which in practice means that the education system should not be limited only to national regulations.

“The event was held at an optimal time, as legal education in Poland is in a very good place. The priority is the internationalization of education, because today’s legal science has a new paradigm, which is called internationalization and globalization. We cannot practice law by knowing only the national law, so we try to teach students a systemic and functional approach. We want meetings like these to also result in new opportunities for students. International exchange will give them a chance to learn about other legal systems and see the law in a different way. emphasized Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler, Vice-Dean for Student and Science UG.

Both the organizers and the participants agreed that there should be one direction of teaching.

– Let’s think for a moment about the legal world that surrounds us. There are more and more regulations, courts, procedures and an ordinary person simply feels lost in this thicket. The question is whether he will meet a lawyer who will guide him through these complexities, or perhaps one who will die with him. That is why a border lawyer is a great challenge not only for the skillful reading of regulations. His task is to see that behind the regulations there is a man of flesh and blood, who comes to a lawyer so that he can interpret the provision in such a way that the law goes beyond the textual sphere and so that it can be said that the provision serves justice – Professor Tomasz Koncewicz , Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Global Deans Forum 2019, is sure.

The need to change the paradigm of teaching law is the best prognosis for dynamically developing companies, which are more and more willing to open international branches in Gdańsk.

“The Congress proved beyond any doubt that a lawyer is not only a judge, a prosecutor and an advocate. Nowadays, lawyers provide services to companies in various ways, as do law graduates who engage in business activities in many fields. The students’ knowledge of what is happening in Olivia Business Centre is enormous, they are eager to report on the events taking place in Olivia, they go here for internships in the neighbourhood, they look for a job here, so it happens in a natural way – sums up Professor Wojciech Zalewski, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Gdańsk.

Deans and representatives of law faculties from over a hundred of the best universities, as well as eminent lawyers holding the highest offices in their countries, visited the Tri-City for five days. All thanks to the World Forum of Law Deans and the conference of the International Association of Law Schools organized by the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk, in partnership with the local governments of Gdynia, Gdańsk and Sopot. Both events were held in Poland for the first time. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Katarzyna Gruszecka-Spychała, Deputy Mayor of Gdynia. The congress was a unique opportunity for a serious debate and exchange of views on the most current topics in the field of law.

– We compared education systems, learning from each other and observing systems that could be used in Poland and in Europe. During these days, we focused on how to teach law, how to use the solutions proposed by e-technologies to make graduates international lawyers. This exchange of experience influences how we shape the study programs at our faculties – explains Professor Wojciech Zalewski, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration.