Monash Prato Student Report ( 2010)

Melissa Chan LLB - Prato 2010

It has been 2 months since I first landed on Italian soil. Since then, I have watched the sunset on the Piazza Michelangelo, trekked the Cinque Terre for five hours and consumed approximately 60 servings of gelato (one for every day).

Monash Law School prides itself for producing lawyers for the global world, and the Prato Program is a shining example of success in this aspect. In terms of curriculum, all units are taught with a comparative perspective between existing legal systems. The lecturers are dedicated, enthusiastic individuals who are clearly passionate about their work. In contrast to lectures held in Clayton, the average class size is small and everyone is given a chance to participate in intellectually stimulating, lively discussions. In one particularly memorable Comparative European Legal Systems class, students from America, Canada, Israel, France and Australia were invited to share their thoughts on their respective national legal systems. The resulting friendly banter was eye-opening and embodied the underlying spirit of the Prato Program.

As I write this, my Italian adventure has drawn to a close. Participating in this program has been the best choice I ever made in law school, and I would do it all again in a heartbeat. For every law student contemplating to undertake this journey, I urge you to hesitate no more. You will develop a whole new perspective to your legal education; and you will learn to think critically about the differences between different legal systems, while comparing them to your own. This is your chance to experience a whole different culture, immerse yourself with the beauty Europe has to offer, and above all, meet some pretty amazing people.